When you manage a property yourself, how do you screen tenants?

[Steve S.]

This question is about screening tenants and also how one goes about showing them the property.

I've typically had a property manager, but am looking at my first more turn key property in a GREAT area that I'm excited to get locked down.

For other rentals that I own, I've had my property manager find the tenant for which they charge me half of the first month's rent.  

I'm also seeing in the area that I'm looking to add this turnkey property, the cost is closer to one FULL MONTH's rent.

Given that, and that I'm going to be managing this newer, turn key property myself, would y'all recommend a different approach or is the value so great in having realtors be able to show the property that I should just eat the cost and have them do it?