| If you own a vacant apartment, it's always a | | | | agency. Find out whether they have any |
| good idea to rent it out to a person or family. | | | | outstanding loans. If so, then find out whether |
| Besides keeping the apartment in good shape, the | | | | they earn enough to pay both the loan and your |
| rent paid by the tenant will add to your family | | | | rent. You will be able to determine this once you |
| income. But getting proper civilized tenants is | | | | have the report from the agency in hand. If they |
| crucial for your safety, as well as peace of mind. | | | | have any history of skipping debts or filing |
| For this reason, it is necessary to screen | | | | bankruptcy, look for another tenant. They are |
| prospective tenants before handing them the key | | | | bad news, plain and simple. |
| to your property. It is much safer to do a | | | | 2. Identity confirmation: Are they really the same |
| background check beforehand, than opting for a | | | | people they are posing to be? Check their |
| messy eviction later on. | | | | photo-IDs. Ask for driving licenses or social |
| Tenant background screening is not a tough task | | | | security cards. Find out where they work, and |
| to carry out if you hire the services of a | | | | pay a surprise visit there. Or have a reputed |
| reputable agency. There are many agencies out | | | | organization to do the snooping for you. Hiring a |
| there that can take care of this kind of tasks for | | | | professional service is probably a better idea, |
| you. There are some things that must be | | | | because they know which tactics to employ to |
| checked out before renting an apartment to an | | | | discreetly find out the information that you need. |
| unknown family or individual. These include the | | | | It is also important to have their criminal |
| following: | | | | background checked to make sure you are not |
| | | | inviting people previously accused on charges of |
| 1. Financial records: It is essential to know whether | | | | drunken assault or robbery. |
| a person can pay the monthly rent for your | | | | Lastly, rely on your instincts when you are talking |
| apartment. Trust me, you don't want tenants | | | | to them. If they are fidgeting a lot or trying to |
| who would miss their rents for months in a row, | | | | evade questions like their previous whereabouts, it |
| and come up with lame excuses like having to | | | | is likely that something is wrong. Be alert when |
| pay extra for some services. If they are renting | | | | taking in tenants. It would ensure the safety of |
| your apartment, they should be financially stable | | | | your family and your surety of a steady, reliable |
| enough to pay the rents, plain and simple. Get | | | | income. |
| their credit ratings checked through a reputed | | | | |