How to find the perfect tenants

For property managers, choosing the right tenants is more an art than a science. It can be difficult to determine from a few brief meetings whether a potential renter is someone with whom you want to enter into a contract. While even the greenest of property managers know that credit and employment checks are essential, those factors are more the starting gate than the finish line. To ensure that you end up with the most positive manager-tenant relationship possible, these are a few red flags to be aware of:

1.A renter who seems concerned about credit or background checks. While it’s true that in today’s economy many people have come across hard times that do not necessarily reflect on their own negligence , it is quite prudent to review credit history and conduct a criminal background check, in addition to calling employer and landlord references, before renting to anyone.
2.Multiple cars. While this might initially seem like a sign of financial security, anyone who collects cars but does not own a home might not be managing money in the most responsible way. Those cars can equate to months of unpaid rent.
3.Vague responses about employment. Some people are lucky enough to be self-employed or independently wealthy, but the vast majority of good renters work for someone that can vouch for their reliability and character. Anyone who cannot answer the most basic of questions may either have no real employment, be involved with something more dangerous, or both.
4.Arriving with an entourage. Renting to a tenant who searches for an apartment with a pack of their best friends may result in more people staying in the apartment than is acceptable, or a slew of large, unruly gatherings on a regular basis. Either way, they may not be the kind of tenants you want.
5.General bad vibes. If a renter shows up with alcohol on their breath or seems to be under the influence of anything, be wary. If they’re causing you to feel ill at ease, they’ll probably make your other tenants feel uneasy as well, and no one should have to feel uncomfortable at home.