Needing Help With Rental Screening Red Flags

Identifying and understanding red flags in rental screening reports can be bewildering without assistance.

A history of bad customer service

Not having help understanding red flags in a tenant screening report can result in major problems.

Several years ago, I penned a blog post How’s this for customer service? It focused on the glaring lack of customer service at Zillow. The only means of communication was a web form on their site. It took over a week to receive an email response. Here’s the response I received from Zillow regarding a query about their rental application program:

“Since you submitted your original request a week ago, it’s likely that you’ve moved on or that you were able to self-resolve your issue. If you still need assistance, simply reply back to this email and we will be happy to help you.”

A critical need for assistance

Recently, an agent who had been using TenantMagic for nearly a decade switched brokerages. Her new company used Zillow and their rental application program. She received a completed application and background report that raised several questions about the authenticity of the applicant’s data, especially when compared with the information provided in the Zillow background report. While the reports initially seemed satisfactory, a closer examination revealed some potential red flags.

Despite no longer using TenantMagic, she asked if I could review the reports with her to help make sense of them. She tried to contact someone at Zillow for assistance, but to no avail.

Taking a deeper dive

We spent about 30 minutes reviewing the reports and concluded that the applicant had provided fraudulent information. This individual, in their early 30s, claimed to have a substantial monthly W2 income but lacked any credit history. Further investigation revealed that the phone numbers for the employer and previous landlord were not in service.

Key takeaways

  • Even with a reputable screening program, an applicant can potentially provide fraudulent information.
  • Without proper assistance, a landlord or agent could make a serious error in accepting a tenant based on a seemingly valid report.
  • It’s crucial for your screening program provider to offer live customer service agents to help you fully comprehend the screening reports you receive.

You can use TenantMagic with Zillow

You can use the TenantMagic screening program with your Zillow listings.

Applicants interested in your property can message you from the Zillow listing that they are interested in the property. They can also let you know they would like more information or schedule a tour of the property. TenantMagic provides you with link to your application that can be sent in the reply. Simply instruct the applicant to click on the link in the email to apply. Both you and the applicant now have access to live phone customer service.

About TenantMagic

TenantMagic provides online rental applications with the most comprehensive tenant screening reports available (credit, criminal, sex offender, and eviction) to property managers and owners.TenantMagic is free to owners and managers – applicants pay the fee.

Live customer service is available by phone 7 days a week.

Feel free to contact me or register at www.tenantmagic.net

japple@tenantmagic.net

216.288.5044

Maintaining Park Quality and Safety

Avoiding unwanted visits by the police

Maintaining the quality and safety of your park

Conducting credit, criminal, eviction, and sex offender checks for long-term RV park guests is crucial in maintaining the quality and safety of your park. This practice is highly effective for landlords and property managers, and RV park owners and managers can reap the same benefits. Recently an RV park in Florida required all residents to complete a background check, even if they had been staying there for years. The park had too many issues with a small but impactful number unruly and disruptive guests that were making life miserable for the other guests and the park manager.

Preventing Unwanted Ejections at RV Parks

Every RV park owner has heard horror stories about problematic campers. ARVC’s blog post titled “When it’s time for a guest to go” https://arvc.org/Blog/20/When-It-s-Time-for-a-Guest-to-Go discusses this issue. While they avoid using the term ‘eviction’ as it’s technically not accurate, the end goal remains the same – removing the problematic guest from the park.

The best way to avoid having to eject guests is by preventing problem guests from staying at your park in the first place. This can be easily and quickly achieved by making a background screening a mandatory part of the application process.

Screening Your Guest Applicants with TenantMagic

TenantMagic works with with RV park owners and managers across the country. The process is simple: enter the guest applicant’s email address into the system. The applicant then receives an email from the owner/manager detailing the process and providing a link to their application. The guest applicant completes the application, pays the $37.50 fee, and consents to the background check.

The owner/manager receives the application and reports within 5 minutes of completion. The reports include:

  • Comprehensive credit report, including credit score
  • Nationwide criminal check
  • Eviction history
  • Sex offender registry check

By using TenantMagic, you can significantly reduce issues with problematic guests at no cost to you as the guest applicant covers the fee.

