Selecting That Great Tenant

“Ask Kari!”
By Kari Negri, Chief Executive Officer, Sky Properties, Inc.
Dear Kari, I worry about who I rent to. What is the best way to go about selecting only “great” renters for my property?
It is often said that there are only two times when rental housing providers get into trouble selecting renters: (i) when they are rushing to rent quickly, and (ii) when they take pity upon an applicant. When choosing your renters, always remember to rent to someone who can and will pay your rent on time, tend to their civic duties, and take appropriate care of their homes. As a rule of thumb, it is better to have no tenant than a bad tenant. There is another problem you may face but it is unpopular to state aloud, so I will “not” mention that renting to a family member or a friend is an unbelievably bad idea.