Are you tired of feeling like you spend all your time processing rental applications and you still never catch up?

Are vacancies piling up, and you can’t place tenants fast enough?

From lightning-fast internet to same-day delivery, we’ve been introduced to so many technologies that help us work and operate faster. Screening tenants for rental properties shouldn’t be any different.

It’s typical for leasing agents to struggle with how long tenant screening takes, and several factors can contribute. For example, your screening timeline can vary depending on the complexity of the screening process, the quality and completeness of the applicant's documentation, and the responsiveness of third-party agencies involved in the screening process (such as credit bureaus or previous landlords). 

It's important to note that while the screening process can take some time, it's worth investing the effort upfront to ensure that you find trustworthy tenants who are more likely to pay rent on time and take care of your property.

You can do several things to help speed up the process without sacrificing the quality or the integrity of your decision-making process. This article gives you five tips that can speed up your screening process.

Understanding How Long Tenant Screening Takes

Let’s get right to the point. How long does tenant screening take? Tenant screening can take anywhere from one to five days, and with traditional leasing, agents spend an average of 50 hours finding, screening, and approving a single renter. So where does my property fit? 

The time it takes to complete a tenant screening process can vary depending on several factors, such as the type of background check, the complexity of the screening, and the availability of information. 

It’s important to note that the speed of the tenant screening process also depends on the information provided by the tenant and the cooperation of other entities, such as the courts or previous landlords.

Related Read: How to Screen Tenants for Your Rental Property: 10-Step Guide

It’s important in the screening process to balance speed and being thorough. You don’t want to prioritize screening quickly and risk not going through enough valuable information to make a clear decision.

Here are five tips to help agents speed up the process:

1. Request Information in Advance 

It’s important to encourage potential tenants to provide some necessary information and documents ahead of time to make your tenant screening as efficient as possible. Doing so lets you start the screening process promptly and ensure you have everything you need to run them through your screening process. 

Requesting information in advance speeds up the screening process and reduces the need for follow-up requests. This approach streamlines the process and saves you and the applicant time and frustration. 

You demonstrate your commitment to thorough screening and responsible tenant selection by encouraging potential tenants to provide information in advance. This approach ensures you have all the information required to make informed decisions about who to rent to and helps protect your property from problem tenants. 

2. Use an Online Tenant Screening Service   

Using an online tenant screening service can significantly speed up the process. When you use this type of service, the applicant must upload all required documents and answer all necessary questions before they can submit their application. 

Real-time communication with applicants, landlords, and other stakeholders can further improve the efficiency of the screening process, allowing you to make informed decisions quickly. 

Intellirent is an excellent solution for landlords and leasing agents looking to streamline their tenant screening process. Our tenant resume feature lets you easily match potential tenants with your property and find the best fit for your needs. 

3. Automate Verification Processes

Utilizing automated verification processes for employment and rental history can significantly speed up the tenant screening process and eliminate the need for manual effort. In addition, automated verification processes can provide real-time results by cross-referencing information from multiple sources. 

Compared to manual verification processes, which can take days or weeks to complete and may require follow-up, online automation services save you tons of time, effort, and headaches. 

Automated processes also help you minimize errors common in manual paperwork processing. Additionally, you can reduce the risk of relying on self-reported information by using this type of process instead. 

Intellirent is a powerful tool for leasing agents looking to find quality tenants quickly. With verified employment and rental history information, Intellirent easily identifies the best candidates for your rental property.

4. Get Access to Electronic Records

Electronic records, like online court records, are often more up-to-date and easier to access than physical records. If you’re able to access electronic records for your tenants, you will cut your screening process time significantly. 

Electronic records allow you to quickly and easily obtain information about potential tenants without manually searching through physical records or waiting for third-party providers' responses.

Accessing electronic records reduces the time needed to complete the screening process, freeing up more time to focus on other aspects of their work.

5. Work with a Reliable Background Check Provider

Lastly, consider partnering with a reliable background check provider with a reputation for delivering accurate and timely results. Look for a provider that offers robust features and responsive customer service to address any concerns or inquiries during the screening process.

Prioritize the critical checks, such as criminal history and eviction records, as these are usually the most time-intensive and essential components of the screening process. 

Considering all these factors, you can set yourself up for success—and faster tenant screening processes! 

How Long Does Tenant Screening Take? Time is of the Essence

Your time is valuable. It shouldn’t be spent on wasteful, manual, or time-consuming tenant screening processes. Using the latest tools and techniques lets you streamline the verification process and get the information you need quickly. 

With electronic records and automated verification processes, you can quickly and easily verify a potential tenant’s employment, rental history, and other key information. Online tenant screening services and requesting information in advance can also speed up the process and minimize the need for follow-up requests. 

By taking advantage of these techniques, you can reduce the time spent on tenant screening and make informed decisions about new tenants quickly and confidently. With Intellirent, you can simplify the process even further, centralizing all the data and information you need to make a well-informed choice for your property.

Don’t waste any more time on inefficient tenant screening processes. Contact us today and learn more about how Intellirent can help you streamline your screening process and make better decisions for your property!