Are their listings detailed with good quality photos?

If, on the other hand, I am not having success finding an acceptable applicant, and the Owner is not happy with how long the process is taking, I also ask them to meet me at the property, where I proceed to point out factors affecting the lack of interest, which, usually, are due to shortcuts, low quality elements, or lack of adequate prep by the Owner, or at the Owner's direction.

At minimum, a property should be maintained in same quality/condition as purchased. 

> “Fair Market Rents, as defined in 24 CFR 888.113 are estimates of 40th percentile gross rents for standard quality units within a metropolitan area or nonmetropolitan county.”

My husband and I own a renovation company and I'm not going to lie, we have had some struggles along the way with employees not working to the quality level we require or high turn overs causing delays.

I'm new to landlording and am curious to know how experienced landlords in my area attract quality tenants.  

With the right management, especially a company that's dialed into the European and Canadian renters, quality homes will rent, and not just in the winter months. 

My question is, having no way of knowing the quality of screening the current tenants would have actually undergone, can I use the information on file to run a quality background and credit check to perform a "risk assessment"?

And a flight to quality doesn't hurt either--the properties at the lowest end of the spectrum often suffer the worst and can be the last to come back.But good defense requires one step beyond underwriting--not stacking on too much debt is very important. 

Selecting quality jockey first (syndicator), then the horse (property), is usually best.