There are many reasons to use rental applications to screen tenants before signing a lease. They’ll give you a more complete picture of your applicants, notify you of any problematic history, and help you choose renters who can pay regularly and on time. However, in order to get the most out of your tenant screening service, there are a few steps you can follow.
Step 1: Always check for skipped fields.
Tenants who are being straightforward should have no reason to skip a field in their application. Sometimes you might overlook it – if they chose not to select a title, for instance – but generally speaking, you want to have the full information on every tenant you consider. For important details like social security numbers, employer information, or previous residences, skipping that section could be a pretty major red flag. It’s possible that they simply missed a section, so if things look fine otherwise, you might want to verify that they didn’t accidentally forget to leave out information, but if there are questionable gaps and further inquiry results in a refusal to pass on those details, it’s probably best to move on to the next applicant.
Step 2: Make sure applicants sign off on consent.
In order for you to access some of the information you’ll need from your applicants, you’ll want to make sure to include a clause or section for them to sign that indicates in clear language that they’re authorizing the release of specific information. That information can include details from old landlords, bank information, employment verification, and more. This is both to make it clear to them that you’ll be looking into the details on their application and to protect you while you’re doing your due diligence.
Step 3: Verification is essential.
Don’t skip this step! It can be a hassle to get on the phone and call around to verify previous residences and employment, but it’s necessary to ensure you’re not dealing with fudged facts. We know that this step can take a lot of time and you may be tempted to only do so for people you have a gut feeling about, but trust us when we say it’s in your and your business’ best interest to check out every single applicant. A tenant screening service can help make the rental application and verification process a lot easier by running background checks, eviction history, credit history, and more for you so all you have to do is check the reports.
Step 4: Get that background check!
Background checks will fill in the gaps in your information and give you the details you didn’t have before. They are well worth the time and effort and are sure to help you find the right tenants for your properties. We typically recommend that you check the local laws and regulations in your area as to whether or not you can use criminal background in housing selection – some cities, like Seattle, have passed legislation against it.
We recommend our RentalConnect program as an added tool for selection the right tenants for your property. RentalConnect offers property owners and landlords a great alternative to the expense of full tenant screening. This service requires no on-site visit, sign-up, or membership fees, making it extra convenient, especially for those with less experience in property management. The $34.95 service fee is paid by the applicant. Available 24/7, RentalConnect is fast, easy, secure, and delivers reports needed to make an informed decision, including a credit report, a national criminal search, and a national eviction search.
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