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In person - Landlord Forum thread 338247

In person by Anonymous on August 21, 2015 @08:06

                              
Have tenant prospect out of state and would like me to email lease to him to rent sight unseen.

Have you ever rent a home to someone who never physically saw the property?
What do you think? He did not try to negotiate and agrees to the full rent. Wants to send his company's check immediately!

I just don't like not meeting in person.
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Re: In person by Anonymous on August 21, 2015 @10:58 [ Reply ]
It's unusual for a person relocating not to come to the new location to look for housing, or to plan to stay in a short- or long-stay facility while looking locally. I would be cautious. I've rented long-distance, sight-unseen exactly once and it was a disaster. Tenant didn't like the condo in person and nit-picked it until we were both ready to have her break the lease. Never again.

I would, at a minimum, inquire into the circs that require him to secure the rental long-distance instead of in person.
Re: In person by Andrea (GA) on August 21, 2015 @12:42 [ Reply ]
It is my requirement that I meet every prospective tenant in person. I know there are occasionally reasons whereby a prospect might find himself in this situation and I feel badly for that, but there is just too much risk in it for me. As has already been stated, there should be at least a weekend when the person(s) will be in town--after all, they are going to be living there.

I find I learn a lot about people by meeting them in person, and in turn they learn a lot about me and the property. Sometimes they will end up telling me things in passing that they did not reveal in the pre-screen. I am also able to show them the features of the home and review the tenant's responsibilities. If they smoke, I will be able to smell it. And they will be able to see if the location and property work for them. (Can you imagine committing yourself to a place that turned out to be a dump/too small/whatever?)

In your scenario, there would be another problem for me. I sit down with the tenant at lease signing and go over it with him/her. I find this mitigates problems down the road--they cannot say they didn't know. Bottom line--you have to decide if you are tolerant of the risk here. Is this your only prospect? If not, then move on.
Re: In person by Katiekate (New York) on August 21, 2015 @19:41 [ Reply ]
ALWAYS listen to you instinct

I would not even consider a prospect till I meet them. First they need to get through my basic screening via email...then I set up a time to see it. Only after I meet them will I give them an application to fill out and accept the application fee.

You are quite right to not feel right about renting sight on seen
Re: In person by Anonymous on August 21, 2015 @21:20 [ Reply ]
Please see the LPA article on the 5 step way to screen a tenant and read the part about the showing: https://www.thelpa.com/lpa/tips/5_step_screening.html

My policy is I must meet not only the renter in person but the whole family and/or all expected tenants.

Can this person not afford a house hunting trip? Why? What is their FICO score?
Re: In person by Anonymous on August 22, 2015 @03:16 [ Reply ]
Don't do this. There are too many prospects right in town willing to rent the place.
I did do this once, but the girl only stayed for a year. She was coming out of the armed forces, her ex-motherinlaw came down, saw the place, and assured me it would be okay for her. Offered to pay the deposit right then. I did not take the deposit that day. I did have the tenant send the deposit a couple days later.

Re: In person by Anonymous on August 22, 2015 @03:19 [ Reply ]
Your right, you need to meet the tenant in person. Follow your instinct on this one, and require that you meet everyone that will be an occupant before you even consider renting your property.
I would never consider emailing my lease.
Re: In person by Barbara (Tx) on August 22, 2015 @12:22 [ Reply ]
"Wants to send his company's check immediately!" That's a BIG RED FLAG! Something is not right with this applicant.
Re: In person by Mike on August 22, 2015 @15:50 [ Reply ]
Have you qualified this applicant? The thing with the company check bothers me. Is this a company relocating an employee? Better stick with your regular methods of doing background and credit check and meeting in person to sign any lease if they qualify. Too many unanswered questions with this tenant.

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