Before you apply
Confirm the property is available, the total monthly cost, any required fees, the move-in date, pet rules, and who is managing the rental. Ask how applications are submitted and whether there is a screening fee. Requirements vary by property and location.
Information to gather
You may be asked for identification, current and previous addresses, employment and income information, references, and occupants or pets. Some landlords request supporting documents. Gather what you need, but submit it only through a verified, secure channel for a property you intend to pursue.
Questions worth asking
Clarify which utilities are included, parking arrangements, maintenance contact, lease length, deposit terms, and the process for a viewing. If an advertisement and the application show different prices or fees, pause and get a written explanation.
Avoid rushed payment requests
An urgent message is not proof a listing is real. Verify the property and the authorized contact before paying or sharing sensitive documents. A notification about a home, from any source, is only a starting point for due diligence.
Where Kate fits
Kate’s planned service walks you through the application: she explains what the owner asks for, takes your ID and paystubs as photos in the conversation, and, if the owner requires a screening, points you to a TransUnion SmartMove request that you run yourself, with the report going to the owner. The owner or authorized manager decides whom to rent to; renters and owners review and sign their own contracts. These integrations are not live in the preview.
Try the WhatsApp-style conversation preview, meet Kate, or compare HUD rent benchmarks for 13 U.S. markets and Florida. Live inventory, WhatsApp, screening, and e-signature integrations are in development.
This is general renter preparation information. Individual property requirements vary.
