Tenant screening

MarkB_MI · Oct 29, 2013

I know some of you guys have rentals. Do any of you use an online tenant screening service? We've always gotten our reports from a local credit agency, but it's a bit of a hassle. I'd also like to run background checks on prospective tenants. Googling on "credit report background check landlords" returns a gazillion hits, but you have no way of knowing which are reputable and which are a waste of money. Any recommendations?

glennster · Oct 29, 2013

I use a service called tenacheck dot com. Also, go on line to the county courthouse and check the prospective tenant arrest record.

Formerly PaMike · Oct 29, 2013

I have used credit checks but my gut instinct and meeting the person has been way more useful.
Rented to a couple that had good credit, they sperated while living in my house. Everything went to crap. Rented to a single lady with 3 kids. She has/had bad credit due to an one going divorce. She was up front about the credit. I gave her a shot. Shes clean, honest and painted the house nicer than it was when I lived there myself....

donjr · Oct 29, 2013

If you pay someone else to do it, get a guarantee in writing that their checks are good, or they pay the damages that the tenants leave when you have to throw them out. We have rented several houses several times, and did a check ourselves one one of the last tenants we rented to. Former landlord, references, etc. Come to find out, the 'former landlord' was her sister-in-law, and references were some drug buddies. House was trashed, with dog feces, bird droppings and ferret stink, not to mention smoke from the furnace that they tried to 'fix' themselves. Close to $10k in damage in one year, and they skipped the last three months rent. Thank God we had insurance....

Rich_WI · Oct 29, 2013

(quoted from post at 20:43:05 10/29/13) If you pay someone else to do it, get a guarantee in writing that their checks are good, or they pay the damages that the tenants leave when you have to throw them out.

Oh, Im sure you will find some company to do THAT for you.... [eye roll]

hrRoss · Oct 30, 2013

our rental agreement requires tenants to pay in cash,good tenants can eventually pay by check

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks, Glennster. I'll check them out.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Online services charge 15 to 25 dollars for a credit/background check. If you know of a company that does a check for 25 bucks and will guarantee our $1200/month rent, please pass it on.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Hmm. Our lease says the opposite. They can pay by check, but one bounced check and it's cash or money order afterwards. One of our houses is in Pontiac; I don't recall ever having a tenant there who even had a checking account.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

PaMike, we pretty much do the same as you. Most renters have bad credit, which is why they're renters. The credit check mostly just validates if they're being up-front about themselves.

Rick Kr · Oct 30, 2013

Mark,
To add to Glennsters comment, I believe Oakland County records are all on-line. I seem to remember looking up a guy that was dating the wifes step-sister that I didn"t get a good vibe from. I was right, stolen check writer.

Rick

Traditional Farmer · Oct 30, 2013

I always get a credit check for the two houses we rent out and from experience can say if they won't pay anyone else they won't pay me either.Also get the names of the last two places/people they rented from to find out if they took care of the place or not.Some good folks out there renting and a whole lot of low lifes.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 30, 2013

A friend has 21 rental homes. He has developed an iron clad rental agreement over time that allows him to get rid of undesirables. He also is quite adamant about never renting to a person who drives up in a red Pontiac.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks Rick. You're correct that records for the Oakland County Circuit Court are on-line, as are those for Macomb County. (This particular property is in Macomb.) That covers the more serious offenses. But eviction, small claims and minor criminal offenses are heard in the District courts, and none of those have online records. Not to mention it's hard to know which particular court might have tried the applicant. Which means having a third-party background check is a good idea.

glennster · Oct 30, 2013

mike, when i use them i run both credit and criminal background checks. many towns have a landlord advisory board, or landlord association. if your area has one, you may want to join. they are very helpful with tips and information on successful landlording with minimum problems. get familiar with the eviction process in your state. in my state, if the rent is late, a 3 day notice is required to be served. if you dont follow the state regs, it can be a long process for eviction. i also have a local attorney i use for evictions if i get a feeling things will get difficult. also, i do quarterly property inspections on each unit. check smoke alarms, plumbing, lighting, heating, windows, screens, door locks and a/c. it gives you an opportunity to see how the tenants are treating your property. also i charge prospective tenants for the background checks. most tenants will have less than desirable credit, and those that are up front and tell you their credit is shot get brownie points for honesty. i do not rent to anyone that has a previous eviction or a felony in their background.

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Vern, it's not the rental agreement that matters when it comes to evicting tenants. You have to follow the eviction process whether or not your lease is any good. Even if your tenants don't contest their eviction, it will take a minimum of 30 days to get them out.

Noah W · Oct 30, 2013

(quoted from post at 19:51:27 10/29/13) I know some of you guys have rentals. Do any of you use an online tenant screening service?

Got this bunch from a rental management company when they got out of the management business. Use them exclusively for my rentals. they have different levels of BG checks. Send them a form signed by the tenant with all the proper info filled out and you will have it back by the end of the next business day. We started charging an application fee(refundable if they rent). It knocked out all but the serious renters. Check out [u:2098c6b808]Verirent[/u:2098c6b808]

Noah W

MarkB_MI · Oct 30, 2013

Thanks Noah. I'll check them out.

Frank 41 · Oct 30, 2013

You guys sound like a friend of mine. He said he had all of his money in lots and houses, lots of whiskey and w**** houses!

Rick Kr · Oct 30, 2013

Bummer. In Genesee County you can access criminal and civil records all on-line for both District and Circuit courts.

Lots of great reading. It is sad, but if you ever wondered what happened to the complete h3ll raiser you knew growing up, you can usually find out on one of the Genesee County links.

Also don"t forget the OTIS site.

Rick

Geo-TH,In · Oct 31, 2013

In Indiana, I use doxpop.com. It is free. You can get some idea if tenant has been in the court system for criminal and civil cases. Then I give my applications to my lawyer. He pays for doxpop to research why tenants showed up there. He charges $15, which I require tenant to pay me. If tenant checks out, I apply it to their deposit.

In Indiana, you can go on line and do an offender search to see if tenant has been in the state prison. You can also go to the court house, use public computer and check records for court cases.

Forget where, but there is a place on line that will confirm SS#'s

Always ask for previous landlord.

Red flags:
Tenant asks if I can work with them on deposit.
Tenant is living with parents.
Look at car, if trashy, no way.
I request to see pay stubs, make sure they are working.
Tenant wants to rent that moment without you doing background check.

I could write a book on mistakes I've made in the past 45 years.

George

Tenant screening

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