How To Screen Rent Out Property & Screen Tenants

[Art Maydan]

I just listed the bottom unit in the duplex that my wife and I just bought and I have a lot of questions about how to rent it out. I’m hoping some more experienced landlords can help me understand how this process is supposed to run from start to finish:

• 1.When someone calls me, I tell them the price and a little about the house, and they’re interested in seeing it, do I have them fill anything out or do we just schedule a time for them to see it?
• 2.After they look at it and they are interested, is that when I give them a rental application?
• a.Should I give them a paper version or email them a copy? Should I offer both options?
• 3.At what point do I check credit and background? Do I need their authorization to do so? At what point and how do I get this authorization?
• 4.How do I check credit and background? Over the months leading up to this, the resources I’ve saved are:
• https://www.residentresearch.com/
• https://biggerpockets.mysmartmove.com/
• http://renterinc.com/
• http://renterinc.com/
• 5.How do I charge for a credit and background check (check, etc.)? How much should I charge?

I’ll have more questions once I find a tenant, but that does it for now. Thank you!