Tenant screening is one of the most critical steps in rental property management, yet it’s all too easy to make blunders that could cause extreme challenges down the road. Whether it’s permitting personal biases to influence decisions or overlooking essential parts of the background check, ignoring key steps in the screening process can generate significant issues, including late payments, property damage, high turnover, and even legal complications.
It’s great to know that avoiding these mistakes can help you attract high-quality tenants and keep your properties running smoothly. Here are some of the most common tenant screening mistakes, along with practical tips on how to evade them.
Mistake #1: Failing to Screen Consistently
Being reliable is key for effective tenant screening. A critical component of consistency is guaranteeing that you employ the same standards for every applicant, preventing the sway of emotions or personal biases that influence your decisions. There are several risks associated with unreliable and subjective screening, such as missing out on a great tenant and encountering potential lawsuits for discrimination.
Legal action can be a lengthy and expensive process, and it’s something every rental property owner should try to avoid. Many state and federal laws prohibit discrimination in housing, making it vital to grasp how these rules pertain to you and to uphold a compliant assessment procedure.
Mistake #2: Not Checking the Right References
Another common mistake during screening is failing to verify the correct references. As a component of the application process, it is important to get personal and professional references from prospective tenants along with previous landlords. Employment history, financial references, and personal character references are all suitable kinds of references to request. Then, be sure to reach out to all of these references and ask the right questions.
In this case, you might ask about how long they’ve known the applicant, the way they perform at work, how well they care for their current living space, and whether they’ve witnessed any red signs. With regard to the type of reference, you need to tailor your list of questions to fit perfectly.
Mistake #3: Overlooking Credit and Background Checks
A third significant mistake in tenant screening is neglecting to run credit and background checks on the applicant. Both assessments are relatively prevalent in rental markets nationwide, but there are still property owners and managers who disregard this chance to learn valuable information about their renters.
Credit and background checks reveal fascinating understandings about a person and can help you identify possible red flags, such as prior evictions, criminal history, or financial difficulties. While not every negative detail on a credit report or a background check is an automatic cause for denial of an application, these evaluations do give you what you need to make an informed decision about your next tenant.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Rental History
One of the major mistakes a rental property manager can make is overlooking a potential applicant’s rental history. Reviewing rental history is important as it provides beneficial insight into a renter’s likely future behavior.
When examining rental history, pay attention to potential warning signs, such as late payments, property damage, and other lease agreement violations. Even though it’s critical not to depend solely on a previous landlord’s report of a person, especially if there were disagreements during the rental period, it can present helpful information about how the applicant is likely to behave as a renter.
Mistake #5: Inadequate Communication with Applicants
Finally, a last mistake rental property owners and managers make during the screening process is disregarding to communicate clearly and consistently with the applicant. Seeking a rental home can be a stressful experience for renters, and irritation can swiftly escalate into negative feelings. Bear in mind that your renter’s experience begins with the first communication with you and will continue throughout your association, regardless of its duration.
To foster a positive relationship with your tenant, start with clarity by openly sharing your application requirements, timescales, and how your decision will be communicated. By doing this, you can avoid misunderstandings that could discourage or disappoint applicants and result in negative reviews.
Get Your Screening Process Right!
By following these tips and strategies, you can simply avoid the top mistakes rental property owners and managers make during the screening process. This can result in enhanced tenant retention, fewer problems, and even boost your reputation as a landlord.
Thorough tenant screening can be quite a journey. Ready to hand over this obligation to the professionals and elevate your tenant screening in Berrien Springs? Reach out to Real Property Management Instant Equity (SW Michigan). Our excellent services include a streamlined screening process, ensured legal conformity, and so on. Contact us online or call 269-210-3771 for expert property management services.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
