How do you handle background checks for out-of-state applicants?

Hello friends! I am a newbie seeking some advice, please. The property that I help manage has a lot of applicants that are from out of state. I am finding that our application process is not always as conducive to their needs as our other applicants. We require all applicants to get a background check from their local sheriff/police department. We are finding that this makes it hard for applicants who have already moved into the area as some are having to stay in a hotel for a few weeks while they wait for their background check to get mailed to us. I would REALLY like to know how you all search your applicants' criminal backgrounds to see if there is an easier way that we can look into. Thanks in advance for the help!

In Missouri we have casenet. Some states have similar free sites for this. I think it would be best to have a company that does a national search which can be added on to most credit check services.

My site used First Advantage. This service provided credit and criminal within about 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes less.

A national criminal search is far more effective- we use First Advantage too.

We used to use 1st Adventage then Better NOI and now we do it through YARDI it is so much easier because about 1/4 of our applicants are out of state or country.

We use Core Logic/Saferent. It takes minutes for results

What property management system are you using? Most have integrated screening options... I'd definitely recommend running your own screening instead of the sheriff's report. If you are with a smaller company, there are options for screening without an expensive PM system. Appfolio and 365 Connect both have good options.

I use Onesite for our property management system. It would be really great if we could search it ourselves!

Megan Snider Onesite offers background checks. It even does it when they apply on line.

Just an FYI Appfolio only goes back 5 years on their criminal. That’s not good enough for me

The trouble we found with some of the sites that we used previously is that recent crimes didn't show up or the local department didn't report them to the national. How far and recent does First Advantage and the options search? Thank you all for your help. I appreciate all the responses.

Our property management software takes care of it. We use Appfolio. It also performs the credit check.

MI has a database through the state that you can look county by county for the name and SSN to see if there are any court records for that person

We’ve used Saferent but most properties are using OneSite credit/criminal screening. Instant results!

We use Rental Services, Inc. They have different levels of searches and will even do our rental history verifications for us. They have full-service packages that go really in-depth or smaller ones that will check credit, criminal and eviction records.