Hi All,I am in the process of listing my first rental and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were regarding the Zillow Application and Screening services for tenants? 

Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.Load a property with pictures and details.Market that property.See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.Run a credit/screening report on yourself.Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.Sign documents electronically.Run owner reports.After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out.

Tenant screening is more than just reviewing applications and conducting background checks; it’s about ensuring that your property is leased to responsible tenants who will treat it with care and respect.

You are exempt from the "source of income" protection though, which means you are allowed to deny an application just because they have a housing choice voucher, which would not be the case if you owned more than 4 units. 

Is your DSCR ratio greater than 1-meaning are you cash flowing (according to the lender's criteria of mortgage, property taxes and insurance (and HOA) if applicable).

He just wanted me to make something up like her application was incomplete or she didn't pay on time. 

Even New York where you can't see if the applicant has a history of eviction.

I've had multiple qualified applicants.  

The amount of applications we receive on a daily basis I barely have time to sleep.

If an applicant is difficult during the application process or has a lot of questions, they are likely to be just as challenging as a tenant.Of course, there are always exceptions, but I’m speaking from 17 years of property management experience.I hope you get this sorted out soon!