Credit report

Back ground check

Ask all the hard questions that they don't want to answer...Like: on a scale of 1-10 how clean are you?  Do you like to party?  How is your credit? (trust me...if they say they don't know, nix them.  People with good credit know they have good credit)

Don't believe anything they brag about...I don't want to hear that they just qualified for a new car or new furniture.  I want them to have a reasonable car that is paid for...

Don't start showing until you have a list of inquiries.  Screen carefully...who is going to live there? a single nurse? or boyfriend and girfriend with 3 dogs?  Roommates? Inlaws? a friends? What is their situation?  New job?(will it last?) Divorce?(will they get back together and break the lease?)  Kid roomates going to college? ( who is going to pay rent during the summer when they go home?)

Don't show it just because someone wants to see it...if they pass the "sniff" test and look like a perfect tenant, then show it.  

Make a list of questions and if someone balks at your questions, say next...

I am picky, picky, picky which is why I do not have tenant problems.  I also will not consider anyone that cannot scrape up all the money upfront...what will they do when they need new tires? (they will buy the tires and not pay that months rent).

The key however is to have a nice and spotless desirable property to rent...if it is not pristine, forget everything I just said.  Even slobs want a clean property to move into.

Eve

Less questions for the tenant and more checks in court records and previous landlords.

In representing landlords you advise and consent. The due diligence is according to their wishes.

  Mike & Eve Alexander laid it out perfectly.

That is usually done in the office. They fill out a standard rental application, and turn that in to office with payment for credit check. Agents shouldn't be using tricks to find out info about a potential tenants since agents don't choose the tenants.

When we had our property management branch, we used the Apartment Owners Association of America interface to do all the screening for credit, evictions, criminal background, BK's foreclosures, etc. You also have to get their bank statements so you can see when money comes in their bank and from where. And check references. It's hardcore, but you get better tenants that way. And if your gut feelings are telling you there's a problem, listen.

Jennifer,

I agree with Joe Pryor .  Usually our office building and retail center owners had their own system of checking.  A

running a credit bureau... can be very helpful.

Mike & Eve Alexander have some good answers.  I also ask how long they plan on staying.  I'm looking for long term (2-20+ year tenants), not 1 year and definitely not less than a year (unless I can time it to get me out of a winter cycle and end in the peak rental rate season of the summer).

I've even gone so far as to look at their current place and see how they live.  I show the home and I collect the applications and interview the people.  I rely heavily on my "gut feelings" about people.  I've taken in some very marginal people that others wouldn't touch because of my gut about them.  I get my rent on time, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years cards and messages from them.

Credit and background and previous rental history verification.

You have some good suggestions.

My investors use a variety of online screening services.

I do too for my tenants.

I use a property manager for that ;-) Eve has a nice, well thought out and well laid out answer, though. Good luck! -Kasey

I don't handle rentals, I have a person in my office that deals with all that.

Job stability, past rental history, credit report with public records. If eviction was ever filed, the answer is NO.

 I don't work with tenants, good luck.

Not in my wheelhouse ... I leave that for property management pros like Mike & Eve Alexander 

I do not ask some of the questions you listed for the following reason:  If you ask are they getting a divorce and they are. Lets say everything else is good credit, job, etc.  And you dont end up renting to them for one reason or another, they coudl claim that you discriminated based on family status.

I prefer to ask- why are you moving and they can offer their reason. But I give way more credence to verifiable facts, such as credit, job, landlord verification - and I check that they are in fact the owner- It is amazing how many people list their friends, but those friends can't answer extra questions - like what is your license number if you are a property mgr. etc  If its an owner, this can be verified also.

Glad you are screening thoroughly.  THis is the best way to protect clients properties. 

"How comfortable is your car?"

"Why?" they ask.

"That's where you'll be sleeping if you are late. Let me see that credit report I asked you to bring. Hmm, why doesn't it match the one I ordered?"

Do not get involved in rentals any longer!

Who was the landlord before your current one? Need to quiz them about the Metalica at 2am, the garage used like a garbage dumpster with all the rats the tenant says the kids like to play with. The current landlord will syrup sweet say they hate to see them go knowing the billable hours for eviction are saved in an legal removal now underway and grinding slowly toward the heave ho out you go. Call the electric utility in a small town and learn from silence when you ask Jane what about John Doe. No response means nothing good to say. Chatty Cathy means they are good from the pay their bills angle. Ask questions, study the responses, facial expressions. Learn their attitude toward the landlords they have had. Hoop them up to the office poligraph, ask them where they were on the night of the 32nd.(smile)

Mike and Eve explained it quite well.

Credit score (SmartMove.com), criminal & eviction reports. Plus a 3-page application, with information that is verifiable. The application includes proof of ID.

And sometimes, a personal interview.

I don't... never deal with tenants, professionally or personally.

I don't. Period!

Same questions as everyone: income, credit, who it is for, when. Unfortunately, all usually gets into credit issues.....I had today two calls, both callers have terrible credit asking to help....It is tough for tenants and first time entry buyers now with our high price tags.

I'm with Mike & Eve Alexander on this one!

Jenifer Kynor it is very helpful to screen tenants.

You can tell alot just by talking to people. We ask for a letter from their employer which we verify,  credit check, references.  It's so easy to find great tenants in our area so we really get to choose. 

Lucky, I do not do management for tenants

Face to face

Have to be careful with questions(!)  I Like the TransUnion SmartMove system for providing the credit / background / eviction information.

After decades of doing this, I can tell from the first word out of any of the prospective tenants/callers mouth. Confirmation consists of my queue of rapid fire questions that follow which helps to wrap it up in seconds...

I run a full credit/criminal background, verify their identity, review their residence history to ensure it matches their application, verify income/employment, consider how long they've been employed and living in the local area, and talk to their past Landlord(s) to see if they paid on time, maintained the rental, had any lease violations, and got their deposit back.

Credit report and back ground check.