How to prequalify rental inquiries before you spend time on a showing
Before you book a showing, ask every inquiry the same four or five questions about facts that decide whether the unit can work: the move-in date, the number of people, the pets, whether your written income and screening rules are acceptable to them, and what they have read about the rent and deposit. Send the same message to everyone and answer in the order people reply. Never ask about a protected trait.
Why prequalify at all
A showing costs an hour or more once you count travel and waiting. Many inquiries come from people who cannot move on your dates, have a pet you do not allow, or have not read the rent. A few plain questions up front save you those hours and save the renter the trip. It is also fairer to the renter than a showing that ends in "I guess it will not work."
The questions, and why each one is allowed
| Question | Why it is safe to ask |
|---|---|
| When do you need to move in? | A date, not a trait. It tells you whether the unit is free when they need it. |
| How many people will live in the unit? | A count for occupancy limits. Do not ask who they are or how they are related. |
| Will any pets live with you? | Your pet rules apply to everyone. Assistance animals are handled differently, see assistance animals. |
| Our requirements are (income rule, screening, deposit). Do these work for you? | You state the written rule you apply to every applicant and let them decide whether to continue. |
| Is the rent of the listed amount within your budget? | The rent is public in the ad, so repeating it avoids a wasted visit. |
The income and screening rule must be one you wrote down before the first inquiry and apply to everyone. See written screening criteria.
Questions to leave out
The Fair Housing Act bars treating people differently because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, national origin or disability (see HUD's overview and 42 U.S.C. 3604), and many states add more, such as source of income. So do not ask where someone works or is from to guess their background, whether they have children, what their religion is, whether they have a disability, or who they live with. Do not ask different questions of different people.
A message you can send to everyone
"Thanks for your interest in the 2 bed at 14 Elm Street, $1,650 a month. To make sure it is a fit before we set a time: When would you like to move in? How many people would live there? Any pets? Our rental requirements are attached (income of 3 times the rent, a background and credit check, and a $1,650 deposit). Do these work for you? If so, here are the showing times this week."
Example a made-up owner sends this to 10 inquiries. Six reply. Four of those want to move in on dates that fit, and two book a showing slot. The owner spends two hours on showings instead of six, and every one of the ten got the same message.
Answer in order, and keep a record
Offer showing slots in the order people reply, to everyone who passes the same questions. Keep each inquiry and your answer in one place. If anyone later asks why they were not shown the unit, you can show the same rule applied to everybody. See answering inquiries fast for more message templates.
How DoorKeeping handles it
DoorKeeping's public listing page has a form to request a showing with a name, email, optional phone, good times and a message, and each request reaches the owner by email and is saved on the Listings screen. The listing also carries an Apply button for the unit's application link, which asks every applicant the same questions. The application's AI checks documents and states facts only, and the owner decides with one written rule for all. See the connect page.
Sources
- HUD: Fair Housing Act overview, read Oct 30, 2026
- Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 3604 (Cornell Legal Information Institute), read Oct 30, 2026
- DoorKeeping: Connect Claude or ChatGPT (steps and tools list), read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- What should I ask before showing a rental?
- The move-in date, number of occupants, pets, and whether your written income and screening rules work for them, asked of every inquiry in the same way.
- Is it legal to ask how many people will live in the unit?
- Asking for a head count is common for occupancy limits. Do not ask who they are, how they are related or whether they have children.
- Can I skip someone who does not meet my income rule?
- Only if the rule is written, the same for everyone, and lawful where you are. Some places limit or ban income-source rules. Check your state and city.
- Should I prequalify by phone or in writing?
- Writing is easier to keep consistent and to show later. Use the same message for everyone.