Questions to ask your perspective tenants references

There is always going to be a lot of excitement when a prospective tenant wants to tour your vacant rental property; the hope of course being that this will be a quality tenant. It is a ready known fact that a bad tenant can cause even more problems than having a vacant property for wasted time which can cost a lot of money to you. This is why one of the biggest tips we can give from Innovative Properties is to thoroughly screen all potential tenants every single time. With this one of the biggest things is asking for references from your potential tenant. So, what are questions to ask your perspective tenants references? Today we are going to explore a few.

1. Previous Landlords

If your potential tenant has rented property before the first place you are going to want to start is to speak with any previous landlords. It is great to speak with their current landlord, but take this with a grain of salt as they may be a bad tenant that their landlord just wants to get rid of, so they might try to cover for this person as to not have to deal with them any further. Speak with as many previous landlords as possible to get a full and clear picture.

Some key things to ask:

• Was the rent paid in full and on time? This will give you an idea of how responsible your perspective tenant is. A tenant that always pays on time and in full is a great person to have renting your property. This is less of a burden or headache for you to have to chase after payments owed.
• How much was the monthly rent? Knowing how much your potential tenant was paying previously versus the prospective rent will give you an understanding of their financial situation.
• Did the tenant take care of the property? The last thing you want is to have a tenant who does not respect your property. It could cost you a lot of money fixing damage that could be caused during your potential tenants stay.
• How did the tenant communicate with you? Communication is key as they say and when you need to run routine maintenance or inspections having a tenant who refuses to discuss anything can be stressful
• Would you rent to this tenant again? If a previous landlord says no or hesitates this could be a big potential red flag

2. Employer References

A good way to make sure that your potential tenant will be able to pay the rent is to check in with his or her employer(s). Having a good conversation with this employer will give you insight as to your potential tenant’s personality.

Here are some good questions to ask:

• What was the original date of hire?
• What is the current salary or hourly rate?
• How many hours a week does the tenant work
• Will the current employer continue to employ them?
• How does the tenant get along with co-workers?

In addition to the employer, another good place to call would be an HR department if possible. This will help to see past someone who may be trying to cover for a friend or glossing over any kind of infractions that they may have. It will also give you a second perspective to consider.

3. Personal References

Talking to either friends or family is another good resource to get a better idea of the type of person your perspective tenant is. Those closest may provide useful information even though there is a chance of personal bias.

Some things to ask:

• How long have you known the tenant? When they have known them for years it will really provide an inside look at your potential tenant’s demeanor and attitude in life.
• What is the tenant’s lifestyle like? This will help to see what kind of life and routines this person may have. Do they like to throw parties? Do they smoke? Have pets?
• Would you recommend this tenant to a landlord? Having someone close to them answer yes or no would provide a lot of insight, especially someone who has known them for years.

These are just a few of the ways to help you screen for the ultimate great tenant to rent your property too. Are you in the market with a rental or regular property? Contact Innovative Properties today to see how we can help you through the process. We specialize in turnkey property management solutions for residential homeowners and commercial property owners in the Maryland area.

About Innovative Properties

Innovative Properties is a property management company in Anne Arundel County focused on helping residential, commercial, & HOA property clients. With over 30 years of experience in property management and leasing, we can help you rent, sell, or buy your next property in Anne Arundel County.