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Author: Mark Ainely | Partner GC Realty & Development & Co-Host Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast
Every Chicago landlord has been there: the phone rings, someone wants to see your rental, and within 30 seconds of the conversation, you already know this prospect isn’t a fit. But if you don’t have a system, you’ll waste your time driving across town, unlocking doors, and listening to a story you could’ve avoided with five quick prescreening questions.
Prescreening isn’t about being nosy; it’s about protecting your time, money, and sanity. At GC Realty & Development, we’ve leased over 5,000 units in Chicago and the suburbs, and the one thing that separates seasoned landlords from stressed-out ones is having a repeatable process before showings.
What questions should you be asking before you ever hand out a lockbox code or schedule a tour? Let’s dive in. If you can use software to automate this, then that is an even more innovative way to reclaim a block of your time.
1. When are you looking to move in?
This one tells you almost everything about a tenant’s situation. If they need to move “tomorrow,” that’s a red flag, they might be coming off an eviction, getting kicked out, or hiding something. On the other hand, if they’re six months away from moving, your wasting your time.
Question to ask: Are you able to sign a lease within 72hrs of approval with a move-in date within the next 30 days? (If voucher holder, choose YES)
-Why it matters: Matching timelines avoids sitting on the market too long or dealing with a tenant who’s in panic mode.
2. What’s your monthly household income?
Chicago property management best practice is setting income requirements at three times the rent. If your unit is $1,800, your tenant’s household income should be at least $5,400 per month.
Question to ask: What is your verifiable net (after tax) monthly income?
-Why it matters: This weeds out applicants who simply can’t afford your property. If they’re already stretching, you’re setting yourself up for late payments or collections.
3. How many people (and pets) will live in the unit?
This isn’t about being picky, it’s about compliance and avoiding surprises. Overcrowding can create lease violations, and undeclared pets are one of the biggest headaches for landlords.
Question to ask: Do you have any pets? Please note that there is a pet application fee of $__, and if approved, a one-time pet fee of $__, in addition to a monthly pet fee of $__ per animal, which will be added to the rental rate. Do you agree with these terms?
-Why it matters: Chicago landlords often lose thousands by saying “no pets” outright instead of structuring pet-friendly policies. If you screen properly and use tools like PetScreening.com, you can attract a wider pool of tenants and make money from it too.
4. Have you ever been evicted or broken a lease?
Most applicants won’t volunteer this unless you ask directly. And yes, people will lie, which is why you need to verify with eviction records and past landlords. But asking upfront sets expectations.
Question to ask: Has a previous landlord ever filed for eviction against you or your co-applicant?
-Why it matters: Past behavior is one of the strongest predictors of future behavior. If they’ve left landlords hanging before, you don’t want to be next.
5. Do you agree to our application process requirements to be approved?
A tenant can tell you anything, but a landlord reference tells you the truth. Just remember to cross-check, tax records can confirm whether the person giving you a “reference” actually owns that property.
Question to ask: Our application requirements are as follows: ___x net income to rent ratio (differs for voucher holders), no open bankruptcy cases, no evictions or landlord judgements, TransUnion credit score of 600 or higher, less than $10,000 in past due balances, self employed and case income applicants have to provide 3 months most recent back statements and two most recent tax returns. This applies to all applicants. Section 8 welcome. Voucher holders, if approved, have to pay a hold deposit to hold the apartment until your move-in date. The hold deposit is deducted from the move-in fee due at lease signing. Application fees are non-refundable. Please confirm you understand this.
-Why it matters: Let them know before they submit their application what is required of them. Expectations is everything and we even have the following video on our website going through what they need to qualify.
6. Do you have funds ready for the security deposit and first month’s rent?
This one’s simple: if they hesitate or give you a long story, it’s a warning sign. Tenants who can’t pay upfront often become tenants who can’t pay at all.
Question to ask: Do you have funds ready for the security deposit and first month’s rent as soon as the next 4-7 days when your application could be approved??
-Why it matters: It’s better to find out before you waste time showing a unit than to realize on lease-signing day that they’re short.
Chicago-Specific Pitfalls Landlords Overlook
Now, let’s talk about why prescreening is even more important here in Cook County. Chicago landlords operate under some of the strictest housing rules in the country, including the Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) and the county-wide RTLO. These ordinances outline everything from how security deposits must be handled to what screening practices are allowed.
If you’re not asking the right questions, or worse, if you’re inconsistent, you open yourself up to claims of discrimination, retaliation, or wrongful denial. Add in newer laws like the Flood Disclosure Requirement or the Illinois Tenant Credit Report law, and suddenly screening isn’t just about “who’s a good tenant.” It’s about staying compliant while protecting your asset.
Scams Are Getting Smarter
Back in the day, a fake paycheck stub was easy to spot. Today, $500 gets you an entire identity packet, paystubs, W-2s, references, and even social media profiles. That’s why prescreening questions are your first line of defense. If their story doesn’t add up when you ask simple questions about income, employment, or move-in dates, you don’t even need to waste money on a background check.
Chicago landlords especially need to watch out for:
Stolen identity scams (where the applicant is pretending to be someone else).
Overly accommodating applicants who seem too eager.
Applicants without bank accounts, even though their paystubs say “direct deposit.”
Prescreening lets you cut through the noise and spot inconsistencies before you fall into one of these traps.
Why These Questions Work
The point of prescreening is simple: protect your time. Every showing costs you gas, scheduling effort, and often missed opportunities with qualified tenants. In Chicago’s market, where vacancies can cost you hundreds per week, asking the right questions can be the difference between smooth cash flow and a drawn-out headache.
At GC Realty, we’ve built entire systems to filter tenants before we ever step foot in a unit. Whether it’s using online scheduling tools like ShowMojo or Tenant Turner, or leveraging our Tenant Placement Service, the idea is the same: keep the process consistent, compliant, and efficient.
Final Word
Bad tenants aren’t just a fluke, they’re usually the result of skipping steps. By asking these simple but powerful prescreening questions, you’re building a defense system against scams, rent loss, and future evictions.
If you’re a Chicago landlord and want a safety net, try our Free Rent Analysis to make sure your property is priced right, or let us handle the whole process with tenant placement and property management.
Because the best tenants aren’t found by luck, they’re found through the right system.
Capitalize On Your Team
We’ve shared a lot of information here on investing in real estate locally in Chicagoland. If you live outside the area, it may seem overwhelming for those wanting to invest in the Chicago market. But we really just look at it as a team sport.
Who’s on your investing team? Do you even have a team? GC Realty & Development, LLC has a dedicated team of professionals willing to share decades of experience in all facets of real estate investment. We handle everything from brokerage, leasing, and property management. Whether you hire us or not, we’re happy to provide our resources and expertise.
What gets me up in the morning and keeps me going 12 hours a day is the ability to add value to local area investors in Chicago and beyond! Those who connect with me often hear me say that our goal is to bring value to everyone we come in contact with.
We hope that in return, they will one day hire us for our tenant placement or property management services, refer us to someone they know, or leave a review about our services. We would clearly love all three; however, we’re happy whenever we get the opportunity to help!
Reach out today!
Partner / Co-Host of Straight Up Chicago Investor Podcast
