Tenant Screening | Top resources available

Tenant Screening | Top resources available

Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2020 · 17 posts · 10 votes

What has been the most helpful platform/service in your experience (asking the BP community) for screening potential tenants? 

I've conducted several formal interviews for my day job in the past so I feel that have a good grasp on how to decipher whether potential tenant is a "good person" but having a little more difficulty confirming 'hard information' like credit and criminal reports.

For example: I've received CreditKarma credit reports from potential tenants but found that it is quite difficult to confirm that the credit report provided is actually the credit report from the potential tenant (and not a fake credit report to make it seem they have a better credit score than what they actually have). I was hoping to use their SSN provided on the Rental Application (adequately disclosed) to confirm with the SSN provided for their credit report but seems that CreditKarma doesn't have this capability (they don't have a live customer service number to call and confirm info).  So currently I find that I'm exposing myself to quite the risk and as landlord.  

At the end of the day, I would like to ensure that 1) credit/criminal report is in fair standing and 2) the report provided is the report of the potential tenant. 

Any suggestions?
 

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Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
6y

@Nick Webb It is called "Washington Landlord's Association" and is an independent group. They have lobbyists representing LL interests. Legal and forms support-notices and leases, BG and Credit reports. LL Training, networking etc. Membership is surprisingly cheap; between them and BP I really don't need anything else. There are LL groups of one kind or another in most markets, as well as the National Apartment Owners Association.

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  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    6y

    @Nick Webb you can search threads and blogs here on the site. Brandon Taylor's book Managing Rental Properties. Zillow articles, local REI groups etc. Be sure you are familiar with Fair Housing, and Anti discrimination rules!

    A comment on what you wrote...........don't rely on your ability to judge a 'good person'. Instead screen, screen, screen!

    I use the State LL Association for BG and Credit checking. They have great staff and legal help too-at least here in Wa. Don't know about elsewhere.

  • Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2020 · 17 posts · 10 votes
    6y

    @Bjorn Ahlblad Agreed! I believe having great tenants plays a huge role to the success of a RE investor, which makes screening potential tenants that much more important. And of course, Fair Housing and Anti discriminatory language is engrained within my rental applications and course of conduct between myself and tenants.

    I've thumbed through a handful of threads/forums/podcasts/videos/etc but I wanted to see what everyone suggest/prefer at the moment.

    Is 'State LL Association' a state-runned program? I'll have to research and see if the state of South Carolina may have something of that sort. Thanks for the tips!

  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    6y

    @Nick Webb It is called "Washington Landlord's Association" and is an independent group. They have lobbyists representing LL interests. Legal and forms support-notices and leases, BG and Credit reports. LL Training, networking etc. Membership is surprisingly cheap; between them and BP I really don't need anything else. There are LL groups of one kind or another in most markets, as well as the National Apartment Owners Association.

  • Member since 2019 · 85 posts · 50 votes
    6y

    @Nick Webb BiggerPockets has recommended screening companies right on their site under the landlord resources tab.  You can also find the link I provided by hovering over 'tools' and selecting Landlord Resources under 'services'.  

    I would recommend doing some research on what company best fits your screening needs.  

    You will find that there are companies out there that will let you input your applicant's information to verify it is valid/conduct the searches for you, and there will also be companies that require the applicant to verify their information to generate the report for you.

  • Real Estate Broker · Portland, OR · Member since 2019 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    Go to your local renters owner association.  There's usually one or two guys in town that do background/credit investigations as their normal line of biz.

  • Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2020 · 17 posts · 10 votes
    6y

    Thanks @Joseph Copella for the suggestion!

    @Steve Morris I'll check out the local ROA as an option as well - thanks! 

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