It's estimated that landlords file nearly 3.6 million eviction cases each year. If you're a landlord who's been through an eviction, you know how difficult it can be. Not only are they emotional, but they're also time-consuming and expensive.
Worst of all, there's no guarantee that you evict the tenant in question. That's why it's vital to prevent evictions at all costs. The best way to do this is through tenant screening.
But should you engage in tenant screening yourself or outsource it to a professional? In this guide, we'll be going over both why you should outsource this service and how to find a great screener for your needs.
What Are the Benefits of Outsourced Tenant Screening?
One of the biggest benefits of outsourcing these services to a professional is a streamlined tenant screening process. Often, if you're checking for screening information on your own it can take days or even weeks depending on the service you go through.
An experienced property management company that specializes in tenant screens can usually take care of it in a matter of hours. Property management companies are also experts at what can and can't be screened. Each state has different tenant screening laws.
Here at PMI Accelerate, we know exactly what we're within our legal rights to look for under South Carolina law. Most professional screening services offer comprehensive checks that you likely don't have access to.
Lastly, outsourced tenant screening saves you time and money. Since you don't need to pay for background checks or spend hours researching, you can get on with your life as a landlord.
What Information Should the Screener Look For?
Different tenant screening services will perform different types of checks. For example, here at PMI Accelerate, we confirm who the potential is by looking at their identification and social security number.
We then make sure that they can afford the property by looking at their income and employment verification. In addition to this, we also help weed out bad tenants by looking at things like:
- A background check
- Previous tenant history
- Credit scores
- Previous evictions
- Landlord searches
- Criminal histories
- Sex offender searches
- Terrorist searches
All of this information helps provide a comprehensive picture of exactly who you're renting to.
Look for Property Management Services That Offer Tenant Screening
One option is to hire a company that specializes specifically in tenant screening. However, if you want to make things especially easy for yourself consider looking for a commercial property management company that includes tenant screening in their many services.
That way, you have a one-stop shop for all your tenant needs. These are some helpful tips for hiring commercial property management companies.
Ready to Find Great Tenants? Hire PMI Accelerate
We hope this guide helped you learn more about why outsourcing your tenant screening services is a good idea. Remember that your tenant will only be as good as your screening services.
That's why you should choose a property management company with decades of experience like PMI Accelerate. Not only that, but we can also provide any additional management services you might need.
So get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help optimize your rental process.
