You’ve got five rental applications. Where do you start?

It’s Monday morning.

You’ve barely opened your laptop, and there are already five rental applications waiting to be reviewed.

One looks ready to go.

Another is missing documents.

Two are still waiting on checks, and there’s one you haven’t even had a chance to open.

Meanwhile, the owner has already emailed asking whether you’ve found a tenant.

Getting applications through the door is good news, especially after a busy weekend of inspections.

But when several arrive at once, working out where to start can take longer than expected.

And when you’re responsible for recommending someone to live in an owner’s investment property, you want to get it right.

First things first, what have you actually got?

Five applications doesn’t necessarily mean five applications ready for review.

Some applicants will have submitted everything you need.

Others might have forgotten a document, missed a question or provided information that needs checking.

Before getting too far into the assessment, it helps to get a clear picture of what’s sitting in front of you.

Which applications are complete?

Which checks are outstanding?

Is there anything that needs your attention before you can move forward?

It sounds simple enough, but anyone who’s spent their morning jumping between documents, emails and application screens knows how quickly things can add up.

And with five applications on the go, it’s pretty easy to lose track of which one you were looking at.

Five applications. Five different stories.

Let’s say you’ve worked through the initial details, and here’s what you’re looking at.

Application one: Everything appears to be there, and the required checks have been completed. This one’s ready for a closer review.

Application two: Looks promising, but there’s a supporting document missing. You’ll need to follow that up before moving forward.

Application three: The information is complete, but you’re still waiting on a reference.

Application four: Something has been flagged during the review. You’ll need to check what it means rather than jump to conclusions.

Application five: All the information is available, and this applicant is also ready for consideration.

Now you’ve got a much better idea of where things stand.

You can follow up on what’s missing, review the applications that are ready and keep track of anything outstanding.

The challenge is making sure none of those details get lost along the way.

A warning doesn’t tell the whole story

Anyone who’s processed rental applications knows that occasionally something needs a second look.

It could be missing information, a document that needs reviewing or a result that requires further checking.

And when you’re moving quickly between applications, those details are easy to overlook if they’re buried several clicks away.

Having warnings clearly visible helps you work out where to focus your attention.

Of course, a warning isn’t automatically a reason to rule someone out.

You still need to understand what has been flagged, check the relevant information and assess each application fairly.

That’s where a good review process earns its keep.

The aim is to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed recommendation, without overlooking something important along the way.

Two good applicants. One available property.

Back to our five applications.

You’ve followed up on the missing information, reviewed the relevant checks and now have two applicants who appear suitable.

The owner wants to know who you’d recommend.

This is where being able to see the relevant information clearly becomes particularly useful.

You need to consider each application against the property’s requirements, check the information available and explain your recommendation.

And you need to do it fairly, consistently and in line with the rental laws that apply in your state or territory.

The software can help organise the information, but it shouldn’t be making the decision for you.

That’s still where your experience as a property manager matters.

The owner wants an update. Preferably yesterday.

Remember that email waiting in your inbox?

By now, the owner is probably wondering whether you’ve reviewed the applications and when they can make a decision.

It’s a fair question.

Their property is sitting vacant, and they’re keen to get someone in.

But there’s a difference between telling an owner you’ve received five applications and being able to explain where those applications are up to.

Maybe two are ready for consideration, one needs more information and you’re waiting on checks for the others.

Being able to give that update clearly makes the conversation easer.

It also helps the owner understand why you might need a little more time before recommending an applicant.

After all, rushing through an application just to get an answer out quickly isn’t doing anyone any favours.

Making rental applications easier to review

We’ve recently given Application Processing in Reapit Lettings a fresh new look, with a redesigned workflow that makes it easier to see what needs attention.

The functionality property managers already rely on is still there.

We’ve made the information easier to find and the review process easier to follow.

A few of the improvements include:

• ‍A new Overview tab: See applicant details, owner details, application summaries and database check results together, without jumping between multiple tabs.‍
• Warnings where you can see them: Important warnings now appear at the top of the application, so you can spot what needs a closer look.‍
• Simpler ID reviews: Use Review All to work through identification documents, checking or flagging each one as you go.‍
• Shortlisting in one click: Shortlist an applicant directly from their application.‍
• A clearer activity history: See what’s happening throughout the application, including messages sent when statuses change.

The new page also works on tablets, which is handy when you’re moving between inspections and the office.

Want a quick look at how it works? Our latest Quick Skill Drill walks you through the updated Application Processing experience in Reapit Lettings.

For a closer look at what’s changed, including new features and rollout details, explore our updated Application Processing experience here.