Do you discuss what the seller wants for the property over the phone?

Try to get @Avery Carl on the phone for Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge

Hello All, I am in the process of screening a possible tenant for my property.

I approached motivated for sale by owners, preforeclosures and owners in distress via phone.

In this scenario you would do your normal screening on the new applicant, and write an addendum to add them as an authorized occupant.If you feel comfortable releasing the tenant from the lease you can write a new lease with the new parties and transfer the deposit to that lease. 

I should mention at this point that I had screened the tenants and they had excellent credit scores and rental history with no criminal record.

How does the process go from there after the phone call?

Making phone calls and setting up appointments.

For example, you'll want to see that they're approved for 3 bedrooms if you're renting out a 3 bedroom property.If the voucher looks good, and it's an applicant you think you might be interested in renting to, then you'd have them fill out an application and you'd screen them like any other applicant.   

Although unlikely if you screen well, I prefer keeping things separate & requiring my tenant to get utilities under his own name.