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As a woman landlord, you are always searching for your ideal tenants.

Choosing the right tenant can be one of life's roulette spins - and you want to avoid landing on a bad bet

So, more roll of the dice when picking tenants for your property. 

As much as it sounds cliché –knowledge is power when managing a rental property.

You want to avoid tenants who will not pay their rent on time (or at all) and possibly destroy your property.

Getting familiar with those interested in renting your property will help you find dependable long-term tenants.

When reviewing applications, ask yourself: 

🏠Do they meet my criteria?

🏠Do you have written criteria?

🏠Is there evidence that this tenant will keep up on payments and maintain the condition of my property?

Knowing exactly how to evaluate potential renters can help take away some stress while ensuring maximum cash flow from your rental business!

To narrow down applicants and find high-quality long-term tenants, you need to know what to look for. 

I have compiled this simple checklist to help you decide when to deny an application and quickly move on to the next applicant.

As a woman landlord, you are always searching for your ideal tenants.

Choosing the right tenant can be one of life's roulette spins - and you want to avoid landing on a bad bet

No more roll of the dice when picking tenants for your property. 

As much as it sounds cliché – knowledge is power when managing a rental property.

You want to avoid tenants who will not pay their rent on time (or at all) and possibly destroy your property.

Getting familiar with the applicants interested in renting your property will help you find dependable long-term tenants.

When reviewing applications, ask yourself: 

🏠Do they meet my criteria?

🏠Do I even have written criteria?

🏠Is there evidence that this tenant will keep up on payments and maintain the condition of my property?

Knowing exactly how to evaluate potential renters can help take away some stress while ensuring maximum cash flow from your rental business!

To narrow down applicants and find high-quality long-term tenants, you need to know what to look for. 

I have compiled this simple checklist to help you decide when to deny an application and quickly move on to the next applicant.

Incomplete Application

  • Applicant has not submitted a complete application

  • Co-Applicant has not submitted a complete application

  • Occupant over age 18 has not submitted a complete application

  • Guarantor has not submitted a complete application
  • Applicant has not submitted a complete application

  • Co-Applicant has not submitted a complete application
     
  • Occupant over age 18 has not submitted a complete application

  • Guarantor has not submitted a complete application

Supporting Documents

  • Applicant did not provide all supporting documents requested
  • Applicant did not provide all supporting documents requested

False Information

  • The screening process determined that false information was provided
  • The screening process determined that false information was provided

Behavior Qualifications

  • Applicant exhibits behavior that is evasive, abusive, harassing, or combative toward Landlord
  • Applicant exhibits behavior that is evasive, abusive, harassing, or combative toward Landlord

Income Sources

  • The household gross income is below the minimum requirement

  • Applicant has not worked at least 12 months with the same employer

  • Applicant has not provided work history for the past 5 years

  • Inconsistent work history with large gaps of time unemployed
  • The household gross income is below the minimum requirement

  • Applicant has not worked at least 12 months with the same employer

  • Applicant has not provided work history for the past 5 years

  • Inconsistent work history with large gaps of time unemployed

Rental History

  • Applicant has not rented for at least 12 months at the same rental

  • Unable to verify rental history for the past 5 years

  • Poor references from previous landlords

  • Prior eviction
  • Applicant has not rented for at least 12 months at the same rental

  • Unable to verify rental history for the past 5 years

  • Poor references from previous landlords

  • Prior eviction                                  

Credit

  • Applicant credit score is lower than the minimum requirement

  • Money judgements

  • Bankruptcy
  • Applicant credit score is lower than the minimum requirement

  • Money judgements                                                                                                              
  • Bankruptcy

Utility Account

  • Applicant has a delinquent utility account

  • Applicant is unable to get a verifiable utility account in their name

  • Unable to verify the utility account has been changed into the name of the applicant as of the move-in date
  • Applicant has a delinquent utility account

  • Applicant is unable to get a verifiable utility account in their name

  • Unable to verify the utility account has been changed into the name of the applicant as of the move-in date

