By now, you probably know that owning a commercial property isn’t easy. Therefore, once your commercial units are ready for occupation, you want to get high-quality tenants for long-term profitability. But many landlords want to fill the vacant units as soon as possible, hence overlooking the tenant screening process. Eventually, they end up with tenants who fail to pay their rent on time, or sometimes they don’t pay at all. Such tenants do not only disrupt your cash flow and revenue, but they can also damage your property.
Regardless of how good a tenant appears, in person or on paper, you should never overlook the tenant screening process. If you can’t do it on your own, contact a reputable commercial property management East Bay company to screen the tenants on your behalf. Commercial property management East Bay companies have tenant screening software and procedures that alert them to any red flags. The following tips can help property managers in Oakland to screen their tenants better.
Start from the Ads
Tenant screening should start right from the advertisement. When creating ads for your commercial property, put a line that every tenant will undergo screening. Also, if you have a smoking policy or pet policy, remember to include them in your ads.
Set Standard, Non-Biased Screening Questions
Once a prospective renter calls or sends an email inquiring about a vacant unit, don’t hesitate to ask a few questions to know whether they are a good fit. These questions may include:
• Why they are moving
• When they intend to move in
• Their monthly income
• Whether they have pets
• References from their employer
• Whether they are comfortable with a background check.
Verify the Information
Once you get all the information you need, then it’s time to verify its authenticity. You can do this by contacting their employer or even their current landlord.
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