Starting the Tenant Screening Process
Begin with the First Phone Call
In a down economy, it’s more important than ever to perform tenant screening. Vacancy rates are climbing, and some landlords have been tempted to skip this important step. They are learning the hard way that it never pays to do so.
Start the tenant screening process as soon as your telephone rings in response to your advertisement. If your ad was done well, the prospective applicant already knows the basics: that you will conduct a tenant background check and tenant credit check, whether or not you allow pets, and the size of the unit.
Even folks that know they won’t pass a background screening will still call you—they often think they’ll sneak through or that if they’re nice enough, the landlord won’t perform the tenant background check. It’s wise to repeat your screening policy when you have a prospective tenant on the phone. It’s okay to let them know that if they do not meet your standards for employment, credit history, rental history, and criminal history, they will be rejected.
If you have a size limit for pets, state that during the call. Landlords report that even when they state a 20-pound limit, tenants still ask, “What about my English Sheepdog?” If you don’t want a dog that large in your rental unit, say so, and move on to the next call.
The initial phone inquiry is a good time to start establishing a good landlord tenant relationship. Briefly review your house rules, letting the prospective tenant know what behavior you expect. You can also give them an idea of the amenities and level of care you take, and the service they can expect from you.
You can get a feel for tenant’s level of cooperation and personal responsibility by the questions they ask in your very first conversation. If your prospective tenant passes the phone screening, move on to a formal lease application, including notification that you will conduct a background and landlord credit check.