What is the pre-screener, and how does it work?
Get to know interested renters with a free questionnaire before scheduling a showing or inviting them to apply.
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What is a pre-screener?
A pre-screener is a short questionnaire for renters who are interested in your rental. It brings their move-in plans, household details and initial questions into one place, so you can decide what to discuss before the next step.
Renters complete it for free. The answers are self-reported: submitting this form does not run a credit or background check, verify income, or approve an application.
What questions will renters answer?
The standard questions cover total monthly household income from all sources, optional employment status, an estimated credit band, desired move-in date, number of occupants, pets and smoking. Renters can also say whether they want a viewing, provide contact details and ask you a question.
You can add up to four open-ended custom questions. From the Leads banner, choose Manage questions, enter your questions and choose Save questions. Preview the saved form before sharing it. If a question is refused, read the validation message and revise it.
How does automatic sending work?
When auto-send is on, Rentari emails the questionnaire to eligible new listing leads with an email address. The Leads banner shows whether your account default is on or off. Property settings may override that default.
Choose Turn on auto-send or Turn off auto-send in the banner to change the account default. You can also change it in Settings, then Pre screener. Turning it off pauses automatic invitations; your questions, existing responses and public questionnaire link remain available.
How do I send or resend a pre-screener?
- Open Renters, then Leads. To add a new contact and send the form, choose Send pre-screener at the top of the page.
- For an existing active lead, open their profile or Actions menu and choose Send Pre-Screener. If it was already sent and has not been completed, choose Resend Pre-Screener.
- To send to several leads, select their checkboxes and choose Send pre-screener in the selection toolbar. Review the recipients, then send. The review identifies records it will skip and the results show any failed sends.
Where is my public pre-screener link?
- On Leads, expand Share pre-screener link in the banner and choose Copy link. You can also copy the general link from Settings, then Pre screener.
- Paste the link into a listing, a message or wherever interested renters can find it. Share this renter link, rather than the signed-in Preview address.
- Renters choose the rental and unit when there is more than one option, enter their contact details and submit their answers. Their submission appears in Leads for that rental.
What happens after a renter completes it?
Rentari sends you a completion notification and saves the answers in the renter's profile. Open the lead and review the Pre-screener section. The Leads list also marks completed questionnaires, so you can find them quickly.
Use the answers to follow up, arrange a showing or invite the renter to apply. Once invited, look for the renter in Applicants. Their pre-screener answers stay with the profile, including the original wording of any custom question they answered.
How is this different from a rental application?
The pre-screener is an initial conversation with an interested renter. A rental application collects more detailed information and supporting documents for your application review. Credit and background screening are separate steps with their own consent and requirements; a completed pre-screener is not a screening report.
Open Renters, then Leads, to see your contacts, auto-send status and public questionnaire link. Use Manage questions if you want to preview or customize the form.
Check the result
- Check the banner's auto-send status after changing it. For an individual invitation, check the lead's Sent status; Sent does not confirm that the renter has read the email.
- After a renter submits the form, their profile shows Completed and displays their answers.
FAQs
Why can't I send or resend a pre-screener?
Check that the lead is active, is still in Leads and has an email address. Completed questionnaires do not offer resend. If a bulk send failed, use Review failed sends and check the recipient's details before retrying.
Why was my custom question not saved?
Read the validation message and revise the indicated question. Your draft stays available for editing. Clearing a field or choosing Delete question changes the draft; choose Save questions to update the stored form, then preview it.
Does turning off automatic sending remove existing responses?
No. Turning off auto-send pauses automatic invitations to new listing leads. Saved answers remain in their profiles, and you can still send manually or share your public questionnaire link.