Screen potential tenants in Manhattan - ask for written application.|contract|man siting in front of the computer screen
Screen potential tenants in Manhattan - ask for written application.|contract|man siting in front of the computer screen
New York CIty housing
September 6, 2020

How to screen potential tenants in Manhattan

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Renting a place out for the first time can be really daunting. Even if you have some prior experience, the process is never easy and it is full of uncertainties. The first thing to do is to make sure that your apartment is in good shape. There should not be any packing boxes NYC lying around and it should be as clean as possible. You need to do your part, as well. Other than that, you will want to perform several checks in order to screen potential tenants in Manhattan. This article is going to provide you with a simple guide on what are the most important checks to do.

How to screen potential tenants in Manhattan? 5 steps!

Here are the five most important things to consider:

  • Ask for an application
  • Run a credit check
  • Run a background check just in case!
  • Contact your potential tenants previous landlord
  • Interview!
contract

Ask for a written application from your potential tenant.

Ask for an application

When designing your ad for the apartment, include that you want a written application from the potential tenant. You will want to ask for an e-mail application, of course. This will allow you to screen off those tenants who can't even do that. Furthermore, you will have in writing if your tenants have any concerns such as free storage NYC, for example. Finally, you will be able to go through the applications at your own pace and choose who to check further.

Screen potential tenants in Manhattan - Run a credit check

After you have the list of potential applications, it is time to see if they are solvent. Run a small credit check to see if they are "on the up and up". Running a credit check is quite easy nowadays and you have multiple options to do so. Of course, you will need permission from your prospective tenants to do so. It is the land of the free, after all. However, if they refuse the check, simply decline their application and move on. It is your right to want to know and it is their right to refuse.

Run a background check just in case!

You can never be too careful. Alongside the credit check, you may wish to run a background check, as well. However, do note that people might be turning a new leaf so try to keep an open mind. Capital City Movers NYC would advise you to be extra careful and to talk things through with your tenant before deciding on anything. The person on paper and in real life might not be the same person.

man sitting in front of the computer screen

Be careful - fun a background check in advance.

Contact your potential tenants' previous landlord

You may want to know more about your prospective tenant from a trustworthy source. Contact the previous landlord, if there is one, and ask him or her about the tenant's disposition. This may be the most valuable information you can get your hands onto. However, do not be overly trusting as you really don't know what phone number you got and who you are speaking to, after all.

Screen potential tenants in Manhattan - Interview!

Finally, the applicants that have gone through all the checks still need to pass the interview. Have the questions ready and answer honestly all the questions that your prospective tenant might have. From there you will both know if this is something that you all want.

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