We meet every prospective tenant at the property in person before signing a lease. Every single one.
A lot of management companies have moved everything online. Applications, virtual tours, electronic signatures. And while we use online tools for things like rent collection and maintenance requests, the tenant screening process is one area where we will never cut corners.
A background check and credit report tell you important things. Employment verification and rental history fill in more of the picture. But sitting across from someone at the kitchen table of the property they want to rent tells you things no report can.
You learn how they talk about their previous landlord. You see how they react to the condition of the property. You find out whether they have realistic expectations about what a rental relationship looks like. And they get to meet us too, which sets the tone for how we work.
This takes more time than processing applications from a desk. We know that. But the result is better tenants who stay longer, take care of the property, and cause fewer problems. Our turnover rate reflects it. And when tenants do leave, they often refer friends and family to our properties because they had a good experience.
Good tenant selection is the foundation of profitable property management. We are not willing to shortcut it.