You saw the perfect new home on Rentals.com. Maybe you spoke to the landlord. Perhaps you even saw the house and submitted an application. But somehow you never got the call that says "It's yours. Come and get it."
A week goes by and suddenly the ad disappears. Then you drive by the house and see that the new residents are moving in. What's going on?
What are you doing wrong?
We recently uncovered the TOP THREE Reasons You’re Being Ignored By Landlords. Well, we've consulted our landlord colleagues once again and have compiled three MORE reasons why you're still getting the cold shoulder from a landlord.
#4: You don’t know what you want
When looking for a home, you’re in the driver’s seat. You get to decide exactly what you want and then go out and find it. So it’s always surprising to landlords when callers can’t even answer basic questions, like how much they want to spend per month, how many bedrooms and bathrooms they need, or what part of town they want to live in. Know what you want before you start looking. Or at least, before you start calling ads.
#5: You didn’t keep your appointment
If a landlord does take the time to show you their home, the worst thing you could possibly do is stand them up. Certainly, emergencies arise and you might need to change your plans at the last minute. That’s what a cell phone is for. Know this: If you leave a landlord waiting for you to show up without the courtesy of a phone call, you may as well just scratch their home right off your list.
#6: You didn’t tell the truth
Yes, you’re going to have to fill out a rental application. And yes, some of the questions might sound a bit intrusive. (From "Do you smoke?" to "Any pets?" and even "Do you play a musical instrument?") But as long as landlords can legally ask, they are going to. Why? Because it's their house and they're already a little freaked out to have some stranger living there.
Your best bet is to come clean and explain any unusual situation beforehand. Facing bankruptcy? These days, who isn't? Had an eviction? Depending on how long ago it was, it might not be a big problem. What is a big problem is when the landlord receives an application that says zero evictions and then they run a background check and discover a long history of unpaid apartment collections. Now they know you can’t be trusted, and they won’t want you anywhere near their house. Ever.
Still having trouble getting a landlord's attention? Leave us a comment below and we'll give you our take on your situation.
