If you are a real estate investor in North Carolina, then you know how important it is to protect your investment. Renting out your property to mostly unknown tenants can be a stressful experience. This is especially the case when you have put in the work and invested your hard-earned cash into a property. It should be well taken care of and respected by your tenants.

While this can be anxiety-ridden, when you adequately screen tenants, you can weed out the best possible renters for your property. Dealing with bad renters can potentially lower your ROI (return on investment) due to the possible damage your property may experience, let alone the reputation of your property.

In this guide, we will go over the importance of tenant screening and how it pertains to your ROI over the lifetime of your business.

What Is Tenant Screening?

Simply put, tenant screening is how a landlord digs through details about a potential renter to see if they will make a good fit for your property. Tenant screening can include anything from applications to tenant interviews and background checks. 

Overall, tenant screening is something that all property owners should have a working understanding of so that they can legally protect themselves and their property from bad tenants.

The Tenant Screening Process

Here are some practical realities to consider when renting out your property. With this endeavor comes the duty of carefully assessing potential tenants to ensure the best match for your property and your peace of mind.

Establish Minimum Qualifications

Due to the potential expenses associated with eviction, it's crucial to establish specific criteria to ensure that your tenants meet these essential prerequisites.

• Income - If a prospective tenant lacks the financial means to cover their rent, you could encounter difficulties. Utilize a rent-to-income ratio calculator to determine if the potential tenant can comfortably afford the rent.
• References - A valuable way to gain insight into a prospective tenant is by collecting references from previous landlords and employers. Are they dependable workers? Are they honest individuals? Do they consistently meet their rental obligations on time? These are fundamental inquiries that can provide valuable information about their suitability.
• Credit History - Assessing their credit history, often through their credit score, can reveal their level of responsibility and timeliness in making payments.

Develop A Rental Application

Creating a rental application allows you to systematically evaluate potential clients by requiring them to provide information aligned with your minimum criteria. Ensure that the application is properly signed and dated in case disputes arise.

Tenant Screening And Your ROI

Effective Tenant Screening Ensures Punctual Rent Payments

Through comprehensive tenant screening, you can guarantee that your renters will consistently pay their rent on time. We recommend screening for essential prerequisites such as income and creditworthiness. Both of these factors serve as reliable indicators of whether an individual can comfortably afford the specified rent and their history of timely bill payments.

As part of the screening process, we strongly advise reaching out to previous landlords. Inquiries can encompass the punctuality of rent payments and any instances where notices were issued to prompt the tenant to pay rent or vacate the property. Additionally, it's prudent to check for any prior eviction records in the national database.

Maintenance And Timely Issue Reporting

Normal wear and tear is an inevitable aspect of property ownership, but it need not drain your finances. By diligently screening prospective tenants, you can preserve your funds, confident in the knowledge that they will treat the property respectfully and promptly report any concerns. 

Timely reporting of issues by tenants allows landlords to address problems proactively, preventing them from escalating into costly disasters and safeguarding your return on investment (ROI).

By engaging with former landlords and gaining insights into your prospective tenants, you can assess their level of responsibility and their regard for the property. Significant repairs can entail substantial expenses in the current market, and securing a responsible tenant early on can result in substantial cost savings.

Retaining Quality Tenants

Minimizing tenant turnover is a key strategy for maintaining a robust ROI. Marketing a property and guiding a tenant through the rental process can be costly, and repeated turnover can erode your ROI over time.

When searching for tenants, it's advantageous to identify individuals who plan to stay in one place for an extended period. Finding tenants with long-term potential simplifies your landlord responsibilities and reduces expenses related to vacant properties.

By nurturing a strong tenant-landlord relationship, you might discover that tenants are inclined to renew their leases year after year, ensuring a stable and consistent income stream.

Who Should Perform Tenant Screening

While it is feasible to manage tenant screening independently, a property management business may carry out screenings with effectiveness and efficiency that are supported by knowledge and experience. To make sure that you are renting out your property to the best tenants possible, property managers have access to additional tools and data. 

Employing a property manager can also help to allay any worries about discrimination or impartiality for tenants who weren't selected for your rental.

Let Go And Let Asheville Phoenix Properties Conduct Tenant Screening For You

We are a well-known real estate management company that can assist you in avoiding a lot of the problems associated with renting out your property. We will carefully interview and choose only the best candidates to occupy your property. We serve as a go-between for you and possible tenants, making sure that landlords receive the highest return on investment.

With more than 20 years of real estate management expertise, we can help owners and tenants with every facet of a rental property. Contact us today to get started!