I have a document of our rental criteria that clearly lays out credit scores, criminal background criteria, and income criteria.

Or should i say criminal behavior which doing this and wiring in your money then they go dark on you is of course a criminal act.

Materials 10K and Labor is 15k.Contractor buying materials - Contractor asks for half upfront and potentially walks away with $12.5kYou buying materials (Labor only) - you pay half upfront of $7.5k and contractor quits on you, you lose out on $7.5kWhen you purchase the materials and the contractor walks away with it, it now becomes a criminal issue and not just a civil case, because you paid and own the materials.

I have had my fair share of applicants who wanted to pay the full year in advance and there was always a reason behind it - poor credit score/criminal history etc.

I like the fact that the reply from Zillow usually includes the person's real name (so that I can check housing court, criminal court, and google them before I reply), and a phone number. 

The camera serves as a security deterrent and is meant to deter criminality.

If everything else is verifiable and they don't have any criminal record, we don't even worry about the landlord part any more since 90% of them won't bother calling back, and of the remainder half might be scams and the other half might have an axe to grind.

They try and get criminal offenses for not mowing the lawn.

Quote from @Winter Heintz: I'm sorry, but criminal behavior is what sends you to jail and I don't want criminals renting my property.

It's $35 per person for criminal,eviction and credit report.