DIY Tenant Screening Process

[Christopher Helwig]

My Question is about the order in which DIY landlords and managers show their property to perspective tenants and call references.  Currently I wait until I have about 5 qualified applicants, and schedule viewings with all of them.  I disqualify anyone who is late or dose not show at all.  That usually leaves two or three qualified applicants.  Then I call the references on the first application and if it all checks out I offer them the unit.  

I am considering changing my process because it is a bit of a pain to show every vacancy to multiple tenants.  However it is nice to have a backup if someone decides they do not want the unit or it turns out they cannot pay.

How do other owners/managers do it?  Do you call references first?  Do you show every vacancy to multiple applicants?  Do you leave a lock box and let people see it at their leisure?  I would love to hear other's processes and their reasons?

Thanks in advance.