Home > Blogs > Dennis Burgess > Orlando Property Management

FAQ Series: Do you screen your tenant prospects?

By Dennis Burgess

Property Manager with AmeriTeam Property Management SL#3200658

October 20, 2014 01:00 PM

FAQ Series: Do you screen your tenant prospects?

In today's new video, I discuss Total Realty Corp's screening process with regard to tenant prospects.

Hope folks find a bit of value here.

Remember….. Feel free to suggest a video topic! Have a Property Management question? Let me know, and I’ll answer it and make a video from it. Chances are pretty good that I’ll have an answer for you- and you’ll likely be able to help others who might also find value in the question and its answer!

FAQ Series: Do you screen your tenant prospects?

Comments(6)

Comment

Show All Comments

Sort:

June Piper-Brandon

Coldwell Banker Realty - Columbia, MD

Creating Generational Wealth Through Homeownership

These are excellent tips for your clients and others about screening prospects.

Oct 20, 2014 01:01 PM

Pete Xavier

Investments to Luxury - Pacific Palisades, CA

Outstanding Agent Referrals-Nationwide

Great video!

So right on many aspects, how credit is looked at in lease situations (more variable wiggle room) is much different than in applying for a mortgage.

Oct 20, 2014 02:26 PM

Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI

HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA

Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Dennis: We always screen out tenants for credit and criminal backgrounds. It is done professionally with the signed releases and the tenant-prospect pays for this service directly to the screening company. Prior landlords do not have much weight, unless it is a large apartment complex; they tend to be more forthright, over private landlords who in many cases do not either want the responsibility of giving someone a poor review, or are anxious to get rid of them, so give glowing reviews.

Oct 21, 2014 12:34 AM

Dennis Burgess

AmeriTeam Property Management - Mid Florida, FL

Orlando Property Manager and Realtor

Hi, June: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment and kind words!

Oct 21, 2014 05:37 AM

Hi, Pete: Thank you for dropping by, and for your comment. Credit (and screening which includes it as a factor) has been somewhat of a moving target over the past few years here- and the ups and downs of the foreclosures have led to varying standards from one company to the next.

For example, some companies will consider an eviction an automatic denial- period, while others may set a number of years at which point they're acceptable. Some companies set a minimum credit score, some don't. Consistency within one's company itself is the key, of course- as all are free to set whatever standards they wish within the law.

Oct 21, 2014 05:43 AM

Hi, Norm/Sandy: Thank you for stopping by, and for your comment. When dealing with a previous landlord that's a private owner, the first thing to assess is whether that relationship was an arm's-length one or not. If that reference is a friend or family member (or just seems like one), you can surely discount the authenticity of the report for the reasons you've described.

I get everything in writing, too- releases, verifications from other management companies, etc- that paper trail is particularly important in cases where you decline someone based on a poor reference.

Oct 21, 2014 05:49 AM

FAQ Series: Do you screen your tenant prospects?

Comments(6)

Dennis Burgess

Service Areas

Real Estate Resources

Recent Posts

Additional Information