Additional Issues Associated with Problematic Guests

Moreover, TenantMagic can save you more than just lost fees. You also avoid:

  • Repair costs for property damages
  • Lost business due to low ratings after guest-related problems

TenantMagic can also help deter:

  • Drug dealers and users
  • Disruptive campers

Don’t let one bad guest ruin it for everyone else

RV park owners and managers work tirelessly to maintain their parks’ quality. They understand that one bad guest can ruin the experience for others and tarnish the park’s reputation. Those using TenantMagic have found that requiring a background screening with applications allows them to identify potential disruptive guests before they enter the park, resulting in a more pleasant experience for all.

About TenantMagic

TenantMagic provides online rental applications with the most comprehensive tenant screening reports available (credit, criminal and eviction, including a credit score) to property managers and owners.

TenantMagic is also free to property managers, agents and owners – applicants pay the fee. We are known for our outstanding customer service. Check out our Google Reviews to see our reviews.

We work with property managers, owners and real estate agents throughout the country. Feel free to contact me or register at www.tenantmagic.net

japple@tenantmagic.net

216.288.5044

“They seemed so nice”

“They seemed so nice”

I can’t tell you how many times I have heard “They seemed so nice when I was showing them the property.”  from landlords describing their tenants from hell experiences.

Many of these owners got into real estate rentals as an investment opportunity. They did their homework, ran the numbers and envisioned a steady revenue stream. What they didn’t consider was the importance of fully investigating the history of their tenants.

But turned out to be the devil in disguise

Lori is a landlord from Missouri and told me that she showed her rental house to a couple in their 40’s that seemed professional and very polite. Then…

“The couple had been living in the house for 6 months then suddenly stopped paying their rent. They told me a convincing story why they were late and I wanted to be nice and waited. I had still not received any payment after being put off for 3 months so I began eviction proceedings. We ended up going to court and they claimed that I was a slum landlord and didn’t maintain the property. Fortunately I kept good records and had receipts for all the repairs I made, including a new hot water heater.

I was able to evict them and get a judgement for back rent. When I tried to garnish their wages, I discovered that the employer he listed on his application had never heard of him.

I also did some checking online and found that both had been convicted of theft.”

The 4 critical steps you need to take to reduce problem tenants and the headaches they bring –

All of this could have been avoided before the lease was signed and still be fully compliant with Fair Housing and Fair Credit regulations by taking simple steps at the start of the process.

  1. Pre-screen your tenants by clearly communicating your residency standards (Make sure they are the same for all of your applicants)
  2. Require complete applications and that each co-applicant completes their own individual application
  3. Conduct a comprehensive background screening for every applicant and co-applicant 18 years or older that includes credit, criminal and eviction results
  4. Make sure the applicant’s ID is properly verified. Is the applicant who they say they are?

After you take the first 4 steps, pay attention to the results!

Federal Fair Housing compliant standards and criteria can include*

  • Required income level
  • Prior evictions
  • Bill payment history
  • Criminal history

* State and local housing regulations could include other protected categories. Make sure you check with housing authorities to determine which ones apply in your area.

Credit reports alone are not adequate

Many landlords use a credit report for background screening and believe that it is adequate. Credit reports alone are not sufficient.  If you have ever read one, you know they are not easy to understand. Credit reports do not contain enough information to properly evaluate an applicant. The applicant’s eviction and criminal history are very important when considering an applicant and neither are found in a credit report.

A couple of minutes invested upfront can save you countless hours and dollars.

About TenantMagic

TenantMagic provides online rental applications with the most comprehensive tenant screening reports available (credit, criminal and eviction, including a credit score) to property managers and owners.

TenantMagic is also free to property managers, agents and owners – applicants pay the fee. We are known for our outstanding customer service. Check out our Google Reviews to see our reviews.

We work with property managers, owners and real estate agents throughout the country. Feel free to contact me or register at www.tenantmagic.net

japple@tenantmagic.net

216.288.5044