San Joaquin Homes Community Blog

Reference Checking the Simple Way

When renting your property you’ll want to make sure that your home is well taken care of and that you’ll be paid on time. It can be difficult to trust a complete stranger with something so precious, but there are ways to make the decision a little easier.

Here are a few tips to help you on your way to peace of mind:

Cover your costs- Long distance phone calls and ordering credit reports can get expensive. Remember to include these costs in your application fee.

Don’t just count on credit- If you’re trying to rent quickly you may have to choose between a few tenants with a less than stellar credit history. Use former landlords as a good indicator of renter risk.

Pick up the phone- Call your potential tenant’s current employer, former landlords and personal references to assess risk vs. benefit. It’s not the quickest assessment tool, but it is definitely the most accurate.

Norbert G. Huston, CCRM

Realtor/Broker

www.SanJoaquinHomes.info