Is there a screening service that is actually accurate that covers background checks thoroughly and can also check if there have been any evictions, etc? And credit check of course. I looked at national tenant and smart move and apparently they both have accuracy issues.
TransUnion has a service, all online, you can either pay yourself or send the cost to the tenant. Will run both credit and background checks for you. i think its called SmartMove? something along those lines, this is what I use.
Great question, accuracy is one of the biggest challenges in tenant screening today. Most online systems are automated, which means they rely on databases that aren’t always current or verified. The best approach is to work with a screening provider that uses FCRA-certified human review in addition to database searches.
A thorough report should include:
Full credit report (from a major bureau, soft-pull if possible)
Nationwide criminal and sex offender search (Multiple data providers not single)
Eviction history
Judgments and liens (No longer appear on credit reports)
Optional tools such as income, employment, and ID verification to detect fraud
When comparing services, ask how they verify mismatched data and whether they confirm records manually. Providers that combine data automation and human verification tend to deliver far more accurate, court-verified results than fully automated systems.
In short — look for a screening solution that values accuracy over speed and uses multiple data sources reviewed by trained screeners rather than just instant database pulls.