Got a new place in with an anxious owner who wants his places rented about 2 weeks ago, sound like most of yours? So ran a special, had someone take an app, look at the place, and love it! They like the special on the rent, and would like to be in this weekend since they want in before the holiday. Sounds plausible, and my client is in love with the idea, and she seems nice enough-good income, decent dress, decent car.
So I pull her report. Nothing out of the ordinary shows until I hand run the eviction report, which shows a current eviction with a court hearing on the 14th. Hmmm.... So of course I ask the tenant what is up, and here is the story of the week:
There is no way that is me, I don't even know where those apartments are! Oh, wait...I helped my cousin get an apartment last year and signed for her and her friend and that may have been there. I had no idea that she was being evicted, wait till I get my hands on her. Is that eviction going to be on my record and not hers? How long? This is totally unbelievable!...
So my rental property owner friends and clients: What would you do? Without tailing her or following her and waiting in front of that ddress to se if she lives there, how would I know it is her or not. I suspect it is her, and I suspect this is a good story and hard to disprove, but my gut tells me this is her eviction.
So what would you do? Would you rent to her? Is she a dead deal or is there a workaround? I have already made a decision on her and am curious to see if your decision would be similar to mine, given the details of the story that you have.
My question is how much time do you want to put into checking her out? I would look at some basic stuff such as what address did she put on the rental application? How about calling the landlord of the eviction?
Putting two and two together, she wants in now because she is about to be evicted. But how hard is it to get an eviction in your area? Sometimes I ask the home owner if they will take a chance but make sure they have all the facts. Most people learn after one eviction, they usually don't want another.
I would pass....I would have asked the name of her cousin AND then run the eviction report on her. In our area, I can view these cases online FREE...
If she was uncooperative, I would have said the answer was YES - it is her.
LOL, if her name is on the lease then she is responsible, a contract just like any other, but it was a good story and that is what a good con is.
Thanks guys for your input. I truly feel it is her, and I would have to spend a long time researching it. I think it was a domestic breakup and I am going to rent to her on a short leash with double security deposit. Hope it works out for me. Can't be worse than some of the others who applied.