Finding the right people to move into your property is a must and essential if you want to avoid frustration and problems in the future. When it comes to conducting these background checks, you need to know about some mistakes with screening tenants.
Having a better understanding of the mistakes you don't want to make can help you choose a better tenant screening service and determine the right tenant interview questions to ask.
Get ready to fill your property vacancies after checking out our brief guide!
1. Not Performing a Screening
Has anyone ever told you to trust your gut when making important decisions? Well, this is not one of those instances where you should trust your gut to help you fill property vacancies.
Not conducting a tenant screening is the first mistake we're going to mention. We understand there are times when you might be in a rush to get people to move into your property.
But skipping the tenant screening process can cause issues in the future.
Instead of making this mistake, always take the time to review each tenant and their application in-depth.
Choosing the right tenants for your property will not only help you accept suitable applicants, but you can also rest assured you won't deal with issues like property damage or unpaid rent.
2. Not Screening the Co-Applicant
There are times when you'll get an application, and there is a co-applicant listed as well as the primary applicant. When you see the primary applicant, you might think they're the only person you need to screen, but that couldn't be further from the truth.
You need to screen co-applicants because they're responsible for paying their portion of rental costs. In addition to the cost, the primary applicant has to pay.
Not screening the co-applicant can cause you to miss vital information such as a poor credit score or past rental issues.
This problem is easy to fix. All you've got to do is screen every person listed on the application, from roommates to spouses to adult children; they all have to be screened.
3. Not Remaining Within Compliance
As a landlord, there are specific laws in your area that you must always abide by. Not knowing the law doesn't remove your responsibility of having to abide by them.
And ensure you're following the proper procedures for managing your properties.
Again the solution to this mistake is always to take some time to understand and review the laws. You must understand fair housing laws clearly to ensure that you don't breach them or discriminate against a potential tenant unknowingly.
Mistakes with Screening Tenants to Avoid
Several mistakes with screening tenants can happen, but we've listed some for you and given you some advice about how to avoid them.
Whether you've misinterpreted housing laws or forgotten to screen a tenant in the past, there are remedies to these issues.
Do you need help with managing your properties or screening tenants? If so, contact Austin Property Management today!
