Is Outsourcing Your Tenant Screening Process a Good Idea?

Is Outsourcing Your Tenant Screening Process a Good Idea?

We understand that, as a Pittsburgh landlord, you might be feeling pressure to lower your standards just to get tenants through the door.

After all, Pittsburgh suffered one of the single greatest drops in rental prices out of all US metro areas in 2023, and there is every indication that 2024 will not be much better. While this means you will be competing for tenants more so than in the past, it doesn't mean you should let standards slip.

With the right tenant screening, you can find high-quality tenants quickly and shore up your investment. Here's what you should consider outsourcing your tenant screening to a professional property management company.

Accuracy

When sorting through rental applicants, accuracy is everything. You need to know a potential tenant is who they say they are.

You need to know about their criminal history, their income, and their papers. Do you have the resources to find this information yourself? If not, a professional management company can take care of it for you.

They can leverage their access to the right databases and systems to get accurate information on all potential tenants for your rental properties. This way, you can make an informed decision in your mission to attract tenants and spend fewer resources on things like inspections during the tenancy.

Compliance

In Pennsylvania as elsewhere, tenant screening is a delicate legal process. There are very strict laws around discrimination that even the most well-intentioned landlords can fall foul of if they are not careful.

You need a tenant screening system that is 100% legally compliant and holds no risk of legal liability to yourself or your investments. For this, we always recommend playing it safe and using a professional company that knows the law and will maintain a fully compliant screening process on your behalf.

Efficiency

When done right or wrong, tenant screening is always time-consuming. You need to do your research, do your outreach, interview tenants, and verify them. All of this is not making you any money and is likely going to cost you money.

If you'd rather not deal with any of this, consider outsourcing. A professional screening service can take this off your hands and give you more time for things like marketing, staging, or maintenance.

Peace of Mind

This is really the most important factor when it comes to outsourcing. Tenant screening is a risky process for you, and we're not just talking about compliance. Make the wrong decision, and you could be letting dangerous or negligent people into your property.

You could also fall victim to fraud if you're unable to tell when a tenant is providing you with fake documents. By choosing to let the professionals take care of it, you can eliminate these very real risks and secure the peace of mind you deserve.

We Offer Expert Tenant Screening in Pittsburgh, PA

Tenant screening often requires time, money, technology, and expertise. If these are things you do not have in spades, now is the time to bring in professional help. For this, we have got you covered.

At The Burgh Property Management, we offer extensive tenant screening services to local landlords of all stripes. Get in touch to find out how we can match you with the right tenants, now and in the future.

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