For renters
Tour homes you already qualify for
Answer a landlord’s questions once. Only book the tours you can take. Apply from your phone. Pre-qualified means you meet the landlord’s criteria; it is not an approval.
No deposit is ever due before a tour. Pre-qualified means you meet the landlord’s criteria; it is not an approval.
Step by step
From first text to keys
- 1
Ask about a home
Text the number on the listing or tap its link. You get a reply within 60 seconds with the home’s details and the landlord’s criteria.
- 2
Answer once
The screening questions, one per screen, by text or on the web. About 2 minutes. You can choose to save your answers in a profile you control.
- 3
Pick a tour time
If you are pre-qualified, you choose a 30-minute slot right away. Your confirmation and reminders come to your phone. For lockbox tours, access is shown during your booked time after ID verification.
- 4
Apply from your phone
After the tour, the application link arrives and stays open for 5 days. Follow the landlord’s application instructions, including any fee and signing steps.
- 5
Hear back
The landlord gives a yes or no within 24 to 48 hours. If it is a no, you are pointed to homes you do qualify for.
What we promise
Never a dead end
A no from one landlord is not the end of your search. If you choose to save a profile, you can reuse your answers for another home. We point you to available homes that may fit.
No account
Renters never create a password. Your phone number or email is enough.
No deposit is ever due before a tour.
If anyone asks for money before you have seen the home, it is not us.
Objective criteria only
Income, rental history, pets, move-in date. The same questions for everyone.
Your information stays with the home you applied to
Your answers are used to check the landlord’s criteria. They are never sold. Sharing a saved profile with other landlords is your choice.
FAQ
Questions renters ask
What does pre-qualified mean?
You meet the written criteria the landlord set for that home, such as income, rental history, and pets. Pre-qualification is not an approval or a promise of a lease. The landlord makes the final decision after you apply, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Do I need an account to check availability?
No. Text the listing number or tap the listing link, answer the screening questions, and pick a tour time. Renters never create a password. It takes about 2 minutes.
Will I be asked for a deposit?
No deposit is ever due before a tour. If anyone asks you for money before you have seen the home, it is not us. Every listing has its own verify page so you can check the real address, rent, and that applying only happens through Show Me The Rental.
Can I answer by text or on the web?
Either. The questions are the same on both, and your answers carry over. If you start by text and switch to the web, you pick up where you left off. Questions are available in English and Spanish.
What happens if I do not qualify for a home?
You hear back right away rather than waiting on a landlord. The notice never states a threshold. When other homes on Show Me The Rental fit your answers, we point you to them. You can choose to save your answers in a renter profile so you do not have to start over.
What happens after the tour?
After the tour, you receive the application link by text or email. It stays open for 5 days. Follow the landlord’s application instructions, which may use our online form, a PDF, or another application website. Any fee and signing steps are shown with the application. The landlord then makes the final decision.
Who sees my information?
The landlord for the home you inquired about sees your inquiry, screening result, and application. Your screening answers are used to check you against that landlord's criteria, never sold, and never shared with other landlords unless you opt into the renter search. All contact runs through the platform, so you never see the landlord's direct phone number or email.