Need cover letter ideas

[mgs]

We are moving to SF and in a couple of weeks I need to go out and look for apt rentals. Some of you are in high rent areas and won't be surprised by this, but some of you will be. I need a cover letter to explain our 'situation' especially b/c we won't have any rental references. We have owned our own home for 9 years.

I have written down some salary information and other income potential, as well as our desire to live there.... a little about our family. I mentioned that we have owned our home and our credit is excellent. We have been told to bring with us our cat resume, credit report, and employment letters....

I kind of need something to add to 'fill it out'. I only have 3 paragraphs!!

any thoughts?

thanks

Meg

[DmOrtega]

Wow.... things have really changed since I last tried to rent an apartment.

[mgs]

I know!!! Isn't it nuts?!?!?

[Kristilyn1]

Well, I would be inclined to think the shorter the better. While I would certainly include information about how clean, neat and quiet you are--I'd avoid too much discussion of what kind of family you are or getting too personal---you never know what might turn someone off or have them make an assumption about the kind of person you are.

"I'm interested in renting X and wanted to take a minute to introduce myself. My name is X, and (touch briefly on who your family consists of) we are moving into your area after 9 years spent owning a home in X. I've heard many great things about your (area,apt.whatever) and we are very excited about our upcoming move. I understand most people will have rental references but because of our home ownership situation, we won't have any. However, you can verify that our credit is excellent, our employment prospects are very good (insert income information here) and we are quiet, clean people who will be an asset to any landlord/property/area. I've enclosed a couple of employment/personal/professional references in case you need a character reference and look forward to hearing from you soon."

something sort of like that?

Kristi

[kgraham]

I agree with Kristi. It doesn't need to be too long and saying more won't necessarily increase your chances for the exact reasons she stated.

I don't think not having rental references is a big deal if you have been a homeowner. In fact, I just rented one unit of my duplex to someone without rental references (she is a homeowner relocating to this area). Renting to someone who had owned a home and has some idea how to do minor maintainance appealed to me. The only down side for me is she probably won't be a long-term tenant.

Good luck with your apartment search!

[colleency]

Won't personal references do, if you don't have rental references? And isn't 9 years of owning your own home a type of reference?

I think a shorter letter is better, too. Definitely don't go over one page, because they might not feel like reading it. If they have more questions, they'll ask them when you see them.