ok, so when to follow up on renting?
 

Looked at a house we really liked on Saturday (were the first ones there when the open house started). Filled out the rental app, chatted up the owner. Know that at least one other person was ready to write a check (as was I). Went back towards the end of the open house with some phone numbers to add to the rental app and chatted up the owner a bit more. Sent a short, "thanks, pleasure to meet you and your wife, and let me know if you need any more info" email on Sunday. No word yet. So when do I ping him again? We want the place, and I also want to give notice as I'm looking at a 20 day (and counting) overlap with my existing place. Don't want to seem pushy but seems it shouldn't be that complicated though he likely has multiple prospective tenants.

Cal the guy up. Some folks don't do well with email. Tell him

Don't be all "two day rule" like some girl you met in a bar, it's a business transaction.

I work as a landlord, and we also don't want to appear pushy. So someone has to break the ice. I say call him/her and say."The more I think about the place, the more I like it. Can I provide you with rent references and proof of employment etc".

What bill said, I'd be a little more forward. "Is there anything else needed for us to make this happen?"

Call them - "Hey man, what the F is going on with the house? I'm interested but don't have F'ing forever, ya know?"

Something like that - a real attention grabber; separate you from the the other applicants. Let me know how it goes.

I filled out the rental app on the spot and when I went back later in the day made it clear that I was ready to write the check. He hinted that he thought it would work out. He hasn't contacted any of my references yet. Just not sure how pushy I should be. It is a married couple with 3 and 5 year old girls so while it is a business transaction it isn't like I'm dealing with a management company.

Tell him your clones are gonna die if you don't get the grow room set up in the next couple days so you need an answer asap.

I said I needed enough time to move my weapons. Hope he understands...

Express extreme frustration and anxiety. In fact, call him a nasty name for taking so long.

Or better yet, just give him the exact phone call tbat VaSteve suggested. Communicate. If you are concerned about his time frames, then ask him about those time frames, tell him you don't want to be a pest, but you are (would be) an excellent renter and would like to make this house your home. In sales, it's called "closing the deal." Not in a pushy way of course. Just sayin'.... "I want this job." or "I want to live in this house." And perhaps ask about timelines if that's important to you.

Pick up the phone and tell him you are ready to go. ready to give him the deposit check.

Did the 1-2 punch. Sent an email with links to my work and music sites as well as those for my g/f. Called and left vm with his wife as well. He wrote back saying he's at a retreat and mostly off-grid and that his wife is doing the credit checks etc and we should hear soon.

Unfortunately in some situations you can't just write the check. Certain rentals have landlords desperate for tenants. We looked at one last week - they already dropped the price from $4K/mo to $3690 and it still is over price imho. The one we want is the opposite. There is at least one other family that would have written a check on the spot (and I offered on Saturday). When I went back on for the follow-up I offered to pay from July 1 even though the house wouldn't be ready to move in until probably the 5th. I'm looking for a place to stay for the next 4 years until the boy is out of HS so a little extra money up front washes out. There just aren't that many good houses out there for rent. And about half of those that are on the market are "no pets". As much as we want to move, it would have to be dire for me to ditch the cats. For the life of me I don't understand landlords that won't take cats with a deposit (I'll even do non-refundable) unless they are deathly allergic.

good luck, good places are hard to find

Talked with the owner. Her daughter had a 105F temp last night so they had a trip to the ER. She's better now (kids heal quickly) and I should get the final decision tomorrow.

Just show up in front of the place with all your stuff.



KT

3-day rule! Wait that is something else.....

Sometimes people just want to work at their own pace or have already made up there mind and just don't know how to say no (not saying this is the case).
I am in the process of renting a place I own and if you have something nice at a decent price there are lots of good perspective tenants willing to take it and pay on the spot.
He certainly knows he's got something more than one person wants, which is a great position for him, but there may not be much more you can do at this point

Steve

Maybe playa style would be more effective :lol:

I like what Cdnone1 said. If you decided to call, you should be nice and easy, don't be pushy. Make it's short and firm, just to give him the message that you want the place and are ready.

Where the heck were you in January when I was renting my house!

J/K... from reading your other post it probably doesn't fit your criteria for school or garage space...

Seriously, in this market I can't believe he is stringing you along... he must not need the money... my house sat empty for three months and I was begging people to move in.

On the other hand potently renters can be incredible flakes... at least sixty percent of the people who called about the house never showed up... so it is easy to get jaded.

Totally depends on the location, the property, and the price. There are plenty of places in Santa Monica that are sitting empty. I see apartments with the WestSideRentals signs up for months on end. Other places get snapped up quickly. From what I can tell they aren't stringing me along, but rather life getting in the way. Business travel and a sick kid slowed down the process. I know they ran the credit check though because Quicken Loans woke me up this am to talk to me about my current refi (jackoffs).

Certainly plenty of flakes in the world. I try to avoid being one of those.