Tenant Screening in Indianapolis with Red Door PM
Choosing the right tenant is the single most important factor in protecting your rental and ensuring long-term profitability. At Red Door Property Management, we don’t leave that to chance.
Why Screening Matters
The success of your rental property depends on more than just finding someone who can pay the rent. A truly qualified tenant is financially stable, respectful of your property, and likely to renew. Our process is designed to:
- Minimize risk of missed payments or evictions
- Reduce property damage
- Identify fraudulent applications
- Improve tenant retention
We don’t just accept applications—we investigate them.
The Red Door Screening Checklist
Our comprehensive tenant screening process is built to prevent evictions, reduce turnover, and detect red flags before they become costly problems. As rental scams grow more sophisticated, we’ve adapted our standards to stay several steps ahead.
National Sex Offender Registry Check
All applicants are checked against the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) database to support community safety.
Full Credit Report & Score
- Credit score and payment history
- Delinquencies, bankruptcies, charge-offs
- Debt-to-income ratio
This helps us evaluate patterns of financial responsibility.
Nationwide Criminal Background & Eviction Search
- Felonies and misdemeanors
- Evictions and landlord/tenant court filings
- Outstanding warrants or active cases
Applicants with violent criminal histories, recent drug charges, or eviction filings are generally declined.
Rental History Verification
- Confirm rent payment history
- Property condition at move-out
- Proper notice and lease compliance
We look for consistent, respectful tenancy and positive references.
Employment & Income Verification
We verify income via recent pay stubs or direct deposits, employer letters/contracts, or bank statements when needed. Our standard requirement is 3× monthly rent in verifiable income.
Applicants can verify income through one of the following (powered by Nova Credit Inc.):
- Connect to their online bank account
- Connect to their online payroll provider
- Upload their most recent pay stub
Completed results are added to the rental application record in AppFolio. Reports include annual income, income-to-rent ratio, and sources of income when available.
ID Verification for Enhanced Security
ID Verification helps ensure the applicant is who they claim to be. Embedded in the online application (powered by Plaid), the process confirms:
- Is the applicant a real person?
- Is the ID document valid?
- Is the applicant the genuine owner of the ID?
Applicants enter personal information, submit a photo ID, and complete a selfie video. Results are available immediately within AppFolio. Additional checks help catch stolen or synthetic identities.
Fraud Detection: Going Beyond the Basics
Our team is trained to identify sophisticated fraud, including:
- Altered pay stubs and W-2 forms
- Fake landlord references
- AI-generated identity documents
- Inconsistent digital footprints
We continuously update internal fraud playbooks and staff training.
Pet Screening with PetScreening.com
When pets are allowed, each applicant must complete an online pet profile, upload clear photos, provide current vaccinations, and share veterinarian information. PetScreening assigns a pet score that may inform deposits or fees. Assistance animals are handled per Fair Housing standards.
Application Scoring & Final Decision
Each applicant receives a cumulative score based on:
- Credit and criminal history
- Rental references
- Employment and income verification
- Pet screening (if applicable)
We present the results with our recommendation. If multiple qualified applications are received, we help select the best overall match based on longevity potential and financial strength.
Tenant Screening FAQs
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Why does tenant screening matter for my rental property?
Proper screening reduces the risk of missed rent, evictions, property damage, and fraud while improving retention and long-term profitability.
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What checks are included in Red Door’s screening?
Our process covers credit report and score, nationwide criminal and eviction search, rental history verification, employment and income verification, ID verification and fraud checks, plus pet screening when applicable.
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What income is required to qualify?
Applicants must have verifiable income of at least 3× the monthly rent. Verification can be completed via bank connection, payroll provider, or recent pay stubs.
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How are pets evaluated?
We use PetScreening.com to review pet profiles, vaccination records, and behavior. Each pet receives a score that helps determine approval and deposits. Assistance animals are handled in line with Fair Housing laws.
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How do you detect application fraud?
We flag altered documents, fake landlord references, synthetic identities, and mismatched digital footprints using embedded ID verification, data checks, and experienced staff review.
