How to Impress a Landlord When Applying for Rental Homes
As renting becomes increasingly more popular in major metropolitan areas, the competition for renting also increases. Single-family home rentals are growing at a faster pace than any other portion of the housing market. The number of US households are consistently rising however growth in owner-occupied units are stagnating as mostly all housing filled by rentals.
With the demand for rentals increasing, renters need to spend more time to stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips to impress your landlord when finding and applying for rental homes.
Landlords Care about First Impressions
Just like any job interview, your first impression can be the most important. There are only a few times you will see your landlord, once during the initial showing, during the move-in, and during any maintenance or inspections, if necessary. You are not going to see your landlord often. This means your landlord will evaluate you based on their first impressions on you.
The initial showing is not only a time for you to browse the rental property but a time for the landlord to ask you questions about your current living situation. Anything you say during this time should match with your official application. Presenting accurate information about your credit, income, and employment status will avoid misleading the landlord once he or she runs a background check through your social security number.
Some old-fashioned landlords will still evaluate prospects based on their dress, how they communicate over email, and if they arrive to the listing on time. While this does lead to discriminatory laws, it is still widely practiced in most property management companies. At Onerent, we avoid this by evaluating all prospects solely on their financial apply to pay monthly rent and their background check. Not how they dress or talk.
Bring Your Necessary Documents
Competitive rental markets often means moving fast through the application process. The more prepared and qualified a renter is, the more likely they will be chosen as the tenant. When arriving at a showing, we recommend bringing along:
- Proof of employment and income
- Official W2s
- Tax returns
- 2-3 months of pay stubs and bank statements
- Valid form of government issued ID
- Checkbook and pen for holding deposit and application fee
Having these documents in hand will show the landlord you are serious and prepare to sign a lease. In the case you tour an apartment and find that it is a perfect fit for you, you will have the necessary documents to complete an application.
At Onerent, renters can apply for an apartment and submit their required documents online. Best part is that all applications are free.
Ask the Right Questions
Most landlords might have listings with missing or somewhat complete information. If you visit a home services by a professional management company, such as Onerent, the property details would be fully advertised on the online listing. During the showing, we recommend having the online listing on your phone while taking notes of the property. Asking the right questions to the landlord will also demonstrate you’re prepared, curious, and serious about the property.
Throughout your apartment hunt, be sure to understand what landlords are looking for to give yourself a competitive edge. If you put your best foot forward, you will most likely end up with more apartment application approvals than rejection.
Not interested in calling landlords, scheduling showings manually, and paying for application fees? Try Onerent for a new way to rent homes!
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