Everyone from credit card companies to landlords is now asking for proof of income from consumers and applicants, but why is this piece of information so important? What is proof of income, and how can you legally collect this personal information from prospective tenants? When landlords request proof of income, it can feel like an…Read More
Have you ever had a rental applicant provide falsified information when filling out their rental application? Did you notice it during screening or were the lies discovered later on? Many landlords have had this experience, and some have even been tricked by fake pay stubs. Pay stubs are one of the most commonly faked documents…Read More
Updated March 2022 Screening is an essential part of your business as a rental property landlord, but what you do during screening is even more important. One of the most important aspects of screening is knowing what to ask a tenant’s employer when you are verifying their income, job, and other facts. Doing this ensures…Read More
Updated March 2022 These days, it’s not uncommon to see signs about posting on social media when visiting public places. At the gym, for example, you may see a sign that says something like, “If you do not check in on Facebook, were you ever really here?” Does this type of social media presence extend…Read More
Updated February 2022 New landlords and those unfamiliar with the rental industry may think the tenant selection process is limited to reviewing applications and taking potential tenants on rental property tours. However, there is more to the screening process than these two steps. Many landlords automate the pre-screening process, so tenant applicants have already made…Read More
Updated January 2022 Thorough tenant screening is an essential part of your process as a landlord, but just going through the motions isn’t enough. You need to dig deep into what comes back on each report. For one thing, it will benefit you to know what a bankruptcy dismissed vs discharged history means. Are you…Read More
Updated January 2022 Screening tenants is one of the most critical parts of the rental process. Are you missing any important steps in your vetting process? Many landlords incorporate employment verification, but what can you do when an employer refuses to verify employment? When you decide to run a background check on a potential tenant,…Read More
Updated December 2021 Background checks are often confusing for tenants, and even landlords can find it difficult to understand exactly what is and is not included in this check. Specifically, a very common question we hear at RentPrep is: should landlords do a background check on a prospective tenant’s spouse? Sometimes, you’ll receive a rental…Read More
Updated December 2021 Many landlords think a lot about on-the-ground lead generation and how to ensure that more potential tenants see their apartment listings. Once those individuals start sending in rental reply requests, however, not all landlords know how to take appropriate action so they can lease out their property quickly. The way you funnel…Read More
Updated November 2021 When talking to experienced landlords, you might hear them mention using a rent income ratio calculator as part of their tenant screening process. This tool makes it easy to ensure that in addition to being a reliable tenant, the individual also makes enough to afford the cost of rent each month. No…Read More
