US landlords file roughly 3.6 million eviction cases every year.
If you're an El Paso landlord, your goal is never to evict one of your tenants. Sadly, there are scenarios where you don't have much of a choice in the matter. Your priority needs to be protecting your investment, so if you've got a poor tenant, you have to take action.
The best way to avoid evictions is to prevent poor tenants from renting your property. To do this, you need to perform thorough tenant screening on every applicant. In today's post, we'll tell you the steps you need to take in the tenant screening process, so keep reading and get the best tenants in El Paso.
Perform a Background Check
The first thing you should do when screening tenants is to perform a background check. A thorough background check will tell you a great deal about an applicant's character and financial capabilities.
One aspect of a background check is the criminal check, which tells you whether or not a potential tenant has a criminal history. A history of violence or crime puts neighbors and other tenants at risk, so it's a major red flag.
The other aspect of a background check is credit history. Credit checks tell you about the applicant's financial standing over time. If they've got poor credit, it could mean that they'll be a risky tenant.
Ask for Proof of Income
Of course, a background check only tells part of the story. To get the rest, you need to take matters into your own hands. One way to do this is to ask for proof of employment and income.
Proof of income can come in the form of a pay slip or a bank statement. If an applicant's credit check comes out less than ideal, proof of income is a great way to verify that they're gainfully employed and will be able to stay on top of monthly rent payments.
Get References
Another thing you can do yourself is ask your applicants for references. If you want to verify that they're employed beyond looking at a pay stub, you can ask for their manager's contact information. A quick phone call can confirm that they're telling the truth about their employment.
One of the best ways to determine whether or not someone will be a good tenant is to speak to their previous landlords. If there are any red flags about a tenant's behavior or ability to pay rent on time, previous landlords are the best people to ask.
Finding Tenants in El Paso with Tenant Screening
Tenant screening is the best way to select the best candidates from a pool of applicants. With thousands of potential renters at any given time in El Paso, it's an important part of a landlord's responsibilities. Having great tenants in your rentals will help you avoid evictions and keep your units occupied.
If you're not sure of the best way to screen your tenants, hiring a property manager is the best path forward. PMI El Paso is part of the nation's top property management company, offering comprehensive services that include tenant screening and eviction protection. Contact us today to learn more.
