How to Put Together An A+ Rental Application

Congratulations on finding the perfect apartment! The next step is to submit your rental application to secure your new home. Rental applications help landlords make informed decisions on who to rent to. This is also your chance to showcase why you’re the perfect candidate to rent the apartment. Filling out the application may seem self-explanatory, but there are a few tips to make your application stand out.

Follow All Directions

Think of a rental application as a test – landlords and property managers use them to see if you pay attention to detail or if you’re careless. Read over all the sections of the application before you begin to fill it out. Make sure you complete all sections of the application as well; failure to do so can result in processing delays.

Be Honest

Lying, and having someone find out the truth, looks a lot worse than just telling the truth about your past. If you’ve been evicted or asked to move out, be honest about the reason why. The same goes for if you’ve declared bankruptcy or been fired from job.

If you have pets, plan on getting a pet, or will be living with roommates you need to state that as well. Many communities require an application from each person who plans on living in the apartment. Trying to hide a pet or roommate will result in major consequences.

Provide References

Unless the application specifically states “no references”, providing a few references provides a potential landlord the opportunity to get to know you. Attach your reference contact to the application and submit it via email or mail. Provide a mix of personal and professional references and always ask the reference first before listing them!

Clean Up Your Social Media

Before you submit your application, take some time to clean up your social media accounts. Any photos or posts that don’t portray your personality in the most positive light should be removed or made as private as possible. Most landlords will search your name to learn more about you – don’t let that one photo from your Freshmen year of college deter them.

With these tips in mind you’re ready to submit an A+ rental application!