Screening tenants is one of the most important aspects of being a landlord. Some landlords make the fatal mistake of renting out to the first person who comes along, just to fill up the vacancies and get those rental payments coming in.

Doing a thorough rental screening is vitally important to avoid problems down the road. The vast majority of problems like late or defaulted rental payments, disruptive tenants, and property damage can be avoided with careful tenant screening.

Your First Contact with a Potential Tenant

Usually a landlord's first contact with a prospective tenant is by telephone. This is a good time to get a sense of how likely the tenant is a good match for you. You should have some questions ready to pre-screen the person so that you'll know whether you want to move on to the next step.

When screening tenants, some important things to ask include basic biographical information such as name, address and phone number. You'll also want to ask some preliminary questions about the amount and sources of the person's income. Find out if he has any pets, smoking habits, and the age and number of people who will live with him.

If the person is willing to provide a credit report, take a look at it before you move on to a face to face meeting in the next step. Otherwise you will need to request a copy later in the screening process. You should also check to see if the tenant has good references from his previous landlords.

Most prospective renters will be more than happy to answer your questions. Be cautious if the person seems wary or reluctant to provide the information you're asking for.

After you've determined that the person is a good candidate to rent your property, it's time to meet him in person. There are a few of important principles to remember - read between the lines, take stock of the person's appearance, and don't let your emotions cloud your judgment.

Learn to Read Someone Between the Lines

When you're talking to the prospective tenant, really listen to what they have to say. If the tenant says, "My dog Charlie chewed up my new sofa," or "I just met with my child's teacher and he's in trouble for fighting again!", then you may have trouble brewing on your hands.

First Impressions do Count When Screening Tenants

When it comes to screening tenants, their physical appearance is an important factor to consider. The person does not have to dress like a movie star but what you are looking for is someone who is clean and presentable.

You can also check out his car. Does it seem to be in reasonably good condition? Is the car overloaded with junk inside? Again it doesn't matter how new or expensive the car is; you are looking to see if the person actually takes good care of it.

Why do these factors matter? Someone with a tidy appearance and well kept vehicle is far more likely to take better care of your rental property as well.

Don't Involve Your Emotions When Screening Tenants

When you are screening your potential renters, your emotions and personal feelings should not affect your decision of picking the right tenant. Even if you find the person incredibly charming and sweet, do realize that the nicest people in the world don't always make best tenants.

A wonderfully charming and lovely person could have the most horrible credit history in the world, or a history of defaulting on rent payments. Make it a purely business decision.

Finally, don't let a sob story get to you. As much as you may want to help that single mom who is going through a divorce, if her credit and rental history indicates that she can't pay, don't risk your own financial security. After all, you are not a charity organization; you're a landlord.  Teo Zhenjie