🛡️ Tenant Screening Made Simple: 3 Steps to Protect Your Investment

Choosing the right tenant is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a landlord. A great tenant can mean steady income, minimal maintenance issues, and peace of mind. But a bad tenant? They can cost you thousands in damages, unpaid rent, and legal headaches.

Luckily, tenant screening doesn’t need to be overwhelming. In this guide, I’ll walk you through three proven steps that make it easy to find reliable tenants and protect your investment—without stress or guesswork.

Whether you're managing a property in Saskatoon or anywhere else, these principles apply across the board.

🔍 Step 1: Pre-Screen Tenants Before the Showing

Before you even schedule that first viewing, take a few minutes to filter out the tire kickers from the serious candidates. Pre-screening helps you save time, avoid frustration, and focus on the applicants who are actually a good fit.

✅ Why Pre-Screening Works:

• It narrows your pool to serious and qualified renters.

• It prevents unnecessary showings.

• It eliminates red flags early on.

🎯 How to Pre-Screen Like a Pro:

1. Set Clear Rental Criteria – For example:

   • Minimum monthly income (3x the rent)

   • Credit score (ideally 650+)

   • No prior evictions

2. Ask Smart Questions Upfront:

   • Why are you moving?

   • How long do you plan to rent?

   • Do you have pets or roommates?

   • Can you provide landlord and employment references?

📌 Real Example:

A landlord in Saskatoon added a short pre-screening Google Form to their listing. As a result, they cut down their inquiries by 50%—and only received leads that matched their criteria.

📑 Step 2: Run a Full Background Check

Once a tenant passes your pre-screen, it’s time to dig deeper. A comprehensive background check is where the real peace of mind begins.

🔍 What to Check:

• Credit Report – Look for consistent on-time payments, manageable debt, and no bankruptcies.

• Criminal History – Avoid renters with violent offenses, drug-related charges, or fraud.

• Eviction Records – Even one eviction is a major red flag.

• Employment Verification – Call to confirm position, income, and stability. Rent should be no more than 30-40% of their income.

🔒 Important: Always get written consent before running any background or credit checks.

💡 Real Example:

One Saskatoon property owner nearly approved a tenant—until a screening tool revealed two prior evictions and poor credit. That quick check saved them thousands in future losses.

📞 Step 3: Verify References and Finalize with Confidence

Once the tenant has passed the first two steps, confirm everything with real people. Reference checks offer honest insights you won’t get from forms and reports.

📞 Who You Should Call:

• Previous Landlords – Ask about rental history, late payments, and any damages.

• Current Employer – Verify employment length, position, and income stability.

• Personal References – These can add insight into the tenant’s character and habits.

Pro Tip: Ask landlords, “Would you rent to this person again?” It’s one of the most telling questions you can ask.

🎯 Final Checklist Before Approval:

• ✅ All documents verified.

• ✅ No red flags from background or references.

• ✅ Lease terms understood and agreed upon.

• ✅ First month’s rent and deposit ready to go.

💡 Real Example:

One landlord called a past landlord reference and discovered the applicant had abandoned the property mid-lease and skipped two months of rent. That one call avoided a repeat performance.

🔚 Final Thoughts: Screening Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated

Tenant screening is like building a safety net for your investment. By sticking to these three steps—Pre-Screening, Background Checks, and Verifying References—you’ll drastically reduce the risk of dealing with bad tenants.

✅ Less stress
✅ Less risk
✅ More time to focus on growing your rental income

📞 Need Help With Tenant Screening or Property Management?

I specialize in helping landlords and investors in Saskatoon find the right tenants and protect their investments through strategic marketing, screening, and full-service property management.

📱 Call me, Jack Bouvier, at (306) 370-6179
📧 Or reach out via Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Let’s make your rental property a passive income powerhouse—with the right tenants from day one.