Recommendation of tenant Screen website and credit score

Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes

Hello everyone:

I have bought a property in Montgomery and wanted to rent it through the section 8 program.

I will manage this first unit on my own and see how difficult it is. My question is, which website do you recommend for the tenant background screen and credit report?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Gerardo Castillo

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Reid Chauvin

Lender · Nashville TN - Licensed in AL AR DC FL GA LA MD TN, TX and VA · Member since 2021 · 583 posts · 338 votes

@Gerardo Castillo - I have had success just using Zillow to both market and screen tenants. Prospective tenants can apply through Zillow (I think its $25 or so); you get a background check, a credit score with list of accounts and collections, and applicant can upload income documentation.

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David Ramirez
Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
MyRental is a good one
0 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @David Ramirez:

MyRental is a good one

Thanks a lot David.!
0 Reply
Eliott Elias
Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2021 · 9k+ posts · 5k+ votes
3y
Wether the experience goes great or terrible, hire a property manager. Stop self managing property.
0 Reply
Mitch Lowe
Investor · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 7 votes
3y
I've used tenant background search. It does a good job, but looks like its straight out of the early 2000's.
0 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Eliott Elias:

Wether the experience goes great or terrible, hire a property manager. Stop self managing property.

Hello Eliott, thank you so much for your advise. Actually my intention is not to manage my future properties but I would like to leverage that I only have one to learn how is it. To learn with the practice. Then I will hire a property manager and delegate that task.
0 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Mitch Lowe:

I've used tenant background search. It does a good job, but looks like its straight out of the early 2000's.

Thank you so much Mitch..!!
1 Reply
Randy Rodenhouse
Investor · Charleston, SC · Member since 2011 · 606 posts · 413 votes
3y
I use Smartmove which is a Transunion product (website is mysmart move.com). It is very easy to use and costs around $40 for background, credit and rental history. The credit is not a FICO score but gives you a list of accounts and the ones not paying etc and they have their own score system.
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Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Randy Rodenhouse:

I use Smartmove which is a Transunion product (website is mysmart move.com). It is very easy to use and costs around $40 for background, credit and rental history. The credit is not a FICO score but gives you a list of accounts and the ones not paying etc and they have their own score system.

Hello Randy, I appreciate your advise..! Thanks a lot.!
0 Reply
Wayne YahnkePro Member
Rental Property Investor · California, CA · Member since 2018 · 50 posts · 14 votes
3y
apartments.com does a pretty good job. You pay nothing. They provide you with an application credit score, eviction history, and criminal background check.
[email protected]833-629-2963
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Mary Smith
Rental Property Investor · Member since 2021 · 385 posts · 197 votes
3y
@Gerardo Castillo We use the Innago software to manage our rentals and have been doing so for years. They offer tenant screening services through TransUnion. We usually do a full screening on our tenants, that includes a credit, criminal and an eviction check for $35. Innago structures it to having the applicants pay for the screening, making it very easy on my end. As soon as an applicant completes their application, I receive a copy of their screening reports within minutes and I am able to review them.
0 Reply
Nathan Murith
Investor · San Rafael · Member since 2020 · 376 posts · 274 votes
3y
Quote from @Gerardo Castillo:

Hello everyone:

I have bought a property in Montgomery and wanted to rent it through the section 8 program.

I will manage this first unit on my own and see how difficult it is. My question is, which website do you recommend for the tenant background screen and credit report?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Gerardo Castillo
Full disclosure, we use property management, so cannot speak from experience.
That said, we have done our research and keep contemplating managing some of our properties. I know rentredi always comes up as a preferred solution as well s might even be a BiggerPockets partner.
I also like Hemlane, a solution that is somewhat between self-management and having a property manager, I would look into it.
In either case, this site has a ton of resources including section on rent collection and tenant screening. https://everyreitool.com/categ...
https://everyreitool.com/categ...
0 Reply
Reid Chauvin
Lender · Nashville TN - Licensed in AL AR DC FL GA LA MD TN, TX and VA · Member since 2021 · 583 posts · 338 votes
3y
@Gerardo Castillo - I have had success just using Zillow to both market and screen tenants. Prospective tenants can apply through Zillow (I think its $25 or so); you get a background check, a credit score with list of accounts and collections, and applicant can upload income documentation.
1 Reply
Paul De Luca
Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Quote from @Gerardo Castillo:

Hello everyone:

I have bought a property in Montgomery and wanted to rent it through the section 8 program.

I will manage this first unit on my own and see how difficult it is. My question is, which website do you recommend for the tenant background screen and credit report?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Gerardo Castillo

I like using Zillow Rental Manager.
0 Reply
Drew SygitBusiness Member
Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
3y
@Gerardo Castillo upgrade to BP Pro and use RentiReady software for free (but still have to pay for background)
Could also use Zillow
[email protected]248-209-6824
Logical Property Management4.9460 Reviews
Website View Page
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Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Mary Smith:

@Gerardo Castillo We use the Innago software to manage our rentals and have been doing so for years. They offer tenant screening services through TransUnion. We usually do a full screening on our tenants, that includes a credit, criminal and an eviction check for $35. Innago structures it to having the applicants pay for the screening, making it very easy on my end. As soon as an applicant completes their application, I receive a copy of their screening reports within minutes and I am able to review them.

Thank you so much Mary..!!
0 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Reid Chauvin:

@Gerardo Castillo - I have had success just using Zillow to both market and screen tenants. Prospective tenants can apply through Zillow (I think its $25 or so); you get a background check, a credit score with list of accounts and collections, and applicant can upload income documentation.

Thank you Reid..!
0 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Drew Sygit:

@Gerardo Castillo upgrade to BP Pro and use RentiReady software for free (but still have to pay for background)
Could also use Zillow

Thanks a lot Drew. I am thinking to upgrade again for BP Pro.
1 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Paul De Luca:

Quote from @Gerardo Castillo:

Hello everyone:

I have bought a property in Montgomery and wanted to rent it through the section 8 program.

I will manage this first unit on my own and see how difficult it is. My question is, which website do you recommend for the tenant background screen and credit report?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Gerardo Castillo

I like using Zillow Rental Manager.

Thank you Paul.!
1 Reply
Gerardo Castillo
OP
Real Estate Agent · NC · Member since 2020 · 19 posts · 5 votes
3y
Quote from @Nathan Murith:

Quote from @Gerardo Castillo:

Hello everyone:

I have bought a property in Montgomery and wanted to rent it through the section 8 program.

I will manage this first unit on my own and see how difficult it is. My question is, which website do you recommend for the tenant background screen and credit report?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

Gerardo Castillo
Full disclosure, we use property management, so cannot speak from experience.
That said, we have done our research and keep contemplating managing some of our properties. I know rentredi always comes up as a preferred solution as well s might even be a BiggerPockets partner.
I also like Hemlane, a solution that is somewhat between self-management and having a property manager, I would look into it.
In either case, this site has a ton of resources including section on rent collection and tenant screening. https://everyreitool.com/categ...
https://everyreitool.com/categ...

Thank you Nathan.!
1 Reply

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