Understanding the Rental Process: Honesty is the Best Policy

Renting a property is more than filling out an application, paying the application fee, and then waiting to hear if you have been approved. There are certain steps that need to be taken to ensure that an owner would be willing to rent to you. The next few blogs will address these steps.

As I reflected on my experiences in helping people find a rental, I consider being up-front and honest about your situation to be of primary importance. I am not speaking of giving out confidential information, but simply letting your showing agent know if there are any background, credit, employment, or income problems.

A real estate agent, or the property management company they are associated with, cannot magically produce a positive outcome if there are negative items that need to be resolved.

Sometimes these issues can be taken care of right away, but often they are situations that should have been addressed before you started searching for a rental. A reliable showing agent can guide you in the direction you should go to resolve an issue that may lead to your application to be denied.

This does not mean that all issues can be solved in a few days’ time. Some situations may require weeks, or months to take care of. If you are in this position, and need to move right away, it can be frustrating and cause a great deal of anxiety. (In a future blog we will discuss how to prevent this scenario from happening.)

Be willing to listen to the advice you may be given, even if it is not what you want to hear. Most showing agents are willing to assist you. They want to help you navigate the rental process, but there are certain procedures and regulations that need to be met.

If you do not follow your agent’s advice and there are discrepancies in your application, it will cause confusion on the part of the management company and the owner. When there is confusion, an application will usually be denied. It looks like you are trying to be deceptive.
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The adage “honesty is the best policy” is good advice. A showing agent cannot successfully help you if they do not have the correct information. You may not like their suggestions, however if you are receptive to you agent’s advice you can take the steps necessary to strengthen your chances of having a rental application approved.