Online Application Fees & Screening Reports

Rentec Direct streamlines your leasing process, allowing you to market your available rentals, accept online applications and related fees, and run tenant screening reports directly from the applications you receive.

The article is an introduction to:

• Online Applications
• Application Fees - Customizing the term used for pre-tenancy fees
• Ordering Tenant Screening Reports from Applications

System Note: For security and compliance, all Rentec Direct clients are required to complete a one-time identity validation to enable Tenant Screening, Online Payments, and Syndication

Scroll through the article for steps to each of the following topics, or click on the link to jump to the section.

1. Submit an Application to get set up for Tenant Screening
2. Submit an Application to set up Online Payment Processing
3. Establish Your Application & Fee
4. Enable Online Listings & Rental Applications
5. Send a Link to Your Application to Potential Tenants
6. How to access received applications

Submit an Application to get set up for Tenant Screening

Tenant Screening reports can be ordered through your Rentec Direct software after a quick application process.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Reports
2. Select Screening Reports
3. Under Ready to order credit reports?, click on the "CLICK HERE" link to complete your application.

Note: We can have you set up to pull credit report cards within 24 business hours.

Learn more about Ordering and Viewing Tenant Screening Reports

Submit an Application to set up Online Payment Processing

Easily receive application or other pre-tenancy fees online through your Rentec Direct software with an active merchant account and CC/Debit Card option selected.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Settings
2. Under Financial, click on Online Payments 

Step 1: Complete the Online Payment Agreement with Rentec Direct

1. Click on Sign Electronically (quickest option with step-by-step guidance) or
2. Click on Download to print, sign, and return the agreement

Step 2: Complete the CSG Forte Merchant Account Application

1. ACH + CC/Debit Card (credit and debit card) -- If you plan to accept online application fees, select ACH + CC/DC. Once approved, you can choose which options tenants can use to pay rent with.

Most merchant applications are approved and set up with Rentec Direct within one business day. After approval, you will receive a confirmation email, and you can customize your Payment Processing Settings | Preference

Tip: Rentec Direct property management software lets you easily customize the term for the application or pre-tenancy fee across your software. Click here to learn more Feature Enhancement | New Term Customization Option for Application Fees

Establish Your Application & Fee

Once you are set up for online payment processing in the software, you can update your custom Online Rental Application and set the Application Fee.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Settings
2. Under Program, click on Rental Applications
3. Set Enable Online Applications to Yes

4. Under Default Questions, select which questions you would like to appear on the application, and special instructions for completing/sending the application or supporting documents you require.

   Pro Tip: Applications can be submitted without answering the Default Questions. Custom Questions can be set to require a response, preventing the application from being submitted without a response. If there are default questions you would like to require responses to, change the setting to No and add them to your Custom Questions.

5. Under Custom Questions, click on +Add Question for each additional question you would like to add. You can further select:
   1. Single line or multiple line space for response
   2. Required - Required questions will prevent an online application from being submitted without a response.
   3. Disabled - Prevents that question from appearing on applications
   4. Garbage can - Clicking on this will delete the question
6. Enter your personal application instructions. This is also a great place to include a breakdown of fees applied, if required. Click here for a State-by-State Guide
7. Under Application Fee:
   1. Enter the Application Fee Amount to be applied
   2. Choose if you want to Apply the collected fee to the property as income

   3. Select the bank account the fee is to be deposited.

      Important Note: Fees associated with the online application can be deposited into any account linked to a merchant account that is enabled for credit card processing.

      Learn more about Multiple Deposit Accounts for ACH and Credit Card Payments

      If no bank account is selected, the property's default income bank will be used.

      If the property's default income bank does not have an associated merchant account, the default merchant account will be used.

   4. Use the dropdown to choose which category the Application Fee is to be applied to

      Pro Tip: If your area does not allow application fees, you can easily customize the term that appears on the application and throughout the software to the one used for allowable fees.

8. Click on Save Changes

System Note: Application fees can be deposited into any account that is linked to a merchant account. Click

Enable Online Listings & Rental Applications

Quickly enable your Online Listings and Rental Applications.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Right-click on the property and select Marketing Info, and complete the following sections:
   1. Property Identification - Click on Generate Description to allow the AI listings generator to transform a basic property description into a well-crafted marketing tool. Click here to learn more Instant Property Descriptions For Rental Listings
   2. Pricing -
      1. Default rent and Default security deposit automatically pull from the property profile and can be changed here for marketing purposes
      2. Click on +Add charge to add additional one-time or recurring charges
   3. Search Criteria (used in lead tracking)
   4. Photos (upload, drag & drop, or share from the file library)
3. Under Publishing check:
   1. Publish Online Listing - To list the property on your website 
   2. Accept Online Applications - To display a link to your online application on listings on your website
   3. Enable Syndication - To send your listings to third-party sites such as Zillow, Trulia, and Apartments.com.
4. Under Resources - Click the links to view the current properties listing page, all advertised properties, or add your listing to Craigslist.

Learn more about Marketing Your Rental Through Online Listings and the Syndicated Sites

Send a Link to Your Application to Potential Tenants

When a potential tenant is interested in your available property, you can direct them to your website or send them a link to the application using the following steps.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Right-click on the property and select Marketing Info
3. Under Resources, right-click on This Property's Public Page for the specific property or All advertised properties, select copy link address, and send to the applicant

VIEW APPLICATIONS & PULL TENANT SCREENING REPORTS

1. You'll receive an email alert
   1. PM account emails will go to the Property Manager indicated in the Property profile
   2. Pro account emails will go to the email address located in Your Contact Info
2. On the Summary Page under Quick Access Links
3. On the Properties Page under Applications

Tenant Screening Reports can be pulled directly from online applications.

In your Rentec Direct account:

1. Click on Properties
2. Click on Applications
3. Click on the Application

4. Click on Order Background Check for each individual as needed

   

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) What if I want applicants to pay for screening fees?

If you require applicants to pay for their own screening and have the report provided to you, ensure that the fee is set to $0. There are several screening services to choose from, including RentPrep screening services and ApplyConnect

Q) What if I have a merchant account for ACH only?

If you initially chose ACH only and would like to add credit and debit card processing, please email your request to success@rentecdirect.com, and Rentec Direct's Success Team will be happy to assist you.