tenant screening: Fair Housing Update-Illegal Use of Criminal Records - 04/20/16 03:10 AM
April 6, 2016
- New guidance has been issued by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development to explain legal use of evaluating criminal history when performing tenant screening for your rental properties.  With this new guidelines you might want to review your current tenant screening processes.  You could be breaking the law when you refuse to rent to people with criminal records or refuse to rent due to an arrest that might not have resulted in a conviction.    Make sure to educate your staff and anyone else who might be involved in reviewing background checks.
 
Complete Guidance on the Use … (6 comments)

tenant screening: Picture Perfect -Marketing Tool #1 - 09/03/14 04:59 AM
Before we can do any tenant screening we need to find an applicant right?  So the first step is advertising.   I know at times we get a little carefree/careless with taking pictures, but we do need to keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and our beholder, the one we are trying to attract,  is that prospective tenant/applicant.
 
Here is some helpful tips on taking those pictures:
 
>Show off your home curb appeal.  This picture is usually the first one you use for your listing page.  Make sure to get a picture of the … (0 comments)

tenant screening: Is there Advantages to Renting to College Students? - 08/18/14 04:14 AM

 
The Students are Coming, the Students are Coming.......
 
 
Here it is again, that crazy time of year for those who have rentals in college towns.  The students are scrambling to find a place to live, most of them new to the area and all they care about right now is a place to crash before school starts.   Around our area if they didn’t have their rental  lined up at the end of the school year before summer, their odds on getting a place now would not be good.  We get calls of desperation from college students … (3 comments)

tenant screening: What Affects The Credit Score And For How Long? - 06/05/14 06:48 AM
 
 
 
Once you have completed your tenant screening and your choose to deny someone due to their credit report.  Some may ask for some instructions on how to improve their credit score or how long with this derogatory credit haunt me.  Here is some helpful information you can share.  
 
Bankruptcy- Generally Chapter 7, 11, and 13 appear as a public record for 10 years after filing.  Sometimes Chapter 13 bankruptcy  (3-5 years repayment plan) records are removed sooner, 7 years after filing.  
 
When the receive an Order of discharge in bankruptcy, your creditors should mark … (1 comments)

tenant screening: Do you really know your Employees? - 04/24/14 06:19 AM
I work for a property management software and tenant screening company.  So when I blog my articles is information about these products, but today was a harsh reminder that there is something just as important as tenant screening and that is employee screening!
We had a dear customer of ours hire someone that he thought was a perfect fit for his property management business.  This person was smart, fast learner, and seemed to be handling her administrative duties very well.  So well and so liked that the owner had her watch his house and animals while he went on vacation.
 
… (1 comments)

tenant screening: Being Darn Good at Evicting Tenants....Should I Be Bragging? - 04/22/14 03:24 AM

 
Recently I spoke to a landlord who opening shared that they rented less than desirable units to less than desirable tenants.  Typically their standard was criminals.   She said they know the eviction process very well and no need to hire attorney’s they know exactly how to represent themselves.  In fact they are darn good at it!  They have a list a mile long of past renters that owe them lots of money.   
Now, I don’t know about you, but I don't think I would be bragging.  I personally make it goal to stay out of the eviction process, … (3 comments)

tenant screening: Refresher Course: Cell Phone Etiquette - 04/15/14 02:37 AM
I have a pleasure of working for a web-based property management software and tenant screening company where we manage everything via phone and computer.  For some of you out there you manage your business and day to day tasks with your cell phones. No longer do you need to sit behind a desk waiting for that important call, but with this valuable tool that we have no idea how we lived without one before!  We still need a gentle reminder about phone etiquette (cell phone etiquette)
 
 
 When answering your phone use a proper greeting.  Some prefer to use their … (6 comments)

tenant screening: A No Score-Credit Report - 03/26/14 04:53 AM
 

 
We offer tenant screening service (Learn more.. Click Here), so there are times we get a call about understanding the credit report.  One of the common questions is why there is a "No Score" or “Unable to Score”.
 
 
Here is a few possibilities why:
 
> Incorrect social security number. Confirm that the applicants name matches the social security number.  Look at the details section of the credit report for the word “no-hit”.  
 
>The applicant is young or a recent US Citizen and does not have active credit such a student loan, auto … (0 comments)

tenant screening: My Personal Diary-Shopping for a Rental - 03/13/14 11:39 PM
Dear Diary.....
 
 
I thought I would take a little time to share my recent experience I had with our local property management companies.  Having a background in property management prepared me a little,  but it did not prepare me for how all the local companies conduct business.  I am frustrated, worn out and need to vent so here it goes....
 
