Ohio State Football Recruiting Similar to Great Tenant Selection?

 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

(Micah 6:8)

 

“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Dice.”

Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

 

Ohio State college football has been a dominant program for a long time.  In the last 10 years, they have a record of 106 wins and 13 losses while winning 2 National Championships.  This makes them one of the top programs in the country as they have set a standard of excellence few teams can match.

 

To have a perennially highly-successful football team, Ohio State has been able to get great players to come to their school; great players make great programs!  But how does Ohio State determine what high school football players will actually become great college football players?  What do players need to demonstrate?

 

Like every college football program, coaches will look at all the on-field performance measurables: how many yards, touchdowns, tackles, etc. each player had in high school.  And then the physical measurables:  how fast, big, agile, and strong each player is.  And then there is mental aspect where players will take tests and answer questions showing off their “football IQ”.

 

These are all very important metrics and are heavily considered; the top recruits all grade very well on most or all of the criteria.  But what gives players who measure out well in the criteria above the edge over one another?  I remember reading something about that from former head coach Urban Meyer.  He said that one of the most important things he looked at in recruiting was how the high school player played in the biggest games and versus nationally-ranked players in one-on-one match-ups; he was looking for what he considered true greatness.  Did their performance ramp up to meet the challenge or was it pedestrian?  Did most of the players noteworthy performances come against average teams or did their biggest, statistic-rich games come against the best players in the most high-profile games?  Did they look forward to and excel in the most competitive situations and will their team to win?  Coach Meyer believed that getting the types of players who had the ability to rachet their games up a notch was paramount to Ohio State winning national championships.

 

In property management, tenants are the big-time recruits!  Landlords are looking for tenants who pay on time, maintain the rental homes well, and stay out of trouble.  If landlords can secure great tenants, property management can be really easy!  This is why great landlords spend considerable resources on tenant screening.  We look at all the measurables of the “Big 4”:

 

1. Employment & Income
2. Past Landlord Reports
3. Credit Check
4. Criminal Background Check

 

Measurables tell most of the story and tenants who grade out highly in these areas can provide a solid program.  But what about in situations when there are many tenants applying for one house?  Who is the best one when all the measurables look good?  Who is going to take care of the house?  If some bad event happens, who is going to remain steady and still pay rent?  Bottom line, how can great tenants be found?

 

These are tough questions.  The right tenant roster can make or break a landlord.  What to do?

 

I tend to pay extra attention to 2 things:

1. Debt level (and the corresponding available credit): How extended is the tenant?  Hard times: If there is a sudden job loss or car issue, can they absorb it?
2. Past landlord reports: What did they think?  Did they like the tenant or was the tenant difficult to deal with?  How did the house look when they moved out?  Would they rent to them again?

 

At the end of the day, Ohio State football and smart landlords are looking for great players.  Great recruits win championships and profitably pay off rental houses.  Pick wisely!

 

Happy Landlording!