Tenant screening services?

[htchevyii]

Hey guys, we're about to rent out our home and are concerned about selecting the right tenant. With pot basicly being legal here, (the D.A. announced he won't prosicute under 99 plants), indoor grows are a big problem and really screws up houses, (fires, mold and mildew, h2o damage, etc). Combine this with the regular issues and it's a bit scary. Has anyone used any tenant verification services that they would recommend?
And before all the pot heads get upset, I don't really care what you do, I just don't want anybody ruining my investment.

[narfire]

Are you going to be living nearby?
I was going to rent my house in Squamish and hired a "company" that does all the screening for you ect.I thought the fee at the time was reasonable as I was going to be moving 5 hours away. I checked their references and were reputable. They did monthly checks for your exact concerns. Thought it was around $75-100 month on a gross rental of $1200 or so.
Anyone in your area do the same?

[htchevyii]

There are rental services here, but I haven't really checked into them. I thought it might be good to meet the potental renters myself, thinking that maybe the agency's just want to get them rented and make their money. I'm 25 miles away and commute there daily, so that part is OK. We have several people/families interested allready and it does seem like it's going to be a hard decision to make. That agency would be less stressful!

[baltobernie]

Being able to do a "drive-by" occasionally should be the tipping point in favor of you managing the property yourselves. If you hire a rental agency, they will handle the applications, etc. but they won't be able to share any "personal" info about the prospective tenants due to privacy laws. The rental agency is only concerned with their income, i.e. collecting rent payments.

If you have met your renters thru interviews and visit them occasionally, they are less likely think of you as a nameless, faceless entity, and may take better care of your property.

Oh, and wait until you see the premium on your new homeowners insurance policy, now that it's a rental

[mdrburchette]

Rental insurance is cheaper here but doesn't cover any of the renters property. They have to provide renters insurance.
Having been down that road, I doubt I would do it again. In fact, Ron's been wanting to rent our lakehouse property and I've been firmly against it. Most people will not take care of your property as you would. I would ask for plenty of references, a criminal report, credit report and a nice sized deposit to deter anyone with issues.