Suggestions for lease agreements in Texas?

[Steve S.]

I own a couple of rentals, but for the first time, I'm planning to manage this one myself.  In the past, the property management company has run the credit check and provided the lease agreement, etc.  

Now, I need to figure out how to do this.  

First, I plan to use https://www.mysmartmove.com/ for screening my tenants.  Anyone used this service or have any better recommendations or gotchas with this service?

Second, can anyone point me to some template lease agreements?  Should I hire a lawyer to review first?  I'm not going to write my own.

Thanks for any thoughts from those of you that have already crossed this bridge on your landlord journey!

[Larry P.]

Careful! The Texas lease you are referring to is probably the Texas Association of Realtors lease, form TAR-2201 (01-01-2016).  Read section 33. "Agreement if Parties", subsection G - "Copyright"  If one of the parties that negotiates the lease is not a licensed Texas Realtor or attorney then it states the lease is "voidable at will by tenant".  You could end up with tenants in your property with no valid lease!!!