Topic: “Your application fee is a lot to pay. Can you guarantee my application will be approved?”

Phone prospect today: your application fee is a lot to pay. Can you guarantee my application will be approved?
(Yes, this was a real call).

I sure can as long as you meet all our requirements. ????

No guarantees in life ????

I love when they say if they are not approved they want their app fee back.

Debbie Haskell or they apply and cancel the next day wanting it back. Yeah, nope. Non-refundable means non-refundable...

Well, it is a lot to pay for some people. They don't have enough money to apply multiple places until they get approved. It is up to us to do our very best to estimate whether or not they will be accepted as well as estimate the deposit for them. Of course you should always state, I can't guarantee this because all of the things I base this on must be verified and if something turns out to be different, that may affect this estimate. But this is just plain old GOOD customer service and kindness.

Jeannie Marie Werthman that's why we have a Criteria to Rent page with the app. We tell Propects we use a third party screening company, and because we don't know your background until after an application is submitted we would be unable to know if your application would be approved. We also give the number to the screening company so they can call with any specific questions. That way it keeps us out of questions we'd have to guess at, this keeping fair housing standards. We always strive for great customer service. ????

Tracy Rust Jamison we dont do it that way. We use our own score card and we CAN and do help people determine if they might qualify.

This is when having a written criteria of approval minimums saves your ass. Plus good for fair housing.

Laura Renaldo our application has a Criteria to Rent page with it.

Again as someone above asked, how much is it????

Barbara Mabry $50

Have had this numerous times.

Mine's better I think: "What date can I start moving in?" "Your lease begins on July 1." "Yes, but when can I pick up the keys and move in?"

I’ve been asked if the application fee would be refunded if they weren’t approved. And I’ve been asked if the application could be run before they pay the fee.

Lena Ramo that’s a good one! And then they’ll pay right!!!!

Barbara Mabry Yes, of course!

Well, Florida being interesting, I have asked something like the above. mostly, "what's the credit score requirements", since that what the screening is usually all about.

Not long ago had a guy threaten to sue me for his application fee when he wasn’t accepted. ????

Erik McKinster I once had a guy grab me around my neck on a Sunday no one else was there and demand his app fee back! He let me go and showed up at our corporate office on Monday brandishing a gun!! They called police and gave him his money back!!! There are crazies out there!!

Barbara Mabry that’s why a carry, lol. Glad you made it out safe.

I love when people say "I'll see you in court!" Lol... ok, bring it on

“I can guarantee your application will be approved, should you meet all the listed criteria and qualification listed in the application”