A Tale of a Charming Semi-Retired Couple
How to Spot a Drama Queen (or King) in Disguise Early in the Game
In the world of landlording, we meet all kinds of tenants: the reliable ones, the quiet ones, and sometimes, the drama queens and kings. Today, I’d like to share an experience that highlights the importance of spotting these “dramatic” personalities early on, before they derail your A+ tenant attracting process.
A few days ago, we had an inquiry from a semi-retired couple who seemed like ideal candidates for a high-end condo in downtown Edmonton. Their initial questionnaire was promising—they were interested in an earlier viewing and were quite specific about their preferences. They even mentioned wanting to move quickly, which made them seem serious and ready to act.
We arranged an early viewing, and things went smoothly. The couple hit it off with the condo and the current tenants and assured us they would submit their application by the end of the day. Their requests were detailed but not unusual for high-end renters: they wanted the furniture removed, needed two parking spaces, and were planning to use the condo as a winter getaway while they downsized and spent time in Mexico. They mentioned not having any rental history for the past 30 years, as they had always owned their homes. Everything seemed perfect.
However, the application never arrived that night.
The next morning, we received a text from the wife, explaining they were having “technical difficulties” completing the online form and asking for an alternative way to submit their application. To accommodate them, we sent a PDF form via email. She replied promptly, claiming she was tied up in meetings and that as a banker, she was concerned about the credit check—even though we had explained it was only a soft check. Once reassured, they again promised to submit the application “promptly.”
By now, it was the second day, and we were holding off on other promising applicants, hoping this semi-retired banker couple would come through. But again, no application arrived.
By the third day—we received another message from the wife, this time informing us that they had changed their plans and no longer wanted to rent.
Lessons Learned
What did this experience teach us? Three important lessons.
- Drama Queens and Kings Come in All Shapes, Sizes, and Ages
Even seemingly charming and reliable individuals can turn out to be overly dramatic and distracting. It’s easy to get sidetracked by their polished demeanor and confident promises. In this case, I allowed myself to be led off course for three days, almost losing other great prospective tenants in the process. The key is to focus on the fundamentals and not be distracted by the noises they made through their shows. - Give Clear, Firm Deadlines
When dealing with potential tenants, it’s crucial to set boundaries. If you’re waiting on an application form, give them a 12-hour deadline. Politely but firmly explain that time is of the essence and if they can’t submit it within that window, you’ll need to move on to the next applicant. Holding out for 2-3 days is a risky strategy and not worth jeopardizing more serious prospects. - Red Flags Appear Early
One of the most telling signs is when people start asking too many questions that are only relevant after they’ve been approved. In this case, the couple made several high-end requests—more parking spaces, furniture removal, etc.—before even submitting their application. They also resisted the soft credit check, which is another potential red flag. These demands and hesitations often point to future challenges, so it’s important to recognize and address them early.
While this experience was a bit frustrating, it served as a valuable lesson. It helped refine our processes and prepared us to spot drama queens and kings with a firmer, more proactive approach in the future. Hopefully, by sharing this story, you can also gain some insights to help navigate similar situations.
We hope this information serves as a valuable resource for you. If you’re committed to becoming the best version of yourself and becoming one of our community of like-minded individuals, then subscribe to our free weekly newsletter by submitting the simple form below.
We are looking forward to having you grow and thrive together!