Rental Property Advice: Have Your Tenants Provide References

As a landlord, you want to me wise decisions about whom you allow to rent your property. You don't want to turn your property over to someone in this condition, and get it back in this condition.

A good way to screen tenants is to make them supply references, such as a past landlord who can speak about their rental history.

Here are five questions to ask a perspective tenants references.

Number one, how long did the perspective tenant rent from you? This question gives you an understanding of a references ability to speak about the tenant's payment history and how well they maintained the property.

Number two, did the prospective tenant pay their rent on time? Let's cut to the chase. A huge factor in your decision is if the tenant is going to pay their rent on time every month. So find out that information.

Number three...what was the condition of the property when the prospective tenant left? Even if a tenant pays his or her rent on time, you don't want someone who is going to damage your property. A good follow question may be, what was the extent of any damage that was done, and did the tenant pay for the damage.

Number four...Did you have any major problems with the tenant? I think that this question allows the reference to give you important information that will affect your decision. For example, if the tenant smoked inside the house even though the rental agreement stipulated that they should not, you want to know and that information affects your decision.

Lastly, number five...Would you rent to the tenant again? This question is pretty straightforward. If the landlord answers yes, then the perspective tenant may be worth approving. If they say no, then I think I would keep looking.

Along with a reference check, when you are screening new tenants you will need to run a criminal background check, let us help. Integrascan has conducted criminal background checks for thousands of clients.

Detailed, reliable and cost effective we are Integrascan, the industry leader in criminal background checks.

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