Summer is no doubt the busiest time of the year for landlords and the real estate industry. The market is thriving and people are receptive because summer is the most convenient time to move. Think about it: the kids are out of school, people are getting married, the weather is nice, etc.

Though a welcome boom, the hustle and bustle can definitely overwhelm and catch you off guard. Now instead of screening a couple of candidates a week, you may be screening up to double that amount per day. This leaves room for a lot of error. Many individuals skip over the essentials to finding quality tenants and thus end up with a tenant horror story worthy of reality TV.

Our advice? Avoid all of that unnecessary drama. Here are some tips that will not only help you weed out “tenant monsters” but also save you time, money, and grief in the long run:

1. Make a photocopy of the potential tenant’s ID and keep it as a reference. This is CRUCIAL. If your applicant has messy handwriting or enters in the wrong information on their application, you will throw off your background check and not receive the correct information.
2. Research the background check company you are using to ensure their records are up to date. Some companies have criminal reports that are a couple of years old and therefore inaccurate. Background Check Solutions’ records (criminal and public records) are updated monthly and we provide full credit reports.
3. Don’t be picky! Run a background check on everyone. Just because they appear a certain way does not mean they don’t have prior evictions hiding in their closet. It is also against the law to discriminate.
4. Always run a comprehensive credit check and nationwide criminal check. Background Check Solutions has many different packages to choose from but we recommend obtaining their eviction record; which includes any prior evictions, credit score, and nationwide criminal check.
5. Don’t ignore the facts. Many people come to us saying: “Oh yeah, they told me that” when we point out blatant red flags on their report. These red flags concern us for a reason: they paint a picture of your future relationship with the tenant. Do you really want someone with a previous eviction and a very low credit score in your precious home? They may seem nice but facts are facts and you can’t afford to ignore them.
6. If you’re still torn over whether to approve a candidate, call us! Heather and I have been in the business since 1982, and we’ve heard it ALL. We can walk you through their applications and help you make the right decision for you. We’ll help you find the quality tenants you deserve.