How to Create a Flawless Rental Resume
In a competitive rental market, finding ways to stand out as a prospective tenant is crucial. Knowing that you’ll likely have to keep applying to other properties can feel defeating when several people are after the same rental. However, if you make yourself stand out from the start, you might increase your chances of securing a great rental property. Today, we’ll go over why you need a rental resume and what to include to stand out against the competition.
Contents of This Article:
- What Is a Rental Resume?
- Why Do You Need a Rental Resume?
- What to Include In Your Resume
- Tips for Making Your Rental Resume Stand Out
- Work With BMG Property Managers Today
What Is a Rental Resume?
A rental resume is a document prospective tenants create and submit to potential landlords or property managers as part of the rental application process. The purpose of a rental resume is to provide landlords with a comprehensive overview of the applicant’s background, financial stability, rental history, and other relevant information to help them make an informed decision about whether to approve the applicant as a tenant.
However, it’s important to note that rental application requirements and processes can vary depending on the landlord, Fairfax property management company, and local rental laws. Therefore, individuals seeking to create a rental resume should review the specific requirements of the property they’re interested in and tailor their resume accordingly.
Before we review some important things to include in your rental resume, here’s why you should consider making one.
Why Do You Need a Rental Resume?
Creating a rental resume can help applicants stand out in a competitive rental market, especially when multiple tenants are interested in the same property. By providing all the necessary information upfront, applicants can make it easier for landlords to assess their suitability as tenants and expedite the application process.
Most rental applications are quite thorough, asking all of the most important questions to help landlords find and evaluate good tenants. However, there are still benefits to creating a rental resume right off the bad. Some of the advantages of creating a rental resume include the following:
- Competitive Advantage
- Positive First Impression
- Demonstrate Responsibility
- Personalization
- Efficiency and Transparency
Competitive Advantage
Having a rental resume can help you stand out from other applicants in competitive markets. It shows you’re proactive, organized, and serious about renting the property. Additionally, sharing a bit about yourself, your interests, and your reasons for renting the property can help landlords connect with you on a more personal level.
Positive First Impression
Your rental resume is your initial introduction to the landlord or property manager. As such, a well-crafted rental resume can create a positive first impression, increasing your chances of being selected as a tenant. It also allows you to provide context or explain any credit issues or potential red flags.
Demonstrate Responsibility
A rental resume lets you highlight your positive rental history, responsible financial behavior, and reliable rental habits. This can assure landlords that you’re likely to be a dependable tenant. For instance, providing details about your employment, income, and financial history demonstrates your ability to consistently pay rent on time.
Personalization
You can include personal information that might not be covered in a standard rental application form. This could help the landlord understand you better and feel more comfortable renting to you. Additionally, a well-structured rental resume shows that you’re organized and attentive to detail, qualities landlords often value.
Efficiency and Transparency
Providing a rental resume can streamline the application process and establish a foundation of transparent communication. Landlords appreciate having all the necessary information upfront, which can speed up the decision-making process. Additionally, you can establish trust and transparency by providing thorough information about yourself from the start.
What to Include In Your Resume
When creating a rental resume, it’s essential to include relevant and accurate information that gives landlords a comprehensive overview of your background, rental history, and financial stability. Here’s a breakdown of what you should include in your rental resume.
- Personal Information- Start your resume by listing your full legal name, current address, phone number, and email address.
- Objective or Summary- Include a brief statement explaining your purpose for renting and what you’re looking for in a rental property.
- Employment Information- Add your current employer’s name and address, your job title with a short description, when you got hired, and your monthly or annual income.
- Income Verification- Landlords or property managers may want to see proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, employment verification letters, or tax documents. This can help demonstrate your ability to pay rent.
- Rental History and References- List previous properties you’ve lived in, starting with the most recent. With each property, include the landlord or property manager’s name and contact information, along with the addresses, dates of occupancy, the monthly rent amount, and your reason for leaving.
- Pet Information- If you have any pets, include details about them, including the type, breed, size, and relevant information about their behavior. If the property allows pets, this information can be important to landlords.
- Additional Information- Finally, add any other relevant details that might help the landlord understand you better or make a decision. For instance, you might briefly describe yourself, your lifestyle, and your reasons for renting the property. You may also include rental preferences or any special accommodations you may require.
Tips for Making Your Rental Resume Stand Out
Creating a rental resume that stands out can greatly improve your chances of securing the rental you want. However, there’s a big difference between creating a rental resume and creating an engaging one. Here are some tips for making your rental resume stand out against other applicants.
- Use professional formatting with clear headings and bullet points.
- Choose a professional font and maintain consistent formatting throughout the document.
- Keep it concise, using brief, impactful statements to highlight your qualifications.
- Tailor your resume to match the specific property and landlord’s preferences.
- Start with a strong introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and encourages them to keep reading.
- Emphasize your positive rental history, including references from previous landlords.
- Provide clear evidence of your financial stability, including proof of employment and income.
- Highlight skills that are relevant to being a responsible tenant, like good communication, cleanliness, and maintenance abilities.
- Address any gaps in rental history or credit concerns openly and honestly.
- Provide strong references, like former landlords or employers, who can speak to your character or reliability.
- Avoid grammatical and spelling errors by thoroughly proofreading your resume before submitting it.
- Make your contact information accurate and easy to find on the resume.
- If you submit your resume online, save it as a PDF to ensure the formatting stays consistent.
- If the landlord or property manager provides specific guidelines for the rental application, make sure to follow them closely.
Overall, an excellent rental resume not only gives your potential landlord more information about you but also reflects your professionalism and genuine interest in the property.
Work With BMG Property Managers Today
Searching for and finding the right rental for you can sometimes be challenging. The next part is applying, qualifying, and communicating with landlords or property managers to facilitate the rental process. All of these back-and-forth communications can take time, slowing down the time it takes to secure housing. However, creating a rental resume can speed up the process by giving landlords a comprehensive overview of your experience and qualifications, leaving less room for questions and uncertainty.
If you want to work with excellent property managers to find a new rental, look at Bay Property Management Group’s current listings. Or, if you own rental properties and want to streamline your rental processes, our professional property managers can help. Whether it’s listing properties, reviewing rental applications, screening tenants, collecting payments, or maintenance issues, we’ve got it covered. Contact BMG today to learn about our rental management services throughout Northern Virginia and the surrounding areas.
