Suggestions? How to screen tenants if realtor shows house

[Rachel A.]

Rookie question...We just completed a cosmetic rehab on our first house and placed it for rent this week. I plan to self-manage, so I had hoped to show the house myself and personally meet any potential tenants. From just a yard sign and Zillow, I actually got a fair number of inquiries. For safety reasons and to make sure they qualified, I would send a link to the free application offered by erentpayment. I have received zero applications back. My realtor posted it on MLS, which increased my inquiries from individuals. Again, no applications received. A fellow landlord friend of mine, said that I probably won't get any because no one is going to fill out an application (even a simple one) before seeing the house. (We're in San Antonio, so there is an abundance of available rentals.)

Now I have a couple of realtors interested in showing it. I only get a text/phone call from the showing service asking to confirm that the house is available at a certain time. This completely cuts me out of the process of meeting the tenants and puts a lot of trust in a realtor that I have never met. Plus they are working on the behalf of their client, not me. I think actually meeting the person is critical before offering a contract, especially if I am going to manage the property myself.

Is there an intermediate step I can take, so that I'm not cut out of the loop of selecting MY tenant? My application and credit/background check are all online, so showing the house was my opportunity to get to know the tenant and look out for red flags.  

[Russell Brazil]

You screen the tenant the same way you would if they don't have an agent. There is no reason you need to meet them before they see the available unit.  Looking out for red flags by seeing someone in person is just asking to be reported for a fair housing violation.