If you're looking for a rental application template
to manipulate for your rental property, you'll find many thousands of
different options. These range for very basic, generic forms that have
been used for decades to more advanced dynamic forms. There are an
overwhelming number of different resources, but how do you know which
option is right for you. Read on to determine the best option.
Where to search for templates for your rental property
Increasingly,
landlords and property managers are turning to the internet to find a
reliable source for the forms they need to rent their property. Google
has become the gold standard of search engines, with more market share
in the U.S than Bing or Yahoo. Google is likely the most in depth
option, though you'll be able to gather different results just by
searching for your key terms using different providers.
How to search for forms
Use
search keywords that target the type of form that you're looking for.
Specifically, if you want a form that will serve as a lease agreement,
try to search in quotations for 'lease agreement forms' instead of
generic string like 'need a rental form'. You'll target the actual
documents that you're looking for, which will move you in the right
direction. Also, try to find forms that you're able to customize if
possible - templates typically allow user modification in the form of
input text, and these look much more professional than handwriting on or
over a print document.
Finding a quality rental template - what to avoid
Avoid
sites that require a membership or recurring cost. There are so many
options available, it's probably unnecessary to make any payment at all,
much less one that you pay on a monthly or yearly basis. Your forms can
normally be reused as well, so it seems unlikely that you'll see any
benefit from a monthly membership to a stock document website. Also
avoid sites that require membership - they're normally used for
collecting and capturing email addresses. Again, with so many different
choices available there is no need to use a site that requires more than
you are comfortable with providing.
Conclusion
The key to
finding a good resource is to be persistent in your search. Don't stop
looking until you find exactly what you want, and remember to bookmark
the website when you do. They're typically up for a long time, and it's a
resource you can use for years to come.