7 steps to finding good rental tenants

It takes more than a clever listing to attract the best renters, although that doesn’t hurt.

The rental market is tight nowadays, which is good news for property owners. Once you create a listing on KSL Homes, you’ll likely have several applicants and can fill your opening quickly. That also means you can be a little more selective about who rents your place. How do you decide on the person who will work out best — for both of you?

Write a thorough listing

From the renter’s perspective, finding the ideal place to live can take a lot of time and research. Make this process easier by clearly explaining what your rental includes and what the neighborhood is like. Also, state your expectations. If no smoking or pets are allowed, include that in the listing. By being upfront, you’ll waste less time showing your property to someone looking for a different living situation.

Set your rental length

Depending on your housing type and location, you may want renters to sign a long lease, or you may be satisfied with a shorter period. Tell future renters up front how long the minimal rental period will be. 

Respond quickly

Don’t miss out on the good renters by being lazy about your listing. Respond quickly to questions and requests for a property tour. Enable the Messages feature on the KSL Classifieds app so you’ll be notified of inquiries in real time. Your behavior now tells the renter the kind of landlord you’ll be.

List your rental on KSL Homes

Use a rental application

Do you have specific requirements, such as six months of employment? Do they have a steady income? Have they ever been evicted? Ask prospective tenants to complete a rental application that includes questions about their job and rental history.

Background check

When you list your rental with KSL Homes, you can opt for tenant screening — a service to look at an applicant’s background. It includes a credit check and their rental history. As a property owner, you’ll receive a scorecard for the person based on the findings, which may help you make a final decision. 

You should also talk to their previous landlord about the type of renter they were. 

• Did they make timely rent payments?
• Did neighbors complain that they played drums at 3 a.m.? 
• Did they leave garbage in the apartment building hallways? 
• Would you be willing to rent to them again? Why or why not?

Wait it out

If you aren’t finding people who meet your criteria — provided your asking price is appropriate — be willing to wait until you do. Settling for renters who won’t take care of your property or fail to pay the rent may end up costing you more than a little lost rental income.

Ask questions

For the most part, renters are just people who need a place to live, and they want the home to stay as nice as you do. A simple conversation with potential tenants can help you assess their attitude and motives. 

As candidates tour the place — or in a conversation beforehand — ask what they are looking for in a rental. Are they planning to stay for a long time? Why are they moving? Their answers should give you some insight.

Review requirements

Writing the lease conditions in the listing is important, but be sure to go over them again in person. Review the terms, discuss the rent and deposit amount — and if any of it is nonrefundable. Mention any other fees or expectations, as well.

List your rental property on KSL Homes

Keep good renters

No matter the lease length, keeping tenants happy will encourage them to stick around — which means less time and expense spent finding new people. Treat those you already have well by quickly responding to issues, answering questions and making needed repairs. Be respectful of their time and privacy, and maybe even send them a holiday card. People tend to stay in one place unless they need to move, so if you can keep them satisfied where they are, you’ll have a steady income.

Repeat customers

Keeping good renters reduces your workload and lessens your chance of getting less reliable ones. If a current place no longer meets your renter’s needs, perhaps due to location or size, suggest another property you own. If you have student apartments, give your current renters the first opportunity to sign up for the next year.

Note any red flags

While most renters won’t cause problems, there are potential issues you should be wary of. For instance, if an applicant is overly concerned about the rent amount, it might be higher than they can comfortably afford. Do they like their job? Complaining about an awful boss could mean they’ll be out of work soon — and, subsequently, miss rent payments.

Do an online search

You can also do a cursory check of the person’s social profiles. If they agree to no pets but are celebrating their turtle’s 25th birthday on Instagram, there could be a problem. If they said they’ve worked as a massage therapist for four years but it’s not on their LinkedIn profile, you may have reason to pause. Be sure to ask them about any discrepancies to assure they will be compliant with contract terms.

Be honest

Just as you want your renters to be reputable, you need to be, too. Keeping a security deposit for cleaning when the place was left impeccable, or blaming a tenant for pre-existing damage, is more than unethical. It’s also a surefire way to destroy your opportunity for good renters. Undoubtedly, word of this behavior will be passed along in person and posted in online reviews. Conscientious renters — the kind that will care for your house or apartment — may quickly move on to another place.

List your rental on KSL Homes

Create listings for all your rental properties on KSL Homes, where you can easily upload accurate pictures and write an attractive description.

• Specify the type of property: single room, apartment, basement, townhome, house
• List the rent and deposit amounts
• Include all pertinent details such square footage and number of rooms 
• Make note of amenities: washer and dryer, off-street parking
• Detail who pays the utilities and if rental insurance is required 
• Give highlights such as “close to shopping and movie theaters” or “new carpet, paint and fixtures” 

Remember to tap the box for tenant screening for a background and credit check. There’s no cost to you and only a minimal fee for the renter — which you can offer to refund if the applicant is chosen. Look, you’re keeping those good renters happy already.