Tenant Screening (Lease Defend)

[William Cain]

I have just acquired through 14 units (3 different properties with 3-5 units per).  I am coming from another profession and while I have some experience in commercial real estate I am new to residential.

I used a screening service (www.leasedefend.com) along with a standard background check and have filled my first unit.  It was easy and I was surprised by how much info I could acquire.  Aside from the basics lease defend gave me reports outlining the tenants spending patterns over the past 2 years, I am in love with this.

What I want to know is; besides the tools I have used, what else should I be doing.  Has anyone used this service long-term and, if so, does it work well as a screening tool along with a background check long-term? Are there better services that provide similar real time data?  I want to know whether I just got lucky or if this should be part of my standard protocol.

Thanks