The ins and outs of property management in Chesapeake, VA can be tricky, and one of the trickiest aspects of renting is finding the right tenant. People tend to put on their best faces when meeting property owners, so how can you be sure that the person you're entering into a lease with will be responsible and take care of your investment? Here are a few ways to evaluate a prospective tenant.   Every prospective tenant should fill out a rental and credit history application. Be wary of any prospective tenant who leaves large amounts of the application blank, like the employment or rental history sections, for instance.   Pay attention at the first meeting with a prospective tenant. Is he or she polite, well-kempt, and respectful? The prospective tenant should come to the meeting prepared with any paperwork or documents that may be needed. This is a good sign of a responsible tenant. If he or she starts pointing out small or nonexistent flaws in the property in an attempt to lower the rent, you may have trouble with them down the road, so be wary.   Don't forget to thoroughly check all the references the prospective tenant gives you. Following up on their previous rental history will give you a good idea of what kind of tenant he or she is. Remember to ask if the prospective tenant paid rent on time and kept the property in good shape.   If you'd rather steer clear of the whole tenant-screening process in the first place, hire property management in Chesapeake, VA to take care of all your landlord-related duties for you. You can simply relax and enjoy the fruits of your investment!