It is a good SCREENING device that is worshiped all too much on BP.

So I am starting my first tenant screening and I have an applicant with an eviction due to job loss, they are currently working again.

Unfortunately, I can't screen or interview prospective tenants (in person) because I live in Haiti. 

There is a  high probability something is going to go wrong within the first couple of years of owning a property, particularly when you don't know either how to inspect a property and/or you don't know how to properly screen tenants.Remember, the majority of people out there can't come up with $2,000 within 30 days.  

I have always lost money when I haven't done my own screening etc. 

We conducted a careful screening of the tenant, she passed with flying colors (Via Trans Union's My Smart Move by the way if anyone is interested).

Grow up.Lost the text  I will try againI guess that you dont screen any tenants , since lying isnt a concern of yours If someone "loves" their pet , they would never sneek it into a NO PETS rental .Being nice is costly , I tried it in the past , I always got screwed , it cost me money . 

We've worked with a number of investors over the years that used us for the exit strategy.You can certainly find cash buyers that will buy the houses and utilize your lease option program as an exit, but it's not as simple as that.It sounds like you are looking at doing this from the aspect of helping people, but something I learned early on was you have to get thick skin and also learn very well how to screen people and for a lease option to work, you really need to become knowledgeable in mortgage guidelines.If someone has $300 to put down, they aren't going to buy a house.From the cash buyer perspective, they need equity and a return on investment.Yes, we help a LOT of people with our LO program, but for it to work you have to approach it first from how to structure the lease option properly, which means the numbers etc.If you first approach it from how to help people with bad credit, you will get burned, and so will the cash buyer.

I shouldn't end up with crummy tenants as a result of this because I'm still going to screen them.

Kyle J.thanks for the response. i may just follow up with them next week and ask if it has been replaced. if not, i will have it replaced and bill them. may not get refunded.....i like to have them responsible to some degree or they (some tenants) will call about everything. they have called monthly so far about one thing or another. this proves the point of good screening, but that is a lessoned learned. i have been understanding, but dont want monthly calls about everything and need to hold them accountable, but i agree. i also dont want them to ingore issues not tell me.thanks Kyle.