** Tenant Screening & Credit Checks for Landlords **

[Joshua Dorkin]

BiggerPockets Partners with TransUnion to Provide Tenant Screening & Credit Checks

In an effort to serve our members, BiggerPockets now offers tenant screening services in concert with the credit bureau TransUnion, via BiggerPockets.MySmartMove.com.

For only $20, landlords get:
- Credit-based leasing recommendation/security deposit recommendation
- National criminal report (including 50 state sex offender and OFAC/terrorist searches)
- Renter fraud warnings
- Automated renter identity verification

For an additional $5, the landlord may also receive:
- Immediate access to a credit report (a complete report formatted for readability while still keeping the renter's personal data private)
- Viewable credit score
- Renter fraud warnings
- Detailed rental address history

Learn more about SmartMove on our tenant screening page or by visiting the training videos.

Good luck!

[Mehran K.]

Originally posted by Jet_Speed:
My only recommendation is having an option where you can download the credit results in a PDF file.

If you want to save any web page, or any page into a PDF file. download a free program called Cute PDF printer. It creates a printer that saves files to PDF format. Hope this helps.

[Joel NA]

I've got a prospective tenant that filled out a hard copy app for me....is there a way for the landlord to enter info with this program? I didn't see a prompt or anything in the tutorials. Thanks...

[Joshua Dorkin]

Joel -
You can sign up and then add your tenants email address, at which point it will send them a message so they can enter their info for screening. I'm not certain that you can enter the information directly. Were you not able to get it done this way? I can have a rep contact you if you'd like. Let me know.

[Joel NA]

Thanks Josh,

I just didn't want to have him fill out another one after he'd done the paper version of a rental application. I'm paying for the background check anyway.

I do like the program, though. I've got an account set up and plan on using it in the future.

If there is a way for me to enter info as a landlord, you are welcome to have a rep email me. No worries, though.

Thanks and happy holidays everyone!

[Tracey Williams]

Thanks Josh!!!

I just use this service last night and it's simple and easy. I like it~!!!!!

[Joshua Dorkin]

Glad to hear it, Tracey. More and more users are finding that it is a valuable tool for their arsenal. I'm glad you've found it to be helpful.

[Rick Barker]

I have used the service and it seems the applicants like this approach. I still have them fill out the application minus the credit information. If they don't have email or internet access I made the credit information into an addendum to the application for them to fill out.

I had one applicant who lied through the entire application: gave friends phone for landlord, false place of work, and indicated no evictions had been filed against her. The credit came back perfect from mysmartmove but the local court records showed that she had 6 evictions filed against her that were canceled after she paid the court. She was also charged with menacing and pleaded guilty to it which didn't show up on the report. I spoke to a representative at mysmartmove and gave them the info to see if there was anyway for the applicant to circumvent the system. Maybe it was just a one time thing because the applicant was a master manipulator.

The system is great to get the applicants credit/criminal report but you should also do your own homework when screening regardless of the systems recommendation.

Just my 2 cents. Thanks

[Deanna Bennett]

I have used this service and find it to be a good product with a straight forward and intuitive interface. Everyone I have spoken to appreciates the quick turn around time that comes with the electronic application. As soon as your prospective tenant fills out the requested information, you are sent a report and recommendation for approval/denial from TransUnion. There is also the option for the landlord to pay the fees or have the fees paid by the tenant directly. I know that part was mentioned before, but it's one of the best features so I thought I'd say it again.

[Kevin K.]

I tried out this service recently. The applicants that I sent it to liked it. I'm guessing because it's so short/simple.

I would like to see this service combine with a complete/proper rental application that applicants could fill out online. Then as landlord, I could view online, to do my verifications of income etc...

[Kevin Wang]

Originally posted by KWiK:
I tried out this service recently. The applicants that I sent it to liked it. I'm guessing because it's so short/simple.

I would like to see this service combine with a complete/proper rental application that applicants could fill out online. Then as landlord, I could view online, to do my verifications of income etc...

Good suggestions! Same here!

[Cindy G.]

I am very disappointed in resulting info.

not enough specific data ... whatsoever.
for an applicant with bad credit, it hasn't given me anything but the credit collections companies, not who the original charges were from ... so how do i judge that it's not MEDICAL, for example?

no cell phone record, no utilities ... and I know they are in their names. Feh.
Easy didn't equal thorough.

In the future I will want something that gives me ALL of the credit bureaus ... for them spending $50 not sure I got what I wanted at all.
Cin.

[David D.]

Hi -

After reading everyone's comments I can't definitively tell if the program provides some sort of eviction report or history.

If it does provide an eviction report, does it show cases filed and dismiss because the tenant ultimately paid? I glad to hear everyone's positive comments and would appreciate feedback on the questions.

[Michael Criste]

David Duong
There are two types of eviction data available, those that result in monetary awards and those that do not. Monetary judgments awarded will show on the credit report under the public records section of the TransUnion credit report. These monetary judgments indicate an eviction proceeding resulting in favorable judgment for the landlord or mgmt co. Currently TransUnion SmartMove provides only eviction data as indicated by monetary awards and we are working to develop more eviction data for SmartMove later in the year. Thank you for choosing TransUnion SmartMove.

[David D.]

Thanks Michael. Plan on using the service.

[Jeff S.]

Some questions:

1. It looks like we would not get a complete credit report, is that right?

2. How would it handle a good applicant that gave their home back to the bank but is otherwise very reliable paying bills etc?

3. Could I do this for my gf's daughter who owns a rental but needs help?

[Paul Carson]

I just used this service for the 1st time last night and it is really sweet, especially since my new tenants are across the country in California. It makes me appear very professional even though we only have one rental property at this time, especially to a high end tenant.

I can happily give it a huge thumbs up!

[Shanequa J.]

I used it with my new tenant. It is a good service and it's convenient. On my rental applications, I give my tenant the option of doing their own background check, but recommend bigggerpockets.mysmartmove. They like it because they dont have to give out their social security number.

[John C.]

My $.02. I dont have much experience with hunting down dirt on potential tenants, so I really appreciated this service. The tenant pays and I feel like I have an edge, even though I dont think the info presented is thorough enough (its still better than what I could find in my valuable time).

I had one very suspect applicant, who sounded good but questionable, fear this background check because they were in the process of "re-building" their credit, so they wouldn't be able to take another inquiry hit. I said, thats fine but this is required by the Owner (me), so good luck with your next place. They then started whining. So, I reached out to transunion to ask if this is a SOFT (good) or HARD (damaging) credit hit. Here is their response...

"SmartMove allows the potential renter to initiate the inquiry into the renter's credit, so the inquiry is a soft inquiry instead of a hard inquiry and will not impact the applicant's credit score."

So, FYI, if anyone hears it will hurt their credit, dont believe it, it wont affect that at all.

By the way, after this I "convinced" them the Owner was even more cautious now and it was no longer an option. Do it, or go away. So, reluctantly they did and BLING BLING BLING! They had evictions, complaints, foreclosures, court cases, HOLY SCHMOLLY!!

I called their previous property manager, which I wouldn't have found without smartmove and lightly inquired, just for giggles....

They reported that these were very nice people... until you know them! And suggested to "go with my gut on this one". Phew! Thanks smartmove. And no, I dont work for them in any way.