Have you ever applied for a rental and been denied? Most people in the rental market get rejected from a property at some stage, and the landlord might not tell you why.
And so, we nutted out a few essential tips to help you win the rental of your dreams.
Put your best self forward at any rental inspection.
1. Dress up
Always look your best when attending a rental inspection.
We’d all like to think that looks are irrelevant when it comes to choosing potential tenants, but landlords and agents are only human, so being well presented will almost certainly boost your chances of success.
You can certainly be yourself, but it might be best to leave the stubbies, ugg boots and black lipstick for when you’ve actually moved into your lush new pad.
2. Be on time
Nothing makes a bad first impression quite like being late.
But if you’re the first one waiting outside the rental property and greet the real estate agent with a lovely big smile, that makes you memorable, which helps push your application to the top of the pile.
3. Have a rental resume
If you want to find a great rental in a popular suburb, it’s best to knock up a rental resume and carry a few copies with you at inspections, so that you can apply for a property immediately after inspecting it. There are few statements of intent stronger than that.
Your rental resume should include details about your rental history, housemates, education, job and salary. And it should also include your contact details and the contact details of your references.
Speed can be your biggest ally when applying for a rental. So, if you show up looking super suave with a ready-printed resume, you’re almost certain to find a way into your landlord’s good books.
4. Be one step ahead of everyone else
A rental resume is great, but if you really want to get the jump on the competition, you should consider creating a profile on 1Form. It’s a free online rental application service that allows you to use one form for multiple applications, making the entire application process a much faster, streamlined process.
The online rental form also includes a feature that allows you to prove your trustworthiness to prospective landlords, which goes a long way towards pushing your name to the front of the queue.
Known as Tenant Verification, the feature uses your Australian passport or Australian driver licence to check whether you’ve previously been listed on a tenancy blacklist, filed for bankruptcy, or had any run-ins with the law.
The report is valid for six months and costs $29, which is a drop in the ocean when you consider nothing is likely to provide peace of mind to your landlord quite as much as a third-party character check. They’re effectively entrusting one of their most valuable assets to a total stranger, after all.
5. Be honest
There’s absolutely no point in lying about anything. That includes pets, potential housemates and your salary.
If you have a black mark against your rental history, the best thing is to be completely candid about it.
If you have a pet, draw up a cute pet resume and have your pet plead their case in a separate application. The landlord will appreciate your honesty, and, hopefully, your humour.
6. Be charming
Lots of people find rental inspections overwhelming, but it’s really not the time to be shy.
Make sure you chat with the agent: Let them know how awesome they are for being up early on a Saturday, or ask them how they got into real estate. Just talk to them like regular folk.
People love to talk about themselves, and if you make the agents feel good by listening to them complain about traffic on the way to the inspection, they’ll remember you, and they might favour your application, too.
7. Be desirable
It’s important to put your best foot forward, so try to highlight all the things that make you a desirable tenant.
Make mention of the fact that you’ve been at your current workplace for more than five years, or that you own your car. Remark upon how much you enjoy gardening, or highlight any trade skills that will help you maintain or improve the property. Demonstrate that you’re good with money and are largely reliable.
Sure, your dog may yap when the doorbell rings, but you want to point out that 90% of the time she’s “easy going, and a very friendly Maltese terrier”.
Put yourself in the landlord’s shoes. They’re looking for someone who will look after their property and pay the rent on time.
Convince them that you’ll do both, and you’ll be well on your way to securing your dream rental.
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