10 Best Tenant Screening Articles of 2017

Last year we started the SmartMove blog with the purpose of giving independent landlords the inside scoop to various aspects of being a successful landlord. With the tips, research and insights in our articles, we hope to give landlords a leg up on “the big guys” in the industry.

To live up to our promise of offering helpful rental market information, trends and tenant screening services, we’ve compiled a list of our most popular tenant screening articles for 2017. Below you’ll find articles focused on the dos and don'ts of tenant screening including valuable statistics and ways to become more profitable.

1. 7 Tenant Screening Warning Signs That Aren't So Obvious

Many landlords know to include a credit check, eviction history and background report when it comes to tenant screening. However, there are additional measures you can take to help make sure you’re getting the best tenant possible. This article dives into the less obvious warning signs you may be missing in your tenant screening process.

2. 5 Biggest Mistakes Landlords Make That Can Kill Profit

This post is one of our most popular for many reasons. Not only does it get straight to the facts about why you may be losing money, but it gives you advice on how you can fix and avoid these mistakes. Becoming a landlord is no easy task and there are certain factors you need to be aware of if you want to be profitable.

3. How to Raise Rent Without Complaints

We wrote this article with the intention of creating a straightforward guide for landlords about how to do one of the hardest things in the industry—raise rent without complaints from tenants. With tips on how to raise rent in a more structured and fair way, this article is a valuable guide for independent landlords to increase rent while keeping the peace with tenants.

4. Rental Statistics Every Landlord Needs to Know Today

Because the market is so fluid, it’s important for landlords to stay on top of market trends so they can react and adapt accordingly. Knowing where the market stands in terms of factors such as rental rates and homeownership rates can help you better determine how to manage your rental property to stay profitable and successful.

5. 5 Reasons Why Online Rent Payment is More Convenient for Landlords and Tenants

Our 2014 SmartMove survey showed that payment problems are landlords’ top concern with new tenants. In this post, you’ll see how accepting online rent payments is one of the best ways to prevent payment problems with tenants and keep the rent check coming in on time.

6. 5 Big Risks of Owning Rental Property That Every Landlord Should Know

Before purchasing a rental property, it’s important to know the risks and how to prepare for them. This article reviews some of the more common risks of owning rental property and offers tips on how to overcome them so you can protect your rental income.

7. 26 Renting Statistics That Every Landlord Needs to Know

In this post, we compiled the top 26 renting statistics every landlord should know and organized them into an infographic. Did you know that 59% of landlords believe that a steady income is more important than credit history? These statistics were gathered in order to help you stay informed and ahead of the game.

8. Anatomy of a Millennial Renter

Because the millennial generation is now the largest in history, they have a large impact on the rental and housing market. One major part of becoming a successful landlord is knowing your renter. This article discusses the trends of millennial renters and why many of them choose to rent over buying a home.

9. Benefits of Owning Rental Property: 6 Reasons Why You Should Invest

There are advantages both financially and personally to investing in a rental property. One of them being that it provides a steady source of passive income. However, if you still have doubts about investing, this article gives you six reasons why you should consider it.

10. 15 Tax Deductions Landlords Could Use in April

All landlords want a profitable business and one way to minimize expenses is to make sure you know the tax breaks available. In this article, we outline 15 tax deductions to have on your radar so that you can make smart decisions about your rental property year round.