It’s not easy for property owners to get into the rental business. They would need to make sure the customers would like their rentals. Aside from that, they also have to find good tenants who will partner with them in taking care of their investments.
We should not expect the landlord to do all the work just because the tenants pay rent. Renters are also responsible for keeping the property well-maintained and abiding by the rules of the lease. Good tenants pay the rent on time, report their concerns immediately, and avoid damaging the landlord’s property.
And you, as a leasing agent, can match a good landlord with a good tenant. You can only do this if you have a full-proof screening process. An agent needs a systematic, meticulous, and thorough approach to choosing the right tenant. But why? Read on to find out.
It will reveal their financial capabilities and history.
Part of the screening procedure is checking a tenant applicant’s capacity to meet the demand of paying rent. Landlords would not want to end up with someone who dodges monthly payments. It will only cause stress, and they might have to evict them eventually.
Agents should find someone financially stable and responsible by doing a credit check. Credit checks will allow agents to look into the applicant’s accounting status. Doing it will reveal unpaid loans and debts.
It will reveal if there is any danger present.
Since you are dealing with people you barely know, you must do a criminal background check. But you always have to remember that you have to get the tenant’s consent for this. Investigating will help determine if the applicant is a threat to the community because the landlord would have to deal with any untoward incidents. For instance, the tenant has a history of harassing someone. No one can guarantee that it will not happen again.
It can uncover past evictions.
The screening process will allow you to learn more about the tenant through previous landlords. Past property managers are the best source of information about how the tenants are as clients. They will tell you if the tenant was good or if they got evicted.
If they got kicked out of the rental, try to ask the main reason why it happened. You must not write the tenant off immediately. But having a history of eviction is considered a red flag for most landlords.
It can help evaluate the applicant’s professionalism.
Some tenants may not list their past landlords as a reference, particularly if they don’t have a good relationship with them. The other person you can interview is their employer. Asking people who work with them will also give you an idea about who they are as professionals.
Do they miss work regularly? Do they have any conflicts with their colleagues? You would want someone who respects other people and shows loyalty. If the tenant has those qualities, he will likely convey the same courtesy to the landlord.
It will reveal the tenant’s plans.
Once you find a potentially right tenant, you’d want them to stay long. Through interviews, you can inquire about their plans for the future. It will help you evaluate if there is a possibility that they will renew their lease.
However, if they plan on leaving after the contract, you should not consider it a disadvantage. Some may have to move because of work or family. Do not miss out on a good tenant because you prefer someone who will stay longer.
After all, you can always look for other tenants. With Padleads, your task of filling in vacancies just got easier. You can post your property listings and syndicate them to other websites. It will attract hundreds of potential tenants, and you’ll be screening them in no time.