I've seen the same mistakes destroy first-time landlords over and over. Here are the 3 red flags most new landlords miss:

1. "I can pay you in cash"

Cash isn't the problem — the lack of a verifiable income trail is. If someone insists on cash-only and can't provide pay stubs or bank statements, they're probably hiding something. You need proof of at least 3x the monthly rent in stable income.

2. The rush to sign

"Can I move in this weekend?" sounds like a dream tenant. It's usually someone running from their last landlord. A good tenant plans ahead. Urgency without a clear reason (new job, relocation with documentation) is a red flag.

3. Vague rental history

"I was staying with family" for the last 3 years? Maybe. But if they can't provide a single landlord reference or their story keeps shifting, that's not someone you want holding your keys for 12 months.

The fix isn't complicated — it's a repeatable checklist you run on every applicant, every time. No gut feelings. No "they seemed nice." Just proof.

I built the Tenant Screening Kit for exactly this. It's the system I wish I had before my first lease.