Vetting Tenants — How we protect the landlord’s interests.

In Clifton, our team likes to deal with reliable tenants. Here are a few of the traits we expect.

1. A great tenant pays the rent on time every month. This means paying on or before the first, rather than at 5 pm on the 5th.
2. An ideal renter is honest. An ideal renter does not sneak in a co-tenant or pet.
3. An ideal renter is reasonably clean. A desirable renter does not bring pests like rodents and bugs.
4. A trustworthy renter does not destroy the home.
5. A reliable renter is courteous and pleasant to get along with. A good renter knows the difference between a property manager and a hotel concierge.
6. A great renter doesn't bother neighbors.
7. A great renter complains when appropriate. Renters that don't report maintenance issues cost real estate investors money and cause issues for property managers.
8. A desirable renter doesn't gripe when it's not appropriate. This means that a good renter doesn't demand to upgrade functioning systems. A reliable tenant doesn't expect more than the lease provides. A reliable renter doesn't complain that an appliance doesn't work when the tenant doesn't know how to operate the appliance.
9. A trustworthy renter does not smoke in the home.
10. A good renter is looking for a lease that is as long as the owner wants to rent the home.

So this is what we're looking for in a renter, but how do we find renters who live up to this standard? Experience has taught us that tardy renters can appear as polite, nicely-dress, well educated people with great jobs. We have a nose for sniffing out tardy tenants.