What is your process for picking great tenants? Here's ours...

[Erin Dorsey Robinson]

We are realtors and investors in Cleveland and own ten properties in the Cleveland area. Our tenants stay with us at minimum 3 years, most even longer. When they leave, it's usually because they are buying a home (which we sell them lol!) AND, they ALL paid during April and May! This is our "secret sauce". 

1. 1. Offer rents that are slightly below market to attract a larger tenant pool, 
2. 2. We hold 1-2 open houses for the rental, meeting them face to face. No individual appointments (pre-COVID...) 
3. 3. Invite the cream of the crop from that group to apply ($30 fee per adult to cover background and credit check) 
4. 4. Selection criteria: renters earn ~3x the amount of the rental, no recent evictions, credit score 600+, no pets, tenants are responsible for snow removal, grass, utilities.  

What has worked for you?