Finding a tenant for your Witfield property is relatively easy. Finding a good tenant is where the real work begins.

A landlord can advertise a property, receive dozens of enquiries and have someone ready to move in within days. But speed should never be the only measure of a successful rental.

The tenant you choose could occupy your property for months or even years, so the decision deserves more consideration than simply choosing the person who responds first or offers to pay the deposit immediately.

If you're looking to rent out your Witfield property, here is how to approach tenant selection more strategically.

Start With the Right Rental Price

The quality of your applicants can be influenced by how you position the property in the market.

If the rental is substantially above comparable properties, you may receive fewer enquiries. If it is priced too low, you may attract large numbers of applicants without necessarily improving the quality of those applications.

A realistic, market-related rental gives you a better opportunity to attract tenants who genuinely want and can reasonably afford the property.

Before advertising, consider factors such as location, size, condition, parking, security, amenities and the rental prices of comparable properties.

Our article on seven things landlords should check before renting out their Witfield property provides a useful starting point.

Don't Judge an Applicant by First Impressions Alone

A prospective tenant who is friendly, well dressed and communicates confidently may create an excellent first impression.

Another applicant may be quieter or less polished but could have an excellent rental history and strong financial credentials.

That is why tenant selection should be based on objective information rather than personality alone.

A conversation with an applicant is useful, but it should form part of a broader assessment.

Check Affordability Carefully

One of the fundamental questions is whether the applicant can realistically afford the rental.

Affordability should be considered alongside the applicant's overall financial circumstances rather than simply accepting their statement that they can afford the property.

Documents supplied by an applicant should also be reviewed carefully and, where appropriate, verified.

A tenant who struggles to afford the rental from the beginning may create problems for both parties later.

Look Beyond the Credit Score

A credit check can provide valuable information, but it shouldn't necessarily be the only factor considered when assessing an applicant.

A landlord should look at the overall risk profile of the applicant.

Our article on what a tenant credit check tells landlords explains why credit information can be useful when making a rental decision.

The important point is that tenant screening should be comprehensive rather than based on one number.

Check the Applicant's Rental History

Where appropriate and legally permissible, previous rental history can provide useful insight into how an applicant has behaved in previous rental relationships.

Questions may include whether rental payments were made as agreed, whether the property was properly maintained and whether there were significant disputes during the previous tenancy.

Previous rental behaviour doesn't guarantee future behaviour, but it can form an important part of a properly documented assessment.

Be Alert to Warning Signs

Sometimes the biggest mistake a landlord makes is ignoring something that doesn't feel right because they are desperate to fill a vacant property.

Warning signs can include inconsistent information, pressure to bypass normal screening procedures, reluctance to provide required documentation or information that cannot be independently verified.

Our guide to seven warning signs a rental applicant may be high risk looks at some of the issues landlords should consider.

The purpose isn't to automatically reject someone because of one unusual circumstance. It is to encourage landlords to investigate inconsistencies before making a decision.

Don't Let Vacancy Pressure Make the Decision for You

This is one of the biggest challenges facing private landlords.

Every day a property is vacant can feel like money being lost.

That pressure can make an otherwise cautious landlord think, "I'll take this applicant because at least someone is ready to move in."

But accepting an unsuitable tenant simply to eliminate a short-term vacancy can potentially create a much bigger financial and administrative problem later.

The goal should be to minimise vacancy without compromising the quality of the tenant selection process.

Use a Consistent Screening Process

A structured application process can make tenant selection more consistent and easier to manage.

Rather than asking different applicants different questions and making decisions based on instinct, establish a process that considers the same relevant factors for every applicant.

This can include application information, affordability, credit information, employment information, rental history and verification of supplied information.

A+ Properties provides a Tenant Screening & Risk Assessment service designed to help landlords make more informed rental decisions.

Remember That Finding a Tenant Is Only the Beginning

A successful rental isn't simply one where the property is occupied.

A successful rental is one where the landlord and tenant understand their respective responsibilities, the rent is paid as agreed, the property is properly maintained and problems are dealt with appropriately.

That is why tenant selection deserves serious attention before the lease is signed.

The Best Tenant Isn't Always the First Tenant

When your Witfield property is vacant, it can be tempting to focus entirely on getting someone through the door.

But the better question is:

"Which applicant gives me the strongest overall reason to believe this tenancy is likely to work?"

That requires more than a quick conversation and a promise to pay the deposit.

It requires a proper process.

If you're a Witfield landlord and would rather have an experienced property professional handle the marketing, applicant process and tenant placement, A+ Properties can help.

LET A+ PROPERTIES HELP YOU SELL OR RENT

Already have someone who wants to rent your property? You can also use our tenant placement service to help with the next stage.

I'VE FOUND A TENANT – WHAT NOW?

And if you are still deciding whether professional management is worthwhile, compare self-managing your rental property with professional property management.

Your Witfield property is too valuable to treat tenant selection as a race. Choose carefully, screen properly and protect your investment from the beginning.

A+ Properties — BUY // SELL // RENT SMARTLY