Renting My Place Out - Need Pointers On How To Pick A Tentant.

[Savannan]

By years end, I'm goin to rent my place out....I found a 2003 stick build/3 bedroom/2 bath/2 car garage/full unfinished basment house that I'll be moving into, But I'm scared has hell that I'll get some low-lifes in here that will make excuess after excuess about how they can't pay for the month,  I've put ALOT of time and $$$ into my place and it would just kill me if they trash it.

Has anyone rented out their place before?  What should I look for in a tentant.

I heard that I can do credit checks, but is there a web site for landlord's to pull up a credit history?

Any help would be very much appriciated!!!

Sav

[ChadTower]

Credit check and reference check usually do it.  Not many people with good credit, good references, and have first/last/security in hand are going to trash your place.

[Rando]

I'd feel much better renting to a girl than to a guy, but that's just because I know who I treated some places in the past.  Make them work a bit to qualify for the place.  Those with something to hide or too lazy to maintain place properly hopefully won't go all the way through the application process.

Luck.

[DaveMMR]

I'd feel much better renting to a girl than to a guy

I've known plenty of girls who would make terrible tenants.

[SavannahLion]

Draw up a contract. Depending on the state you live in, I strongly recommend you read and review the rights of the lessee and lesser for your respective state. There's a really good book series, I'll have to look in my library and get the title.

[Nephasth]

I've been renting out my house near Dallas for 4 1/2 years now. I'm on my third tenant now. First was a white family with older kids (late teens), I managed it myself from 1,000 miles away for a year. They told me all they had for pets was a bird, they ended up with multiple small dogs in the place. They also moved in 2 or 3 other people without my knowledge. They fell behind on rent and I had to evict them (rediculous process in Texas), court "awarded" me $4700 in unpaid rent, late fees, and junk but I'll never see it. They TRASHED my place when they left (a house I originally bought to live in myself, but ended up moving shortly after), worst smelling place I've ever been in, trash and cockroaches everywhere. The condensation drain on the A/C was plugged up with dog hair and water soaked the carpet in three rooms, well there was bird seed in the carpet and by the time I got down there, there were 2" plants growing out of the carpet all over.

I got a management company after that (and I hate dealing with my management company, but that's another rant). The second was a single black father with his young child. First year was good, then he became consistantly late on rent, then just quit paying all together. He had to get evicted. He had tons of stuff left behind. This time I didn't do any of the clean up, the management company used the deposit to hire people to do it, and even after that I forked out thousands of my own money for repairs and unpaid rent.

On the third ones now. A Vietnamese family. They pay on the first of the month EVERY month. They've been kind of nit picky with repairs (mostly caused by them trying to get rid of a ton of food garbage down the sink which is something they have to pay for), but I'm happy with them so far. We'll see how long it lasts.

My advice, SELL YOUR HOUSE.

[ChadTower]

Or maybe just don't rent it out from 1000 miles away.  That sounds like the complicating factor there.

[Nephasth]

Yep. Nothing but headaches.

[ChadTower]

Sooner or later I'll have to make the decision myself.  I might eventually move my family to another region but am not sure what we'll do with our house when we do.  Sell or rent?  Hard to decide. 

[JMB]

Sooner or later I'll have to make the decision myself.  I might eventually move my family to another region but am not sure what we'll do with our house when we do.  Sell or rent?  Hard to decide. 

Sell. Landlord rights suck in MA.

[ark_ader]

I used to get tentants when I went backpacking.  It was not a very nice experience.  They get everywhere, in your clothes etc.

I stopped leaving food around before bedtime, and just put it in zip lock bags.  That solved it.



Seriusly you ned a spelchuker PBJ.   

[Well Fed Games]

 Did manage to sneak off long enough to photograph the iguana in my profile pic... barely.

Speaking of that, what does the lower part of the sign say? I've been curious but my eyes fail me.

[amendonz]

[Thenasty]

I'd feel much better renting to a girl than to a guy

I've known plenty of girls who would make terrible tenants.

That's why you should rent it to a WOMAN

[knave]

I've been renting out my old house for 7 years now and I used to be a property manager for an apartment buiding. It is a royal PITA. That said, Run a credit check and charge the prospective tenant for it. I charge $20 per adult. I don't make any money on it but I'm not out of pocket either. It also weeds out those who arn't serious. I also have them fill out an application which I send to the Credit check agency. I get a report back that tells me how much outstanding debt they have and if they have any evictions. I don't care about credit score...if they don't pay their bills they won't pay you either. Lastly CALL employers and references.

By nature tenants don't take care of a place as well as homeowners just part of the game. Specify who does yardwork and repairs.

I use a rental agreement that is set up by the Realators association. I have to buy them but it covers just about everything imaginable.
In california you can charge first and last OR first and a security deposit but not both. But you can set your deposit up to double the rent. I make it a bit more than the rent so as to disuade my tenants from wanting me to use the deposit for the last month rent. I could go on and on...

[fallacy]

No collage students no matter how trusting they look.  Once they get comfortable and have their little parties, the last thing on their mind will be keeping your place clean.

[opt2not]

Avoid drinkers. They tend to throw more parties, get rowdy, damage ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.
 But pot-heads are fine. They're benign and all they wanna do is chill.