Tenant Screening.
 

I know there a couple of landlords out there. We have been rehabbing houses, and renting them out last couple of years. We are in the process of approving some new tenants, and I was wondering if anyone has any good resources for background checks, credit history, and criminal records etc...
I used a great site last year, but for the life of me , I cant find it again. Ideally , what I would like to find is a service where you pay up front for a years membership, and can use it unlimited for the year etc..
I have been a landlord now for nearly 10 years, and I will NEVER rent to someone without due dilligence again.
The deal maker for me is talking with their past landlords, but I still want to know if I am renting to a violent offender/ drug dealer /felon etc...
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

Do a search for the National Assoc of Independant Landlords. You pay a membership fee and can pull credit and background or criminal records. I have used them for a couple of years and you can get the reports. Hope that helps.

This is the one I used.

http://www.756444.net/

We use these guys: http://www.tenantverification.com/

http://amerusa.net/

Minimum score was 500, and now it's 600. I saw a noticeable increase in tenant quality going from 500 to 550, and 600 gives problem-free tenants. I gladly accept 5-8% under market rents for tenants that pay on time and take care of the home.

I refuse to rent to self-employed person without bank statements. 3 out of 3 self-employed renters have screwed me.

The applicants (1 application per adult) are charged $15, which pays for the credit check. It weeds out the dirty applicants. good luck, jurgen

I just went through this. The RE agent did the background checks for free.

I was renting a house out a few years ago, I had a deadbeat tenant that was not paying rent and knew I was on a warpath.

One day I got a call from a guy who was to be the next landlord for this clown, and I never mentioned he was past due on rent, I just wanted him gone.

FYI - I would not put a lot of weight on the last landlord, especially if he is trying to get rid of a bad tenant.

As you know the tenant has more rights than the landlord, any chance you get to get rid of the crappy tenant, you take it.

9 times out of ten, if a tenant screws a past landlord, the l landlord will be more than glad to beat your ear about it. If you have a bad tenant, Just get off your ass, and evict them. Takes 90 days and couple hunderd bucks, but will save you money, and hassle in the long run. I wouldnt pass them off on the next schmuck. This is a tough buisness, you have to take it by the balls and stay on top of it. Bottom line, if I cannot talk with your last landlord, then something is up, and you will not live in my house. It is true, the last landlord may bs me, but as soon as I start hearing excuses as to why I cannot speak with your past LL, you are crossed of the list.

I always tend to check with the 2 previous landlords, I like to peek in their car, people tend to keep their car like they would keep your residence. I got out of the residential rental game years ago, it's now all commercial;)
In my experience with residential single women were the worst tenants, nuclear families the best.

I've always found that paying 1 years rent+deposit upfront makes for a very happy landlord who could care less about background checks.

When I was a LL, I would ask a little less than the going rate - this guaranteed me a long list of prospects. I got great tenants up until the last one - single woman, with a teenage daughter.
Worst. Tenant. Ever. (in spite of her credentials)

She was instrumental in me selling the property.

Best? A couple of gay guys - left the place better than they got it - and it was immaculate when they moved in.

Wow, I have had the same experience. I have had two single mothers, absouloute pigs, tore the place up, were always calling with clogged pipes , the one didnt pay her gas bill, and attempted to heat the place with the electric oven, and about four addtitional electric heaters, burnt the service panel. Had to evict her. I like to rent to working family's as well, however, I do have one older single woman, ( around 55), and she is the cats meow, rent on time , place always clean, knows how to flip a breaker real easy to deal with, if they were only all like that!!
Hey, 126 coupe, how is the commercial side of things? there is a building that we have been looking at. Has some warehouse space we could use , a storefront, and a small apartment above. I assume commercial is a little riskier??
A couple of gay guys bought the house next to my one rental, same deal, in about 6 months, they turned an ugly little eye sore city house into a pretty chic little house.
Thanks for your input, and help.

Commercial is doing well for me only because I have a good tenant mix ( very little retail,
some storage, some county agencies, and office)

I thought the title was "Tenant Screeming." :D

Maybe we can start that thread. We'll need pics, of course.