Proper Tenant Screening for Rental Homes in Grand Junction, CO
Even if you don't live in your rental investment home, it's still your property. It's vitally important for those who rent homes in Grand Junction, CO to develop an approach to screening prospective tenants that reels in a good, dependable tenant.
This type of tenant is someone you might feel good about having come visit you in your own home. How often do you meet someone like that? Proper screening, therefore, is the answer, and the type of screening you or your rental property managers do will make the difference in whether or not your tenants are the kinds of people you can trust in your home.
Tips for Successful Tenant Screening
- Be alert for odd behavior. Even a hesitation can mean a lot during the screening process. The applicant may be trying to come up with a good answer, rather than responding with the natural truth.
- Create a written list of questions, and then fill out each answer during the screening. Never just wing a tenant screening, and don't let your property manager get away with that, either.
- Get a copy of the completed screening questionnaire for each prospective tenant if you have a residential management expert fill it out.
- Do your background research. Contact previous landlords and employers, check for evictions, and see if the applicant's name shows up on any local offenders list.
- Always get a credit report, of course, and read it carefully. If an over-abundance of different addresses appears on the credit report, proceed with caution.
Rental property investment can be tricky. That's why professional property managers often say that the tenant screening process is the most important interaction involved in investment real estate ownership.