It’s
not easy finding a good tenant who will pay their rent and take care of the property.
In order to protect the home you are renting out, it’s important to take your
time when finding a tenant. This way, your property will be well-maintained,
reducing a lot of costs involved in repairs. There’s nothing worse than putting
your trust in a tenant who winds up ripping you off and damaging your home.
So
what can you do to find a good tenant for your property? We’ve got some tips:
Get a credit check
It
is important check the financial status of the prospective tenants in order to
make sure that they are financially responsible. Such a tenant will be able to
pay the rent and security deposit because they have income coming in. You can
verify this by requesting a look at their pay stubs, or you can call their
employers to confirm their employment status. It is also good to look at the
amount of debt they have by running a credit check. You can alter the amount of
the security deposit based on their credit.
Carry out a criminal background check
You
don’t want a tenant who is involved in criminal activities. By performing a
criminal check, you will be able to find out if the tenant is involved in minor
or major crimes. All you need is the name of the tenant and date of birth to
get this information. Note that those with criminal records may not give you
the right information, so ensure they provide you with valid ID for verification
purposes.
Have a look at their rental
history
To
verify that you do not get a problematic tenant, talk to their former
landlords. This will help you understand how they pay their rents, how they
handle themselves in the property, their cleanliness level and whether they
follow the rules set in the property. Also, if the prospective tenant is a
first time renter, make sure you have a cosigner for the lease.
Consider their lifestyle
On
the tenant application form, you should check the tenant addresses and employment
history. Check to see whether they have a tendency to move from one job to the
other or move from one property to the other. This can help you to know whether
they are likely to be long term tenants.
Bottom line
By
considering the above factors, you will get good tenants who will rent your
property for a long time and ensure that your property is maintained properly.
You will also end up saving money and time involved in evictions, nonpayment of
rent, and damages to your property.