Why Screen Applicants Thoroughly?

The price you pay for not  conducting thorough tenant screening can be very significant. Applicants with criminal and sex offender backgrounds are counting on you to only run their credit. Applicants that have been evicted or write bad checks are hoping that by dressing nice and being on their best behavior, they will get through your doors. A complete background screening is the only thing standing between you, the applicant and the well being of the neighborhood.

Property damage usually occurs from abuse, retaliation or neglect. The cost to evict this tenant can now be added to the cost of repairs. Don’t forget to add the cost of not being able to rent the property again until repairs are completed. And, to top it all off, when the bad element enters your property, you can bet that a lot of the good element will leave your property. The good tenant that takes care of the property and always pays on time will see that  you don’t value his business, as demonstrated when you let a criminal move in next door. On top of this, when the bad element makes it through your screening, they usually tell all of their friends how easy it is to move into your property.

Cost vs. Price

The cost of an eviction is very expensive. Not only do you have the fees for the legal process and all of your time wrapped up in the effort, now you won’t be able to rent that unit for 90 days or more. During an eviction, the rent is not being accepted, you and/or your lawyer are in court, more damages may occur to the unit and the cost of repair is most likely climbing. This scenario plays out for each time the background screening was less than thorough.

The price of a thorough background screening report from CIC far outweighs the cost of eviction, unit damage or the potential human cost that may occur to innocent neighbors. The price of a thorough background check should not be considered overhead. If referred to as preventative maintenance, changing the mindset from a price tag for credit screening, to a sound business investment for current and future safe operations, the winner of the cost vs. price contest becomes crystal clear.

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For more information on Residential Screening, contact CIC's FCRA certified and bilingual (English / Spanish) staff.