Conducting a thorough tenant screening is a vital part of being a landlord for your Fairfield, CA property. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), millions of Americans are renters rather than homeowners.
Running a tenant background check and other screening tools is a smart way to protect your investment.
Read on to learn how credit checks and other tenant screening tools can help with finding tenants who are reliable and long-term renters, giving you peace of mind.
Credit Checks
A simple tenant credit check is the first tool you should use to ensure that your new tenant is credit-worthy. You can conduct a credit report search yourself online or through a professional property management service.
The purpose of running these reports is to make sure that prospective tenants are reliable when it comes to making their monthly rent payments. Those with a higher credit score and/or a "clean" report are much more likely to pay you on time, every time.
When verifying tenant information, you should also confirm the tenant's current employer is legitimate and that they're actively employed. This is also the ideal time to verify a person's income. A simple income verification ensures that the applicant is making the amount of money they claim to make on the application.
Criminal Tenant Background Check
Conducting a tenant background check doesn't just protect you, it also protects the other tenants living on your property. These checks give you insight into a prospective tenant's criminal background (if applicable).
When you run a background check for tenants of your Fairfield, CA property, it should include a National Criminal Search and a National Sex Offender Search. It should also include an International Terrorism Database Search.
Performing these checks doesn't mean that you're accusing someone of criminal behavior. Simply put, this type of tenant screening is done to ensure that anyone new moving to the property has a clean record, which helps to keep others safe.
Prior Rental History
Part of your tenant screening should also include checking the tenant's previous rental history. Ask them for a reference that includes contact information for at least one previous landlord.
Once you get the information, call the landlord to confirm that the person has a record of paying their rent on time. Finding tenants you trust should always include confirming they have a solid rental history.
Use a Property Management Service
Verifying tenant information can be time-consuming and intense. Using a professional property management service makes the entire tenant screening process easier.
When you use a property management service, they'll conduct all of the necessary checks for you. This is a simple, streamlined way to find the best tenants for you.
Find the Perfect Tenant Today
A thorough tenant background check including their criminal, rental, and credit history is a great way to find exceptional tenants. If you're a landlord in Fairfield, CA, consider hiring a professional property management company.
The team at PMI Northbay uses an effective tenant screening process for finding tenants you can rely on in Fairfield, CA. If you're ready to learn more, contact us to find out how we go about verifying tenant information to help you find the best renters for your property.
