Screening Tenants

[Robert Bacher]

Do you qualify a prospective tenants application first; job, income, references then have them pay for a credit report, background check, etc.? For example, have my potential tenant pay application fee, I do my due diligence and determine the app is okay so far and then request the tenant go online to my back ground/credit check, eviction check provider were the applicant can pay for that there, and then make my decision? Should this be done one tenant at a time? Evaluate one, determine yea or nay, then go to the next one. I don't think having 5 potential suitors all pay app fee and then pay for back ground check for only one unit is a good idea.

Thanks,

[Russell Brazil]

I have prospective tenants apply first through Transunion MySmartMove. They pay them directly for the credit check. I do not take any rental application fees from them.  If they pass the credit screening, then I go on to verify employment, salary, landlord references etc.