Screening

[Andrew Bosworth]

I am about to list my first rental property and am trying to decide how to screen potential tenants.  Before taking any phone calls, showing the property or going through the application process, I want to vet potential tenants to make sure they are worth pursuing.

I decided to create an online survey that I will link to in my ad.  It asks some basic questions such as...why are you moving, when are you looking to move in, have you been evicted, etc..

Has anyone else tried this tactic?  Was it helpful?  Did you feel it helped weed out potential tenants versus "tire-kickers"?  Would you recommend this approach prior to getting on the phone with a prospect?