Tenant Screening in Texas: Navigate's 10-Step Process

When it comes to leasing your property, the quality of your tenant can make or break your investment experience. At Navigate Property Management, we take screening seriously. We don’t just place tenants, we vet future neighbors. Our 10-step tenant screening process is designed to protect your property, preserve your cash flow, and ensure long-term peace of mind.

Here’s a closer look at how we do it, and why it works.

1. Nationwide Criminal Background Checks

We run criminal history searches across all 50 states using industry-trusted databases. This includes checks for felonies, violent crimes, drug-related offenses, and other red flags. Tenant safety and neighborhood stability start here.

2. Credit Reports + Debt-to-Income Ratios

Credit scores are only part of the picture. We also evaluate debt-to-income (DTI) ratios to understand financial health. A high credit score with heavy revolving debt? That's still a risk. We balance both data points to make smart calls.

3. Rental History Verification

We dig into past leasing behavior, on-time payments, proper notice, and unit condition upon move-out. Strong history with previous landlords? That's gold. Negative history with property managers? Automatic red flag.

4. Employment Verification + Professional References

We don’t stop at the paystub. We speak directly to supervisors, using verified business emails and phone numbers. This helps ensure applicants aren’t inflating income or providing unreliable employment info.

5. Experian Income Insights

Navigate uses Experian's income verification system, a method preferred by banks and financial institutions, to cross-check self-reported income against actual financial behavior. It’s more accurate, more objective, and fraud-resistant.

6. The Work Number® Verification

When available, we leverage The Work Number®, a secure employment verification service used by Fortune 500 companies. This provides an extra layer of accuracy for confirming current and prior employment.

7. Personal and Rental References

People talk, and we listen. We follow up with character and landlord references, asking targeted questions about reliability, communication, and how they left their last property.

8. Landlord Tax Record Checks

For private landlords, we don’t just accept a phone number. We confirm property ownership through tax records before validating any reference. No fake referrals here.

9. Pet + Assistance Animal Screening

Every pet (and ESA) gets reviewed with health records, photos, and breed details. We evaluate pet risk with the same diligence as the tenant, because pets live in your property too.

10. Fraud Detection Technology

Applicants are screened with a  fraud detection tool that flags mismatched IP addresses, suspicious email types, or burner phone numbers. If something seems shady, we dig deeper, or deny it altogether.

Why It Matters

Tenant screening isn’t just about finding someone who can pay the rent. It’s about finding someone who will treat your home like their own. With Navigate, you get a consistent, compliant, and Fair Housing-aligned process that balances efficiency with diligence.

It’s not just screening. It’s safeguarding your investment.

Want a team that gets it right the first time? Let’s talk.
📞 (214) 305-9166
📍 Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Fort Worth, and all across DFW
📩 mcsupport@nornmc.com