Showing Procedures

I’m often asked, “Why do I have to fill out an application before I see one of your rental properties”?

Well there are a couple of go to answers, we as property managers use, but the most important one is security.  Most of the time our first contact with a potential Tenant is over the phone or via an email and there is no way to make sure that the potential Tenant is who they say they are, other than just taking their word for it.  Having the application filled out prior to the showing gives the property manager a chance to see who they are meeting, because we require a copy of the potential Tenant’s drivers license to be attached to the application.

It also gives the property manager a chance to do a little Pre-Screening…   We look at the income level to see if the potential Tenant can afford the rental, what the residence history looks like (how long they have been at a particular location), time and length of employment and so forth…  All items that are required on our application.  What we don’t do is run a credit check or criminal background check.  We do that after the showing once the application fee is collected.  If the Tenant doesn’t want the rental then we just say goodbye and move forward with the marketing of the unit.  The application is then stored in our secure system and is never sold or given to anyone else.

Those are just some of the reasons a professional property manager will always require an application prior to all showings.  At ERA Grizzard Real Estate we try to make it as easy as possible to access the application by including a link on each property listing.  It can be filled out on line at our web site, www.ERARENTS.com, and we never require an application fee for any showing.

If I can ever answer any of your questions don’t hesitate to give me a call at 352-314-1544.

Until next time, Take Care…