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The First 5 Questions to Ask When You Recieve a Rental Inquiry

Michelle Hardesty • May 02, 2024

When a potential tenant calls or emails inquiring about an available rental property, the property manager's goal is to gather essential information to assess whether the individual is a suitable fit for the property.


Here are the first five questions a property manager should ask:


  1. What is Your Desired Move-in Date?: Understanding the potential tenant's timeline for moving in is crucial for coordinating property showings, lease signings, and any necessary preparations. It also helps ensure that the property manager can accommodate the tenant's needs and expectations regarding availabilitity.
  2. Do You Have Pets?: Knowing whether the potential tenant has pets is essential for clarifying the property's pet policy and any associated fees or restrictions. This question allows the property manager to address potential concerns related to company and Owner pet policies (ie, age, breed, etc...)
  3. What is Your Monthly Income?: Understanding the potential tenant's income provides insight into their ability to afford the rental property. Property managers typically aim for tenants whose monthly income is at least three times the monthly rent to ensure they can comfortably meet their financial obligations. Asking about income helps verify the tenant's ability to pay rent consistently and on time.
  4. Do you have any questions about the property? Making sure potential tenant's questions are answered provides insight for all parties. Maybe they need a fenced yard, washer & dryer in unit, garage, etc... By learning more about their wants and needs you could potentially have another available unit that they may be interested in as well.
  5. Do you want to scheudle a showing? Offering a showing, prior to receiving their applications, ensures that they do want to move forward and that they are not wasting money on applications fees for homes that may not fit their needs.


By asking these initial questions, property managers can gather crucial information to evaluate the potential tenant's suitability for the rental property and determine whether to proceed with the application process. Additionally, these questions lay the groundwork for more in-depth discussions regarding lease terms, rental policies, and tenant expectations.






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