Where to Start?

[Charmaine Alard]

My long term tenant (a family friend) is moving out and I am concerned how to make sure I pre-screen future tenants effectively without violating any laws. 

background: this property used to be my primary home and had a very informal agreement with a family friend to rent from me in the mean time. But she is moving and I will have to learn the ins and outs of being a LL. I am terrified as this is so new to me. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes a LL makes when prescreening? 

If I don’t want to use a PM company, what websites can I use to prescreen a prospective tenant? 

Where can I learn about as a first time LL?