Do you have one or more properties in the Bedford area that currently have vacancies? If so, with those vacancies you're going to have to screen tenants in order to find the right people to live in those properties.
Sadly, tenant screening is one of the top things that most landlords hate doing because of the simple fact that they either dislike having to take the time looking into a potential tenant’s background, or they don't have the heart to disqualify people based on specific criteria.
Thankfully, tenant screening can be easier than you think, especially if you know what criteria you should establish from the very beginning.
In this article, we will offer you several tips that you can use during the process of tenant screening which will make it easier than you ever imagined it could be.
Tip #1 - Criminal History
The first thing that you should establish during the process of tenant screening is your criteria if a prospective tenant has a criminal history.
In today's world, you cannot discriminate against the tenant based upon their criminal history but, you can specify which type of criminal history you’re willing to consider or not consider, especially if their offenses were violent, or non-violent.
Tip #2 - Rental History
During the process of screen tenants, you're also going to have to consider a tenant's rental history.
This is also very important because the fact that you may encounter one or more prospective tenants who have rental histories which show that they stay an average of 3 to 6 months (or less) at the rental properties that they live in.
If you encounter a prospective tenant with a rental history like this, the most important thing to do is to ask them for reasons behind why they stay at the places they rent for short periods of time because, their job may require them to move frequently but, if they don't have a legitimate reason behind the rental history, you should consider continuing to look for the right tenant.
Tip #3 - Evictions
Last of all, but most important, another thing to consider when screening tenants to live in your rental property is if they have any evictions in their rental history or not.
During the process of screening tenants, you may encounter at least one person with an eviction, in this case, you should pay serious attention to when the eviction occurred and also verify if it was classified as a satisfied eviction, meaning that they paid any back rent that they owed, and all court costs associated with the eviction.
Contact Martin Property Management
For more tenant screening tips, or to speak with us about the property management services that we can offer you, contact us today by clicking here.
