I’ll be the first to admit that leasing property isn’t rocket science, but it is people science. I consider myself part private investigator, part sociologist, and part psychologist when I am considering a tenant for one of my clients.
I recently read a San Francisco Chronicle article about a landlord’s nightmare eviction. You may read the complete article here. As I was reading, red flags kept popping up:
- The tenant hadn’t paid the rent beyond the first month
- The landlord did not receive the security deposit that was requested on move-in day
- The house smelled like smoke
- The landlord claims that several pieces of jewelry were missing from a box in her bedroom
I then thought “Would I have rented to this person?” In my experience, someone who isn’t going to pay rent or steals, is likely not a first time offender and there is usually a record of that somewhere. Thankfully, in the days of Google and Facebook, our jobs as landlords are a little easier.
I was able to perform just one of the many facets of Lingsch Realty’s standard, scrupulous background check in about 10 seconds to determine “no, I would not have rented to this person.”
I speak with potential landlord clients every day, who inquire about my services, then for whatever personal choice, decide to go it alone.
A background check on this unfortunate landlord’s troublesome tenant would have cost her $75 had she hired Lingsch Realty. A San Francisco Apartment Association lease which is composed by some of the industry’s greatest attorneys and customized for her and her property by Lingsch Realty would have cost her an additional $200.00. That’s a total of $275.00 for avoiding month’s of headaches and yet-undetermined legal fees.
Perpetually troublesome tenants know that management companies have more resources and tend to be more scrupulous and more knowledgeable than the average landlord renting a room or apartment for the first time. Therefore, they target those who don’t yet have the experience to see past their facade. Don’t give devious tenants the opportunity to take advantage of you. Hire a management company to do a background check and make sure you have a lease that will protect you and your property.