When choosing a screening service, make sure it covers:Credit Report – Looks at payment habits and financial responsibility.Judgments & Liens Search – These don’t show on credit reports anymore but can uncover unpaid debts.Nationwide Eviction Search – Past evictions are a big red flag.Nationwide Criminal and Sex Offender Search – Helps spot any serious legal issues.Income Verification Report – Pulls real bank deposit info instead of relying on pay stubs.Yes, it is standard practice to have the applicant cover the cost of their background check.

Common Area Maintenance Charges, or CAM charges, are utilized in triple net leases with multiple tenants.

Also, check the local sex offender registry.One last tip:  ask the current owner/landlord or manager the following: "Would you rent to these tenants again?"

Biggerpockets has some great tools to anaylze deals:https://www.biggerpockets.com/investment-calculatorsAlso, YouTube will go a long way in helping you learn...plus maybe consider coming to some of the local chicago in-person events: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...Maybe connect with @Cam Schwartz he's a local Chicago lender, and I have seen him closing lots of deals with investors lately.Are you looking to do deals in Chicago or any particular area?

I follow the property rehab through a company cam that gets updated regularly, so I am aware of the work that is going on and the product I’m receiving before and after.

I have had a PM give a prospective tenant the key to visit a property and they stole the appliances (had a door cam) - these are reasons why I do not limit their exposure.

Optimally, the individual finding the properties cam also liquidate them. 

I intend to buy in the Mercer and Middle sex counties.

.➤ Criminal Background Check – Includes national, state, and county-level records, along with sex offender registries (where legally allowable).➤ Judgments & Liens – These are no longer included on any credit report but are still very relevant—especially for spotting unpaid rent or property damage claims filed by past landlords.

Since many students don’t have established credit or rental history, it’s important to adjust your screening process while still protecting yourself as a landlord.Screening Student Tenants:➤ Always run at least a criminal background check, including a sex offender registry search.