Whether you’re a brand new landlord or someone who’s been renting homes and apartments for years, there’s one thing you must know about, and that’s tenant screening. Research shows that only 44 percent of DIY landlords conduct sex offender checks, and only 51 percent conduct criminal background checks and contact past landlords for rental history and identity verification. Tenant screening gives you valuable information that can help you carefully consider possible tenants. Here’s a look at why tenant screening is an important part of the rental process and how to find the right screening company to work with you:

The Value of Tenant Screening

Tenant screening basically works like this: landlords use a screening service to find information about a prospective renter that indicates how likely the person is or isn’t to fulfill lease terms. Tenant screening reports will typically show information like credit history, eviction records, whether or not the individual has a criminal record, whether or not the individual is a registered sex offender, employment verifications and rental references. By consulting this information about a potential renter before agreeing to a lease, a landlord gains several benefits:

1. Accurate Information. Any landlord can ask potential renters to provide information on previous addresses, employment history, references, etc., but how do you know if that provided information is true? “Be prepared for a lot of denials … because many landlords don’t wish to take on the liability of a troubled tenant,” says Gigi Starr of the San Francisco Gate. Since renters know this, it’s very possible that those with bad records will try to hide that on their forms. However, with a screening service, you gain information from a third party that has no bias in the way it presents facts.
2. Lowered Risks. While a good report on a tenant screening does not guarantee that a potential renter will pay all of his or her bills on time, it does lower your risks for a rental situation that goes south.  The screening process can help you easily discover any glaring issues with a person’s history. By identifying high-risk applicants, you automatically reduce your risks for having to manage delinquencies, evictions and other issues.
3. Easier Rental Application Process. The instant nature of tenant screening means you get information fast, eliminating extra steps and paperwork that can slow down the application process. Likewise, you don’t have to learn all the intricacies of a software or reporting tool — simply submit information and receive the results.

Since tenant screening is fast, accurate and effective at identifying high-risk renters, it can save landlords a great deal of time and money.

How to Select a Tenant Screening Company

Because of the value tenant screening offers landlords, there are several providers on the market today. How do you choose? Here are some tips for making the right decision:

• Thorough Screening Processes: What makes a tenant screening so useful is that it finds key information about the prospective tenant. Look for a service that will run a background check and a credit check, as well as other checks to give you a clear picture of the tenant’s history.
• Reasonable Requirements: Some screening companies will want to do a site inspection and/or have other requirements to complete a screening. Make sure you’re comfortable with these requirements and that they’ll work for your needs.
• Fast Results Delivery: Ideally you want a screening provider that delivers immediate results, so you’re not waiting around to make a decision.

Think about the difference between a low-maintenance renter who pays on time and a difficult renter who is months behind, letting the property fall into disarray and now requiring eviction. Wouldn’t you rather have the first kind? Tenant screening empowers your decision-making process. Use the tips above to find a service that can help you select trustworthy tenants.