To Charge an Application Fee or Not

[Brad T.]

What are everyone's thoughts on whether to charge an application fee for rental houses?  Do you collect a bunch of applications and only run the background and credit check on your top candidate with you paying the bill or do you have the tenants pay and check every applicant?  Charging application fees has been a bit awkward for me.  If I get 3 applications during one open house, I don't like to take money from all parties.

[Chris K.]

I don't collect fees I use smartmove so it allows them to pay the credit/background fee themselves. Them being able to do it themselves also lets them self eliminate and not waste my time. If they're serious they will complete it if they don't then I move on to the next.