As a property owner, you only want the best tenants living in your properties. You want them to take care of it and treat it as if it were their own home. In order to find those quality tenants though, you need to have an effective screening process to find the top applicants. Because tenant screening is often easier said than done, we made a list of tips for you to consider when trying to find the tenants right for your property.
1. Ask questions
There are several questions that you can put on the application that will help you know more about the applicant’s lifestyle. For instance, you’ll want to make sure the person you’re considering is employed and if they can afford to pay rent. It’s a good idea to get proof of employment by asking for a W-2 or past income statement. This information can be extremely beneficial in making the best tenant selection.
2. Look at credit history
A person’s credit score will tell you how good they are at paying their bills on time. The higher the credit score, the better. You may want to avoid renting to a person that has an extremely low credit score, but there are definitely exceptions to this. There are factors other than their credit score that will help you know if they will be a good tenant or not.
3. Ask for references
On the application, you can ask that the applicant list references. These references should be people such as prior landlords, employers, co-workers, etc. Reliable references will personally tell you about their experiences with the applicant and will really help you narrow down your decision. For example, one prospective tenant may have fantastic credit due to consistent rent payments, but perhaps you talk to an old landlord and find out that they did significant damage to the property; this might convince you that they aren’t your best option.
4. Conduct an interview
Other than requiring a detailed application, conducting an interview can be a very important step in the tenant screening process. Here, you will be able to ask them more personal questions about their lifestyle and get a feel for them and their personality. You might decide that something feels off about one applicant that seemed perfect on paper, or you might find that they are a great fit for your property.
5. Contact Specialized Property Management Houston
Tenant screening can often be very tedious, so hiring a property management company in Houston can be extremely beneficial, as they will save you time, money, and stress. Specialized Property Management Houston has a tried-and-true method of tenant screening, and we will help you find the best tenants for your property. Our tenant qualification process includes credit, employment, rental history, criminal, and terrorist checks. We are experienced in complying with all Texas Department of Real Estate codes to best protect our clients, their cash flow, and property by placing only the most qualified tenants in your unit.
