Each year, 2.7 million households face eviction from their rental properties. This is devastating for the tenant and expensive and time-consuming for the property owner and landlord.
With careful and thorough tenant screening, you can find the best tenants and hopefully avoid the need even to consider the eviction path.
Yet, tenant screening requires the correct tools and a solid knowledge of what you're legally allowed to check in Florida.
For this reason, many property owners opt to use a property management company that handles the screenings to ensure the best tenants land in their properties.
Read on to learn why outsourcing the tenant screening process makes sense.
Many Angles of Tenant Background Checks
You might be surprised by the number of things a property manager checks as part of the tenant screening process.
This might include:
- Verify their identity with their government-issued ID
- Get a social security number
- Check credit history
- Get income verification documents and employment records
- Check rental history and eviction records
- Check criminal records
They'll likely ask the tenant to complete an application that also gives the property manager permission to do all the necessary checking.
Tools for Tenant Screening
To get the most accurate information, the tenant screening service you select must have the most up-to-date technology and access to state databases.
They need to have the technology to run background checks for criminal activity and check for eviction notices.
In addition to using the technology, you should expect the property manager to do the legwork in calling to verify employment status and rental references.
Prevents the Need for Evictions
When you're looking for the best tenants, your goal is to get a tenant who will pay their rent on time and carefully maintain your property. When you use screening tools, you find the best tenant for the vacancy.
The other advantage is that you hope the tenant stays put for a while. The fewer turnovers you have in a property, the fewer costs for you as an owner.
Legal Expectations for Tenant Screening
One significant benefit of outsourcing your tenant screening to a professional property manager is their expertise and knowledge about the process.
While you want to get as much information as possible on a prospective tenant, you still must respect the law and not gather information illegally.
A property manager will know local laws and regulations for tenant screening.
Best Tenants in the Least Amount of Time
It's possible you could do the screenings yourself with some time and effort. Since the property manager does this type of thing all the time, they are faster.
They have the tools and experience to get the information needed very quickly. You don't risk losing a potentially good renter to another property.
Tenant Screening as Part of Your Property Portfolio Management
Effective and thorough tenant screening means you find the best tenants who will follow the lease and pay their rent on time. It can, however, be time-consuming and require access to suitable databases for tenant background checks.
If you're a property owner, make it easy on yourself and consider outsourcing your tenant screening with a property management company. Learn more about how we can help you get the best tenants for your properties.
