Property Management Blog

How to Screen Tenants the Right Way in Boca Raton – Property Management Tips

System - Monday, August 14, 2017
Knowing how to find a good tenant is an important part of being a successful landlord. Knowing how to avoid bad tenants is just as important. A lot of times, if you have a property that’s been vacant for a while, you just want to find a tenant as soon as possible because your empty property is costing you money. It’s tempting to want to put the first person who comes by into that home. However, there is a lot of value in properly screening applicants. Today, we’re talking about how to screen tenants.

Property Management Boca Raton: Background Checks

You’re looking for a tenant who can pay rent and has a good history of taking care of properties and not leaving any damage behind. So, when you’re screening someone, the first step is to run a background credit and criminal check. You want to make sure there isn’t a criminal record or a history of getting evicted. If you find an eviction history, there’s a good chance that it will happen with your property, too.

Property Management Boca Raton: Income Requirements

Next, you need to check the income of potential applicants. Make sure they have stable jobs and income that matches your requirements for the rental property. Some people want a tenant who earns three times the rent or even as much as five times. Regardless of your standards, make sure you implement them consistently when screening tenants.

Property Management Boca Raton: References

Tenants do give you references on the application, and you should take the time to call everyone. By really talking to previous landlords or employers, you get a chance to find out more about the tenant and what type of person you may be renting to. You can find out their history in other rental properties. They might pay on time, but if landlords tell you the property was always messy and uncared for, you may not want that tenant in your property.

Do a complete screening and you’ll end up with a great tenant. If you ever have any questions about how to do a tenant screening, or you need help with the process, please reach out to us. You can contact us at Domu Property Management for any of your Boca Raton property management needs.