From the other point of view - how do I, as the owner of the closet/garage/basement, know your "stuff" isn't dangerous, illegal, filled with roaches, or that you aren't a criminal seeking access into my property?  

I always have tenants pay at lease signing; because it amazes me how often people will submit an application, pay the credit/criminal check, tell me how much they love the apartment and then disappear and not answer calls or texts (they either died, found a different place, or mommy's no longer kicking him/her out of the basement). 

Criminals are quite lazy by nature, and many will look for lower hanging fruit.Check the storage units supply companies online. 

Unless you go on a solid recommendation from someone you trust, you really don’t know if a Private Money lender is real and trustworthy or fake and criminal.

Unless you go on a solid recommendation from someone you trust, you really don’t know if a Private Money lender is real and trustworthy or fake and criminal.

Unless you go on a solid recommendation from someone you trust, you really don’t know if a Private Money lender is real and trustworthy or fake and criminal.

I pay around $75 a year to be a member and it's worth every penny (they also do credit and criminal checks for a fee which is great and they have classes for members as well). 

Unless you go on a solid recommendation from someone you trust, you really don’t know if a Private Money lender is real and trustworthy or fake and criminal.

We pull credit, no evictions, no criminal record, and 3x's the rent in salary are our minimums.8) Actually call and verify employment and rental history. 

At this time there is no extensive US or Canada wide database exclusively for evictions, and evictions do not appear in the criminal background check we conduct on tenants."