According to studies, nine out of 10 landlords use tenant screening reports to help them unearth the best tenants.
You’re a landlord who wants to find the best tenant screening companies, but you don’t know where to start.
It can be tough to figure out which tenant screen companies are the best since there are so many of them. And if you make the wrong choice, it could end up costing you a lot of money.
But don’t worry. Keep reading to learn everything that you need to know about choosing the right tenant screening company with these tenant screening tips.
Contents
Pricing
All tenant screening companies charge different prices for their services. When choosing a tenant screener, make sure to compare prices and go with the company that offers you the most affordable service.
Different tenant screening companies use different screening tools. Some are more comprehensive than others, so choose wisely!
For example, if you are looking for someone to fill a position in your company that will have access to the internet, make sure that they screen for cyber-criminals as well as applicants with prior records.
Licensing And Accreditation
Make sure to hire a tenant screener that is licensed and accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Also, check with the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs to see if there are any complaints filed against them.
Check References
A tenant screener that has a good reputation among its clients will be able to provide you with a list of references to call. Find out about former customers’ experiences with the tenant screening company.
The Service Agreement
A reputable tenant screener will have a standard service agreement that it uses as well as a non-discrimination policy. Be sure to look at both documents before signing the service agreement.
Reputation
Another important thing to consider when choosing a good tenant screening company is its reputation. You can look them up online and see what people are saying about them.
If they have all positive reviews then you might want to choose that tenant screening company but if not, you should keep looking.
Professionalism
Another important factor to think about when choosing a tenant screening company is how professional they are. You want to deal with professionals that know what they are doing.
Otherwise, it could end up costing you more in the long run if things don’t work out.
Customer Service
Customers become frustrated because of poor customer service and this will lead to having bad feelings about the company itself. Make sure you choose a tenant screener who will give the best customer support.
Make sure to check out online customer reviews too. Customer reviews will give you a greater insight into how the company you’re dealing with treats their clients, update their software and handle support cases.
Experience
Choose a tenant screening company that has been in business for at least a few years and has all the experience that you might need. They will have plenty of references from their past clients which will help you when making a decision. You could even go as far as hiring a private investigator for people tracing services from Bond Rees, to do a thorough background check on potential tenants as well as your standard screening process. A PI service can also conduct behavioral assessments, as well as surveillance and uncover hidden information that may not be discovered in a regular screening process.
Checking Out Your Local Government’s Laws
Before choosing a tenant screener, check with your city and state laws. This is because some cities and states don’t allow certain techniques such as criminal background checks and credit reports.
This means they can’t be included when screening one person so keep this in mind if this is the case where you live.
Also, find out if there are any other rules or regulations that may apply before hiring a tenant screener.
Rental And Eviction History
When you are choosing a tenant screener, make sure that they have access to your local courthouse records so they can check if the person has had any rental or eviction history.
Make sure the tenant screener is also checking for bankruptcy background checks since this may be an indication that the tenant is experiencing financial hardship which could lead to non-payment.
Tenant Credit Reports
Another thing to consider is whether the tenant screener is offering tenant screening reports that will give you their financial information and credit scores. This can be a very useful tool.
This is especially helpful when choosing a renter and it could prevent serious future headaches and damages that might occur if you choose the wrong renter.
Report Delivery
One important factor to think about is how long it will take the tenant screener to get you your report. Usually, if they can get it to you by the end of that day then that would be best.
However, some companies may take longer so this is something else to keep in mind when choosing a tenant screener.
FCRA Compliance
Last but not least, you want to choose a tenant screener that is an FCRA compliant company. This will protect both of you from any future disputes and lawsuits that might arise.
That’s all there is to it!
For a complete tenant screening toolkit, go here: https://rentsafe.lease/tenant-screening-for-property-managers/
Find The Best Tenant Screening Companies
The tenant screening companies that you choose will depend on your personal preferences and what you want to get done. As I stated before, make sure to check with the city or state laws.
Also, make sure to ask each one of them for references and go with the best deal because the price can change depending on many factors.
These factors include location so make sure you look around first before settling down with any particular company. Good luck!