The housing market is forever in flux – sometimes it’s up, up, up, and other times it’s down, down, down. With each peak and valley comes unique challenges for realtors, whether they’re working with limited inventory in high periods or looking into rentals for their clients during the lows. There are several reasons why rentals may be in higher demand than normal, including low housing inventory, soaring home prices, people losing their homes, and much more. With increasing rental demand comes the need to be more selective in who you choose to fill your clients’ properties. That’s where tenant screening services come in.
Options for Realtors
With a constantly shifting housing market, it’s wise for realtors to be equally flexible in how they earn their income. When there aren’t enough homes to go around or clients looking for those homes, it makes perfect sense to expand your business into helping clients who are interested in renting out their home. You may be acting in the capacity of a property manager and you may even choose to pick up a few properties of your own and become a landlord yourself. A high-performing rental market is an excellent source of income, so naturally you’ll want to branch into that arena.
If you find yourself as the mediator between your client and potential renters, you’re going to want additional support in this new role. Realtors that are inexperienced in the rental market may find that selecting a tenant isn’t as easy as checking a few boxes, and at the end of the day, you want to ensure your client is happy. One bad tenant experience can sour them on the whole affair and you may end up with lost revenue because of it. Rather than risk it, you should use every support system available to you, including tenant screening services.
Tenant screening is the ideal way to get a well-rounded picture of potential clients. Through a system like the one we use at TSCI, the entire application and screening process can be complete online through an online hub. The cost is wrapped up in the application fee, which is paid by the tenant, which means neither you nor your client need worry about paying for the screening. The results are easily accessible as soon as they’re ready and you can get detailed insight into an applicant’s credit score, criminal background, eviction history, previous residences, and more.
Save yourself and your clients tons of unnecessary headaches. 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 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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