 
PM Company #1 -Rules:
 
> You find a house either on their website or some form of advertisement that you think you would like to rent.
 
>  The house is not available, so they request … (2 comments)

tenant screening: 90 Year Old Seeking a Rental - 02/12/14 11:15 PM
 
 
 
I received a phone call last night from a friend who has taken on the responsibility of helping a 90 year old woman find a rental.  The family members of this woman found her a nice senior apartment to live in, but feeling like she would be giving up too much freedom she is refusing to go. So my friend called to get some details on what property management companies look for in their tenant screening process and what the standard was on income qualifications for she has already been denied twice.
 
I know all of you … (4 comments)

tenant screening: Y NOT? (Appealing to the Millennials) - 10/31/13 01:45 AM
 
 
 
 
Many property managers/landlords need to turn their attention to Millennials, also known as Gen Y.  This means to appeal the the Gen Y residents you will need technology friendly features.  
 
You will find that Gen Y renters use their smart phones and computers for all their research including hunting for available rentals.  Where as an older renter might prepare and plan ahead to set time aside for house-hunting, these young renters will search on their smart phone while they are on the go, on the fly!   They want to see an appealing site that incompasses all important information at-a-glance.  
 
One of … (1 comments)

tenant screening: Sit on a Pumpkin - 10/30/13 03:05 AM

 
I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself than be crowded on a velvet cushion.   (Henry David Thoreau)
 
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Kathryn

 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
 
… (4 comments)

tenant screening: More than a Credit Score - 10/24/13 12:52 AM
I know there are times that we feel bad running credit checks especially during these tough economic times.  But running a credit check or background reports can turn up more than just poor credit scores.  You can learn valuable information about the applicant.  
 
> You might find a less than desirable credit score, but credit reports have basic information about the applicant such as, it will list all the names the renter has used in the past.  It will verify their social security number and previous addresses and previous phone numbers.   Using this information will help confirm that … (5 comments)

tenant screening: It isn't the mountain ahead..... - 10/23/13 05:35 AM
It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out; it is the grain of sand in your shoe. (Robert W. Service)
 
 
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Kathryn
 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
 
 
… (1 comments)

tenant screening: Free Tips to Crime-Free - 10/17/13 03:58 AM

Even though we would rather keep our curtains/blinds closed and not really see what is going on outside, we have to admit that crime numbers have picked up across the nation.

 
Obviously, any crime, including vandalism will result in a negative impact on the value of our property.
So here is a couple of tips that can help keep your property crime-free:
1) Rent to Quality Tenants.  Landlords and Property Managers sometimes are guilty on getting overly anxious on renting the property. But don't get so overly anxious that you forgo tenant screening.  Tenant screening is one of the most … (1 comments)

tenant screening: Wordless Wednesday-Sunshine - 10/16/13 01:08 AM
 
Keep your face always toward the sunshine-and shadows will fall behind you. (Walt Whitman)
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Kathryn
 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
 
 
… (4 comments)

tenant screening: Cupid Uses Credit Scores - 10/10/13 11:56 PM
 
 
 

 
Don't worry it is not February yet, just couldn't wait to post for Valentines!!  

 
 
I am not for sure if I would fully disclose this information to my rental applicants when I perform my tenant credit checks  or use it in my determination during my tenant screening processes when trying to place roommates, but heck it is interesting…..
 
Credit scores are used to strongly gauge on how likely we as consumers will repay our debts. But can that score also predict whether a couple stays together or not?
 
Yes, that is … (3 comments)

tenant screening: Flying by the seat of your..... - 10/02/13 05:28 AM
Are you flying by the seat of your pants (or bike) and just can't decide if you should approve a tenant application or not!!
 
 Don't forget Tenant screening !!!
 
 
Picture taken 9/28/2013- Street Vibrations Bike Rally, Reno NV
 
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Kathryn
 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
 
… (3 comments)

tenant screening: Wordless Wednesday-Reflections - 09/11/13 06:49 AM

Picture taken 9/7/13 Crater Lake National Park
It was such a perfect day, this picture looks fake... But it is not!  It was taken with a camera on our phone nothing professional
Oh..What a view!
 
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Kathryn
 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
… (4 comments)

tenant screening: What Is Black & White? - 08/28/13 01:56 AM
Not everything is Black and White.....  Don't forget your  tenant screening
 
 
 
 
 (Picture taken August 3, 2013 at Wildlife Safari, Winston, OR)
 
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Kathryn
 
 
Rentec is your easy yet powerful all-in-one property management solution.  Learn more.
Need tenant screening?  We have you covered there too.  Learn more.
… (2 comments)