Fellow landlords — how do you balance speed and safety when screening tenants?

Our competition - not in reality, but on paper/on the computer screen where people can't objectively compare what they are getting - is a lot of other people who have owned for many years, don't really keep the places up beyond a bare minimum, and just want to have it full 75% of the time so they can use it in the winter or for holidays.

-Only 1 screen in the two bedroom unit was intact, the rest were either missing or had big holes.

If similar units in the area are renting for $1,300–$1,400, then you’re walking into a low-rent situation from day one.Second — inherited tenants aren’t automatically a win.The good: you start collecting rent on day one.The catch: you didn’t screen them.

From postings on Zillow to automated responses to questionnaires and screening, etc, it has Made my leasing process a lot smoother!

Make your best effort to screen tenants on the front end, while still realizing that good screening doesn't mean that a bad tenant won't slip through the cracks every now and then.

He can refer prospects to you according to your screening criteria and you will vet them like any other prospect.

Is a quick “screening grade” useful, or do you prefer raw numbers only?

And you can purchase a screen cover for around $50 to help prevent sparks and flying debris from getting to other areas. 

Real-World ChallengesA few things most newer investors underestimate:• Tenant turnover is way higher.People in co-living situations tend to move more often, which means more screening, more showings, more cleaning.• More personality conflicts.This is the biggest issue.