Rule #11: 7 unanswered calls into the leasing office = no one home (in either the office or the entirety of the property.)

Amendment to Rule #2: Some of the residents who are behind on their rent are actually being HONEST with you - delinquent doesn't justify judgement, so don't dish it.

12. Not every large dog is a pit bull. If you have breed restrictions, make sure you KNOW which breeds you're actually excluding and how to tell them apart from other non-restricted breeds.

(I've seriously had people mistake LABRADOR RETRIEVERS for pit bulls. "If it's big and might bite, it must be a pit!" seems to be the mentality here. I've also seen "no pit bulls or lookalikes" advertised ... that's so lazy, and sad.)

#12- Don't go way out of your way to bend the rules to help someone, it will bite you in the hinny every time. They take advantage all the time, you set a precedent.

#13- Don't fight for an applicant that is on the fence and leaning at being declined. It is better to make your collection bonus every month, not the one time lease bonus.

#14- Do everything you can to help your maintenance team. They are heroes that go without a warm dinner, interrupted family time and adrenalin rushes in the middle of the night with calm and cool composure. Amazing individuals.

Amendment to rule #2- more often than not, they lie if they can get away with it. Keep your heart strings out of it and treat it with understanding and not take it personally.

@Lisa - Or better than a photo book, you can have pets in doubt get a DNA test at the local vet's office. It's easier and you have something on paper for proof. But as far as "lookalikes" go - in addition to the three breeds typically recognized as pit bulls (American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier), people will mistake boxers, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs, and Bull Terriers for pit bulls. There's a lot of misinformation out there - I mean, I'm opposed to breed restrictions in general, but if you're going to have them it's imperative that you know how to implement them appropriately.

1b. If the resident says they have no pets, they probably have a cat, or two.

Sara,
While attempting to respond, I think I inadvertently reported your post. Sorry about that, new mouse and keyboard. I love the idea of the DNA test and the book of photos. As a certified obedience instructor (my own kind of industry "therapy") I know there really is not a bad dog, there are bad owners. One of the groups in Denver was pushing that all "intimidating breeds" had to have a Good Citizen Certification and pay a higher renter's insurance. It was a great idea that failed.

@Maureen - you're absolutely right, and I wish more people understood that. I'm not sure I'd agree with higher renter's insurance for "intimidating breeds," but definitely being required to have a Good Citizen Certification is a step in the right direction. I think that part of the problem is that folks get these animals without realizing the amount of effort that needs to go into their training and upkeep - working breed dogs need to work! They get destructive if left to their own devices. It's a shame the measure failed.