Lead Time To Get Into A Rental (Tampa: apartment complexes, renter)

[FloridaKash]

Does anyone know how long it generally takes from the time you complete an application to being able to move into a rental home? I am not looking at large apartment complexes, I am looking at single family homes. We'll have about one week from when we arrive in Tampa to begin reporting to work. So basically, we have to find a place, rent it and unload our belongings in about one week. It has been a very long time since I have rented so I am not sure what the wait time would be to get the keys. I am hoping only a day or two... maybe 3.

Landlords that are on here, I am looking forward to hearing from you. We'll be arriving around July 18th. I have no idea if this makes a difference, just though I would give as much detail as I can.

I am beginning to think that flying down in late June and securing a place may be wise. The downside to that is its about $650/RT and I am sure DW and I would both have to go. No way I could pick the place out myself and she does not like to travel alone. $1300 = an extra $100/month in rent over a 1 year period.

Suggestions? I'm all ears. We started packing already. 5 boxes done, tons more to go!

Thanks

[housingcrashsurvivor]

I think this totally depends on the efficiency of the landlord. I could probably do some electronic searches on criminal records and credit checks with just a few keystrokes enough to satisfy me. Someone else might take days. Checking references? Did you list someone who wouldn't give you a good one? Past landlords maybe. How long does it take to complete a phone call?

Haven't rented out up here yet but I've done so in south Florida with minimum time required. Say if a landlord uses a typical online search such as Tenant Screening | Tenant Credit Check | Landlord Credit Check | E-Renter, they specify: "Get reports within one hour during business hours, and same day service after hours and weekends."

I'd try to search as much as you can online now and then specify to those prospective owners that you will require quick turnaround once you get into town. That might help to widdle down the field a bit. Even if you select something else once in town, at least you'd have them to fall back on.

[Maggi07]

I think most landlords will want to get a renter in quick and will go through the motions pretty fast. I checked references and criminal histories on our renters in just an hour or so. It helped that the people given as references happened to be available, but it shouldn't take very long either way.

The people we are renting from here took a couple days. I think they did more investigating than I did-- I know they had terrible renters here before us, so I don't blame them. But even so, everything was set, money was exchanged, and papers were signed within four or five days.