How would I go about screening prospective commercial tenants?  

Like I said this is just something I've been tossing around while staring into my computer screen at work.

Tenants can trash a place, but using property managers to screen your tenants makes this much more unlikely to happen.

You say going through a realtor is the easy way, as far as I know they get and screen their listing from the mls and from the info I am looking for.

Like a flat screen TV.

I understand your position, but...A $1,200/mo tenant who is properly screened and placed in Sc is a LOT less headache than a $500/mo tenant.I only have one property close to that ($1,400/mo) and that tenant has been in place 5 years and never been a day late on the payment.Now on to the tax rate.

It was of of your questions.So, the best way to find qualified renters is to screen all applicants well.

If I am looking for a plumber to fix busted pipes in a house and he does not want to pull permits …then I think it is a red flag …-Now I am doing pretty good job screening tenants …do you think I shall apply the same technique towards subs ..taking picture of their driving license, checking local court records if there are any pending suits against them or if they sued somebody ?

So for example if there was a rental analysis they made on price and recommend lowering ok but if they just randomly decide something is a good idea or bring every tenant complaint without any screening/ troubleshooting that is not good.

Rather than sand and refinish once a decade, have a flooring guy screen and recoat about once every 4 years.