How many tenants do you screen?

Question

This is my first time picking a tenant for my first rental property.  I'm very excited to be at this stage.  I have decided to manage the property myself.

So far, I have received interest from several people, sent a pre-screener, and I'm booking walk throughs of the house.  The next step would be to accept applications.

How many tenants, on average, do you experienced landlords screen via applications before picking a tenant?

Kiara Colon · Answer

I'm a realtor with rental listings and a 4-unit myself. Like @Taylor Wilson mentioned, I create clear criteria and publicize it on whatever platforms you use to publish the listing. And I screen every applicant until I find the right tenant. Additionally, I pre-screen all applicants. I.E. i'm not showing a property until I know that person is qualified to rent the unit.

Screen until the unit is filled.

Eric Gerakos · Answer

I self manage but just use my agent to screen tenants. She’s great at it and I avoid the hassle.

Colleen McDade · Answer

Congrats on reaching this exciting milestone!

In our experience managing rentals, we typically screen 1–2 applicants at a time. This allows us to give each application the attention it deserves and avoid wasting time collecting dozens of applications when the right fit may already be in front of us. If the first round doesn't meet our criteria, we simply continue showing the property and reviewing new applications as they come in.

Best of luck with your first tenant—trust your process and stick to your screening criteria!

Adam Bartomeo · Answer

Due to discrimination laws, we select the first qualified tenant. In today's market it is not too likely that you will receive multiple applicants in a short time period. You should treat each potential tenant as the only tenant.

Taylor Wilson · Answer

Congrats on reaching this stage! The number of applications you process can vary depending on how quickly someone meets your criteria. With self-managing, you need to have clear evaluation criteria and apply them consistently to every applicant. You might find the right fit with the very first application, or it could take a bit longer. With my current vacant unit, we’ve screened four renters so far, and none have fully met the criteria yet.

Drew Sygit · Answer

Prescreening and other hoops depend on the Class of the property.

The lower an applicant's credit score, the less likely they are to cooperate with prescreening hoops - unless they are desperate, which then they're just a waste of time.

What Class is your property?

Yanik Parsch · Answer

Congrats on getting to this stage—it’s a huge step and a great feeling!

In my experience, I usually screen about 3 to 6 applications before landing on the right tenant, but it really depends on the demand in your area and how specific your criteria are.

Sounds like you’ve got a solid process going already with the pre-screener and walk-throughs. Once you’re ready for applications, I’d recommend using a platform that includes full background and credit checks. I’ve been using Baselane’s new tenant screening tools—they let you send out applications and get back credit, criminal, and eviction history reports all in one place. It helps keep things organized and consistent, which is especially helpful as a self-managing landlord.

Good luck with your first tenant—exciting times ahead

Chris Chisholm · Answer

I prescreen ALL of them on a google form survey before they get a viewing.  Incomplete or un returned google forms don't get followed up on.  From there I use a screening/application program called SingleKey (I think it's only in Canada) that provides all the details like credit score, etc.  The applicants pay the fee and the successful applicant gets the fee returned to them.  This fee weeds out bad applicants unless they are super confident that they are solid.  From there I follow up on references from the top ranked down until I find someone that I'm confident in.  Sometimes it's the first one, sometimes it's the 10th one.  I'd rather screen 15 people to make sure I have a solid tenant than screen 4 and end up having issues once they move in and start all over again in a couple months.

Should be noted that I live in a VERY hot rental market right now.  One of the only ones in our country where the rent is still going up and vacancy is going down.  We're in a position here where we can be VERY picky if we want on who we rent to.

Chase Busick · Answer

@Nina Diehl

It is great to see all the great comments from the others here. @Kiara Colon & @Taylor Wilson's are good!

Usually in order to follow Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity Laws it is best to screen first come first serve that way you are compliant & not picking any one applicant over the other because they had a "more qualified" application & background.

I highly recommend pre-screening like Kiara said, ensuring that you know who you are meeting with (I know other agents & female investors locally will ensure they get scans/copies of their drivers license prior to meeting so you can inform someone else that way you remain safe).

It is also good practice to just batch showings together in an open house, that way you are not running over there all the time just when the next person wants to see the place. This will show that there may be others interested in the property & if they really like it, they need to ensure to put in their application sooner.

I hope that you go into a deep screening process, as this will make or break how well the experience is. Try not to sway from the qualifications. As any exceptions, most likely will come back to bite. Sometimes you can increase the deposit with those slightly off from the qualifications and approving them with that condition or adding a cosigner if they have little to no rental history.

Then a good consideration is to have your own application with as much detail filled out by the applicant so you get as clear of a picture as possible. If they have pets, have a separate pet screening template or software. Consider utilizing Zillow & Apts.com for applications (as they allow people to apply for many with one fee for a 30 day period) If there are any questions not asked in their application, ask the additional questions. Hope you find someone great!

Kiara Colon · Answer

Exactly right! In order to be a good tenant, they've got to reflect that they'll be a responsive  and cooperative applicant. I personally don't show properties to people that really don't have any interest in actually renting it. And if they're not responsive for a place that they want to call home, it doesn't sound like they'll be responsive and cooperative as a tenant. It's not asking too much if it's the home that they're interested in. We can't 'sell' a property, so no matter how many times you open that door, it doesn't equal more qualified applicants, just more miles on your odometer.

How many tenants do you screen?

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