Happy April!
Spring may finally have sprung. In my opinion, once they tell us to spring forward, then the weather needs to go along right with it! Time for outdoor living and shedding the warm clothes!
One of the cool tools we introduced this winter has to do with taking the subjectivity out of one part of the tenant screening process. It also allows us to properly address a major issue in the rental industry over the last few years. With this tool we are compliant and objective in what we do about applicants with pets.
Why Pets Are A Big Deal
Is your investment property a single or duplex? Chances are very high that one of the major reasons people are interested in renting from you is a place for their animal companion. This is a fact that I try to share with any owner who says they do not want to allow pets. Of course, that will always be the owner's choice. But, when making this decision, you are likely eliminating 70% of the prospects! It is a lifestyle choice and if one has a pet they want some easy to access outdoors space.
How Should Pets Be Considered?
Reviewing applicants with pets should focus on issues like breeds (is the rental owner insured for the breed and is the breed considered non-aggressive). Also, importance needs to be placed on the responsibility level of the pet owner (vaccinations in place, any complaints from former landlords). Sometimes determining the breed is challenging with all of the mutt-type dogs (Nothing wrong with mutts! We have one and he is great!). Assessing a pet owner's level of responsibility is often limited to what a previous landlord shares.
Service Animals
It is very important when told by an applicant, or an existing resident, that their pet is a service animal that we fully respect the related issues. It is discriminatory to ask certain questions or make certain requirements of service animals. Unfortunately, because of that, some applicants have tried to take advantage of claiming an animal is a service animal in order to avoid most of the normal pet restrictions.
Finally..A Solution!
For all of these reasons, finding a better way to screen pets became a very important task for us. When we found PetScreening.com, it made assessing pet requests significantly better.
Now we have a full portfolio of information on the pets staying in your rentals. Depending on the special paw rating given (1 to 5 paws) we have a structure for pet deposits and fees. We also obtain two pictures of each pet. This system takes the subjectivity out of the process while truly assessing the risk a pet poses to your rental.
I always suggest that placing great tenants is the key to your success as a rental owner. Great tenants take great care of their pets. Now they will gladly provide us the information for this screening. It also is available for their use at other places like kennels. So the applicants like it too!
Now...Let Spring Begin!
This is no April Fool! Time for Mother Nature to stop playing tricks on us and give us what we are wanting...agree? | 
