Screening my first-ever tenant applicant! Advice?

[Franklin McGuire]

Hi everyone, I'm still a newbie to the forums and to REI in general, and this week I'm screening my first-ever applicants for an open bedroom in a house I've just started to manage for a family member. (I don't have the credit to buy my first property yet, so I figured making 10% as a property manager of this house would be a good way to get my feet wet.)

I'm planning to use a tenant screening application form/credit check/background check tool I found for free online that automates the entire process, and then — assuming the guy I'm talking to via craigslist passes those screenings — meet him at the property Sunday for a walk-through. Anyone have any tips/advice/horror stories/best practices they'd like to share as I walk into this process for the first time? THANKS!

[Deanna McCormick]

I personally would not run any application until I meet the prospective tenant.  You should set a criteria for the property and set a occupancy limit for the property. Ex: 2 br limit of 4 people.. pet guideline

When they call,to make appointment for showing you should say our rental criteria is xxxx, example: No felonies, credit score over 650, verifiable income greater than 3 times the rent, age over 21, our ( 2 br is maximum 4 person occupancy and a child is counted as an occupant) and we require photo ID., No evictions for the past 7 years. We realize your time is valuable so when we set a appointment time you are prepared, our application fee is .... per adult cash application fee or money order, no checks, and if your comfortable with what time would work for you.... If approved you have 24 hours to drop off your $$$ security holding deposit we accept only money orders for that. It will be up to 3 business days for us to complete the screening process.

Make sure the application is completed don't run it until it is, If you require prior landlord verification be specific and give a 3 day time limit. Put the criteria in writing, post it so it's visible and go over that rental criteria with the applicant again before they fill out an application. 

Make sure you have all your leasing forms and documents ready, holding security deposit , crime free/ drug free addendum, pet addendum if applicable, and the lead addendum (federal requirement), utility start authorization, move in check sheet, to mention the main ones. 

I'd check with your state / county and see if they have a housing association where they might have these forms that you can get. In Minnesota we have the Minnesota Housing Association which has all of these forms, that are recognized by the housing court division. 

Have everything set ahead of time and you'll be well prepared and save your self time,  good luck.