Obviously you have never owned a rental property because, IMO, a potential tenant's references are essential before entrusting him or her with your valuable property.
i took a risk once with a 6 month lease to a person who was a manager in a well known corporation.
After 6 months there was over $4 K of damage not to mention weekly complaints by neighbours re noise.
From then I always employed a R/E agent to check references & rental history as well as credit ratings and that worked very well.
