With the housing market the way that it is, finding a new place to live is crazy even if you are only planning to rent and not outright buy a property. It is getting more and more competitive to find a place to rent, with property managers being immediately flooded by applicants as soon as they put a listing up. This means that to get any apartment, but especially an apartment that you like and want, you need to bring your a-game.
There is nothing worse than finding a place you like and want to live, applying and paying the application fee, only to have your rental application rejected for some reason or another. In such a competitive market, you want to be absolutely sure that you will be accepted—but how? Read on for some strategies to help you make sure that your rental app will be approved!
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Provide All Required Info
The first step to making sure that your rental app will be approved is to make sure that you fill out the form entirely. This means that if there are required sections to the rental app, then you must fill those required sections out! You cannot leave them blank. Sometimes your application will be rejected out of hand simply for leaving spaces blank that needed to be filled out. Always double-check your application as well to make sure you did not inadvertently leave anything blank or skip over anything without meaning to.
This also means that if the rental application requires specific documentation, you must provide it! Do not think of them as supplemental material because most often, they are required. Yes, it may be more work, but going the extra mile will help you make sure that your rental app will be approved. If you have questions about the documents you need to provide, then ask. Make sure you are providing them with what the property manager needs and is asking of you rather than what you think they are asking for.
And not only can you not leave out required information, but you also need to make sure that any information that you provide is accurate. Do not just guess or eyeball some piece of information. Take the time to make sure the information you are putting on your rental app is accurate, because if it is not, it could come back to bite you in the butt—you might even have your rental app rejected because of incorrect information. Make sure any addresses, phone numbers, salaries, and more are correct, because you do not want to miss out on this property for something small and silly like that.
Include References
Many property managers now ask renters for references to call and check that their potential tenant is an upstanding citizen and renter who will not destroy the property and get into any trouble. They could ask for a former landlord’s contact info to ask them how you were as a tenant. They might also ask for personal references to see who you are as a person.
Beat your potential property manager to the punch and provide them references with your rental app so that they do not even have to ask you for it. That way, they can go ahead and get your references done quickly and without the delay of having to contact you, wait for you to respond, and then being able to call. They will also appreciate this forward-thinking and the convenience of having already been provided the reference list. It might even help your case in getting your rental app approved.
Talk to the Property Manager
Another excellent strategy to try that might help make you more successful in the endeavor of having your rental app accepted is to talk to the property manager themselves. This does not mean pleading your case, making a nuisance of yourself, or harassing the property manager. What this means is talking to them about your application. Be sure you understood everything you were being asked to provide. Ask if there is any other information you should know or information you should prioritize putting into your rental app. They might be able to give you insight as well as tips or strategies that might help you be more likely to have your rental app approved. And it never hurts to help put a face to a name so that your application does not belong to some faceless, random person but to a real person making an honest effort to have their rental app accepted.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
Fill out your rental apps as best you can, provide as much info as you can, and be sure not to skip any required information and documentation. Be sure to provide references (good ones), and take the time to talk to the property manager about your application if you are able. Happy house hunting!
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