Successful Screening

Colliers International Saskatchewan

By Lee Ann Stiff on Aug 14, 2019 in News, Technology

Colliers International Group Inc. is a global real estate services company operating in 68 countries. Colliers International Saskatchewan (Colliers) in Canada manages some of the top multi-unit residential rental properties in Saskatoon, Regina, Weyburn and Moose Jaw.

With offices in Regina and Saskatoon using different methods to screen applicants, Colliers was spending excess time and money to secure residents — and needed a consistent screening process to mitigate risk and support its leasing goals.

Without transparency into screening data, the company also did not have access to performance analytics to help with business decisions.

Then Colliers started using Yardi Resident Screening.

“With Yardi Resident Screening, we can approve quality applicants in minutes,” said Leigh Anne Cripps, corporate project manager for Colliers.

Selecting quality residents

According to Cripps, the company chose Yardi Resident Screening for the cost savings along with its direct data flow into Yardi Voyager that provides total transparency into Collier’s screening and leasing performance.

“In our Regina office we didn’t have a process for credit checks, which slowed down approvals and leasing. Once we rolled Yardi Resident Screening out in Saskatoon to automate screening and rental recommendations, we also decided to roll it out in Regina to create a consistent process across our offices,” said Cripps.

With Yardi Resident Screening, applicants are promptly and automatically screened and rental recommendations are delivered within minutes. As a result, Collier’s onsite staff can lease confidently without the pressure of having to further research and then decide to approve or reject applicants.

Devri Robertson, administration manager for Colliers in its Regina office, is not always able to be onsite to meet prospects. “With Yardi Resident Screening and its comprehensive background checks and credit data, there is an extra layer of security for the company in the leasing process. Now we have better visibility and know exactly who we are renting to,” said Robertson.

In addition to quickly approving low-risk applicants so Colliers can sign leases faster, Yardi Resident Screening also helps the company reduce operational costs.

Saving money

For its Saskatoon office, Cripps noted a savings of five dollars per credit check compared with its previous screening method, which means a total savings of up to $500 per month for that office alone.

Cripps also mentioned the value of Yardi Resident Screening reports.

“The monthly reports from Yardi Resident Screening are a great way to review all applicants and see how the decisions to approve or reject are made. With that information, we can revisit the system settings and tweak any criteria we feel is too lenient or too stringent,” added Cripps.

Learn more about Yardi Resident Screening and Yardi’s other industry-leading solutions for multifamily property management.