According to LendingTree, 58% of renters have disliked a landlord. But what about the other way around? The reality is that landlords deal with nightmare tenants too, and some situations are enough to make you give up and wash your hands of the property.
One excellent way to avoid these disasters is to perform thorough tenant screening. However, you shouldn't do it yourself; instead, have a professional handle this task.
Not convinced that you should outsource this responsibility? Then keep reading. Here are the benefits you can reap.
Expertise and Efficiency
Professional tenant screeners typically have years of experience and knowledge, meaning that they're familiar with how screenings should go. They'll be able to process applications much faster than you ever can.
In addition to industry knowledge, these experts have access to advanced tools and databases. As a result, they can generate more accurate and thorough background checks. This means that they're less likely to overlook red flags like prior evictions, and this will give you a higher-quality tenant pool.
Legal Compliance
When performing tenant background checks, you can't just dig as far as you want into a person's history. There are certain local, state, and federal laws you might break, such as the Fair Housing Act. It'd be near impossible for you to read up on and keep up with all rules and regulations, and you have better things to do with your time anyway.
Professional screening companies are well-versed in these regulations, so you don't have to worry. They'll reduce the risk of legal issues and ensure there's thorough tenant screening while remaining compliant.
Consistency and Objectivity
If you handle tenant screening yourself, you're prone to personal biases, even if you try to go into it with a fair mindset. Not only is this unfair to potential renters, but it can also leave you vulnerable to legal action.
With outsourced services, you'll get consistent criteria applied across all applicants, which reduces bias and increases fairness.
Time and Resource Savings
As we've mentioned before, professionals can carry out this task much faster than you can. Even if you're highly efficient, you'll still have to invest time and energy into this task.
By outsourcing tenant screening, you'll free up time and resources, especially since these companies usually offer other services, such as property maintenance. This enables you to focus on other tasks and enjoy a more hands-off approach.
Have Us Do Your Tenant Screening
If you want to prioritize efficiency and thoroughness, then hiring an expert for tenant screening can be a wise move. This will give you peace of mind since you won't have to navigate all the administrative work. Plus, there's a higher chance of getting responsible renters, as these professionals are trained to sniff out bad tenants.
So do yourself a favor and don't try to tackle tenant screening on your own. A pro's touch will make your job as a landlord easier.
Contact us now if you're interested in our tenant screening services. We at PMI LegacyPro also provide comprehensive property management in Plano, backed by almost 20 years of experience.