Hello All, Was searching online but haven't seen a recent thread/post in a while on this and since these services change often would love to hear what you use when screening tenants. Ideal features: • Credit report (preferably of an actual credit bureau) • Criminal check • Eviction check • Option for me to fill in the tenant's data myself (many residents around this area are more comfortable with paper / phone than using the internet.) • Preferably $35 or less (so I'm not charging potential residents an arm and a leg) Services I've heard of but have yet to try: • Cozy.co <-- No ability for me to enter the tenant's data • Houserie <-- This one seems promising. Do people trust this? • On-site.com <-- Referred by a local but $40 for everything these days. • Transunion / Experian service <-- Seems to require tenants to fill out form Many thanks in advance for any advice in this realm!Alice

following this thread. Struggling to pick one. I need to streamline my device so that I don't have to waste more of my time. I almost wish that I could just send someone to an online spot where they automatically get "eliminated" if they answer a question the wrong way. i.e., if the owner doesn't want pets, and the prospective tenant has pets, the system would just say something generic, like: :We are sorry, but this unit does not allow pets. We wish you the best of luck in your search and hope you find your home soon." I field way too many emails and phone calls for my rentals, and I find my time is far too valuable to be burning on some of the stuff that could be automated. Anyone have any experience with that? Where if someone calls me, I cold just say, please go to www.blablabla.com and you can ask all your questions there. Make sense or am I being ridiculous ?

Apparently the one I use is obscure, MrLandlord.com. I've used them for over a decade and been perfectly happy. Here's a cut and paste from their site. Only catch is that I had to pay for a office site inspection to show I had a locked file and a shredder. But the $15 is cheap enough that I don't usually charge an applicant, I figure it's just part of the turnover cost. Best Deal - Complete TransUnion Credit, Eviction and Criminal Combo ......................$24.95 per applicant 1. TransUnion Credit Report w/ FICO Score 2. Two National Eviction Reports Includes: Sex Offender, Terrorist, Most Wanted Criminal 3. Instant National Criminal Search. Instant search is not available for the following states: WY, SD, MA and DE. Good Deal - Essential TransUnion Credit & Eviction Combo .........................................$14.95 per applicant1. TransUnion Credit Report w/ FICO score 2. Two National Eviction Reports Includes: Sex Offender, Terrorist, Most Wanted Criminal

I have, lots of times and I like them. I wasn't sure what I was missing, but I don't consider being forced online a flaw - if my tenants aren't savvy enough to apply online, they probably aren't savvy enough to look at our listing, pay electronically, communicate by text, etc. I always make paper applications available, and sometimes they are returned, then I just enter the info in myself. But most everyone prefers applying online that I deal with.

@Alice K. There is an association just for San Francisco: http://sfaa.org/ By the way, their magazines are pretty good, too.

MrLandlord.com operates this way, I have SS, DOB & permission sig fields on my application and fill it in on ML myself. I get full reports, including FICO and credit histories.

Disclaimer: I work for Renticity. At Renticity we package our tenant screening with other connected services having to do with the leasing process. You can set up a property page (similar to a listing) and send renters there to apply. The application/screening report are tied into our E-Leasing system where you can upload your lease and draft it using drag-and-drop fields for custom information, initial boxes, and signatures. The entire platform is free for landlords and costs $39 for the renters.

It looks like most of the options here (cozy/transunion/experien) recommend the tenant fulfilled screening versions which work great for one or two screens a year. The challenge with them is that you have to initiate it, then the service sends the tenant an email to finish the process. When done you get a copy of the report that the tenant actually orders. More often than not, it seems like the tenants get tripped up during the process, so these services are not only costly but super time consuming. There's a few services out there that let you order the reports directly, the one I use is Rentec Direct and it's served me well. The downside is you need to send in an application that took me about 20 minutes up-front to get credit report access, but it was a one time thing and now I have instant access to credit, criminal, and eviction for way below your price point.

@Alice K. I like MySmartMove.com

I received over 100 inquiries on one ad three weeks ago. I try to screen as many people over the phone as possible, but those who insist on coming I want them to have a little skin in the game and show me their sincere. I weed lot of people out by having them do that upfront. I also do not like group showings I don't want to have 50 people running in and out of the apartment building in one day.

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Alice K.Poster

Investor
San Francisco, CA

General Landlording & Rental Properties

What is your favorite tenant screening service?

Alice K.Poster

Investor
San Francisco, CA

Posted April 28, 2016 22:10

Hello All,

Was searching online but haven't seen a recent thread/post in a while on this and since these services change often would love to hear what you use when screening tenants.
Ideal features:

Credit report (preferably of an actual credit bureau)
Criminal check
Eviction check
Option for me to fill in the tenant's data myself (many residents around this area are more comfortable with paper / phone than using the internet.)
Preferably $35 or less (so I'm not charging potential residents an arm and a leg)

Services I've heard of but have yet to try:

Cozy.co <-- No ability for me to enter the tenant's data
Houserie <-- This one seems promising. Do people trust this?
On-site.com <-- Referred by a local but $40 for everything these days.
Transunion / Experian service <-- Seems to require tenants to fill out form

Many thanks in advance for any advice in this realm!

Alice

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Johann Jells

Rental Property Investor
Jersey City, NJ

Johann Jells

Rental Property Investor
Jersey City, NJ

Replied May 01, 2016 13:51

Apparently the one I use is obscure, MrLandlord.com. I've used them for over a decade and been perfectly happy. Here's a cut and paste from their site. Only catch is that I had to pay for a office site inspection to show I had a locked file and a shredder. But the $15 is cheap enough that I don't usually charge an applicant, I figure it's just part of the turnover cost.

Best Deal - Complete TransUnion Credit, Eviction and Criminal Combo ......................$24.95 per applicant 1. TransUnion Credit Report w/ FICO Score 2. Two National Eviction Reports Includes: Sex Offender, Terrorist, Most Wanted Criminal 3. Instant National Criminal Search. Instant search is not available for the following states: WY, SD, MA and DE.
Good Deal - Essential TransUnion Credit & Eviction Combo .........................................$14.95 per applicant 1. TransUnion Credit Report w/ FICO score 2. Two National Eviction Reports Includes: Sex Offender, Terrorist, Most Wanted Criminal

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