Tenant Screening

[Mark Smith]

What is the typical tenant screening process?  Of course getting a feel for the tenants when you show the unit, and background and credit checks, but how else do you decide whether or not you potentially have a quality tenant?

Thank you!

[Bryan O.]

I like to manage my properties that are local. Find out when they are planning to move. If it's not in your time window, don't waste time talking. During the showing, I put full weight on the non-verbals from the tenant as they look at the place. Do they perk up and get excited? Do they grin when they look at their significant other? Or do they shudder when they look at the bathroom tile? I had a guy pull up late in a truck piled with garbage in the back, with a fake hand with a hook on it, walked into the living room and went, "Not bad. When can I move in." Along with other clues, I passed on him ;)

The rest I leave to doing the credit, eviction, and criminal checks, plus verifying employment and calling past landlords. Beyond that, what is the competition like? Do you have 90 applicants to choose from? 5? How long can you afford vacancy?