Problem tenants can be a Landlords worst nightmare. Some characteristics of problem tenants are destroying your property, not paying rent, and even suing you. So, people who invest in rental property want to avoid problem tenants like the plague.
Pre-screening renters is a good way to avoid problem tenants. As a Landlord, the first interaction you have with a perspective tenant is usually on the phone. Once you make the initial contact with your potential renter, you should have a list of questions ready to determine if you move on to the next step or not. Some questions you should ask would be rental history, income, employment history, credit history, and if they have any pets or children. Most potential tenants will be happy to answer your questions, but be leary of people who seem reluctant to answer. Also, be cautious of people who complain about the property managers at their current residence.
After you pre-screen your tenants; you would then move on to the rental application, as long as you were satisfied with the potential renters previous answers. In order to fill out the paperwork, you should have the applicant physically come in to pick it up. That way, you can get a basic idea of the kind of person they are. Now don’t misunderstand me, you will not be judging them on their race, age, sex, do they have a Mercedes, a $1000 suit, or anything like that. What you will be noticing is, are they clean and presentable. Another thing you can look at is their vehicle; not what kind it is, but do they keep it clean and take care of it. This can be a glimpse into how they might treat your property. The next step is to have them fill out the rental application. Once the candidate has filled out the application, you then pull a credit and background report. This insures you have background information on the person. Always keep the paperwork to prove you are treating all of your applicants the same way.
The bottom line is; as long as you preform a pretty thorough screening process, the less likely that you are going to end up with problem tenants. Also, always try to keep records of all your transactions. Just remember, a good tenant can be the difference between peace and rest, or you being up all night wondering how you can get the problem tenant out.