Criminal History

  • Felony conviction within the past 7 years

  • Criminal history has displayed a pattern of repeated offenses
  • Felony conviction within the past 7 years

  • Criminal history has displayed a pattern of repeated offenses

Home Visit

  • Unable to determine general cleanliness, housekeeping, and living standards

  • Applicant refused home visit
  • Unable to determine general cleanliness, housekeeping, and living standards

  • Applicant refused home visit 

Security Deposit

  • Full payment of the security deposit has not been received within the agreed upon timeframe
  • Full payment of the security deposit has not been received within the agreed upon timeframe 

Pets

  • The property is not pet-friendly

  • Applicant has a pet that is not spayed/neutered

  • Applicant has not paid the agreed upon pet fee

  • Unable to verify Assistance Animal status
  • The property is not pet-friendly

  • Applicant has a pet that is not spayed/neutered

  • Applicant has not paid the agreed upon pet fee

  • Unable to verify Assistance Animal status

Download a PDF Copy of This Checklist to Use With Your Screening Process.

This document has been converted into a fillable form for your convenience.

It can be used as an electronic document on the computer to save with your applicant files, or you can print it out if you prefer to handwrite your answers.

Download a PDF Copy of This Checklist to Use With Your Screening Process.

This document has been converted into a fillable form for your convenience.

It can be used as an electronic document on the computer to save with your applicant files, or you can print it out if you prefer to handwrite your answers.

  • Check and complete each applicable item to help you stay consistent throughout the screening process.

  • Be sure to follow the same criteria on every applicant equally.

  • This checklist is for office use only. It is not intended to be distributed to applicants.
  • Check and complete each applicable item to help you stay consistent throughout the screening process.

  • Be sure to follow the same criteria on every applicant equally.

  • This checklist is for office use only. It is not intended to be distributed to applicants.

Keep Moving Forward⏩
I Believe In You!💫

“It is better to have a vacant unit, rather than the wrong tenant.
Choose wisely.”

Mary Jo Whelan

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Mary Jo Whelan is a leader in the field of residential property rentals. She owns and runs a property management and renovation company in Baltimore.

Mary Jo started with no money, college education, or job. From these humble beginnings, she has grown her company to manage over 100 rental properties and manage over 50 rental renovations a year.

She co-facilities a monthly landlording strategy meeting for a local REI group and is the past president of NAPRM, National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Mary Jo is also the founder of Lucrative Landlording for Women, an exclusive community for success-driven women landlords. Lucrative Landlording provides an elite coaching program, masterclasses, and networking events designed to help women landlords maximize their cash flow and keep high-quality renters.

Mary Jo is passionate about helping women landlords succeed in the field of landlording, secure their financial future, and create generational wealth.

In her spare time, she enjoys practicing techniques for furniture painting, gardening, and traveling. And yes, just for fun, she actually jumped out of a perfectly good plane.

Mary Jo Whelan is a leader in the field of residential property rentals. She owns and runs a property management and renovation company in Baltimore.

Mary Jo started with no money, college education, or job. From these humble beginnings, she has grown her company to manage over 100 rental properties and manage over 50 rental renovations a year.

She co-facilities a monthly landlording strategy meeting for a local REI group and is the past president of NAPRM, National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Mary Jo is also the founder of Lucrative Landlording for Women, an exclusive community for success-driven women landlords. Lucrative Landlording provides an elite coaching program, masterclasses, and networking events designed to help women landlords maximize their cash flow and keep high-quality renters.

Mary Jo is passionate about helping women landlords succeed in the field of landlording, secure their financial future, and create generational wealth.

In her spare time, she enjoys practicing techniques for furniture painting, gardening, and traveling. And yes, just for fun, she actually jumped out of a perfectly good plane.


The content presented in this blog is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice on any subject matter. Lucrative Landlording provides information it believes to be accurate, however, Lucrative Landlording makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of the information contained on this blog.


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