CIC Empowers Renters with Product Enhancements to ApplyConnect, Consumer-Initiated Tenant Screening

    LANCASTER, CA, April 04, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- CIC, the nation's premier tenant screening firm is pleased to announce a major product enhancement this week to ApplyConnect, a revolutionary tenant screening solution that delivers comprehensive reports at no cost to landlords and real estate agents, while empowering the applicant through a consumer-initiated process.

ApplyConnect is the only product of its kind to empower renters by allowing them to initiate the process, select who they would like to share the report with, and view the report before opting to share it with a landlord or real estate agent. Through CIC's exclusive partnership with Experian, renters now have the ability to take control of their tenant screening reports during the rental application process.

Once an applicant has decided on a property, they can immediately initiate the tenant screening process by creating an account, pay for the report and agree to share it. ApplyConnect eliminates the need for the initial request for the report to come from the landlord or real estate agent. The renter decides who gets to see the report and when. It further simplifies the process and allows the tenant screening to be completed more efficiently.

"Today's renters are much more technically savvy, cautious of protecting their identity and desirous of controlling the rental experience. ApplyConnect places the rental applicant in the driver's seat by both initiating the screening process and the ability to review their tenant background check prior to the agent. It is the first product of its kind to truly empower the renter," explained CIC president, Sabrina Bower.

There are no setup fees, and no onsite inspection is required to use ApplyConnect. With traditional tenant screening services, the time it takes for a credit reporting agency to establish an account can range from several days to a week. ApplyConnect is available online, 24-7 to renters, landlords and real estate agents at their convenience. This one-of-a-kind system delivers the credit report, nationwide eviction, criminal and sex offender search within seconds of an applicant purchasing the report.

Not all tenant screening solutions are created equal and can work with individuals with minimal credit history. But by using ApplyConnect, the VantageScore 3.0 is able to generate a score based on less information than other credit scoring models, such as FICO, allowing for approximately 35 million more consumers to be scored.

Not only does ApplyConnect simplify tenant screening, but as a consumer-initiated product, it is the first of its kind to deliver all the elements needed to evaluate a potential renter's credit report and tenant background check with zero impact on the applicant's credit score. The credit check is considered a soft inquiry as the applicant initiates the process to share their credit report with a real estate agent or landlord.

Thoroughly examining an applicant's credit report and background check can help mitigate the risk of unwanted scenarios, such as late rental payments and property damage. As the rental market continues to see growth, ApplyConnect will continue to help real estate agents and landlords fill their vacancies quicker and with qualified renters, saving time and money through free and comprehensive tenant screening.

For more information about the benefits of ApplyConnect for landlords and real estate agents, please visit www.ApplyConnect.com.

About CIC

Founded in 1986, CIC is a leading nationwide provider of data solutions for Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), property managers, housing authorities, apartment associations, real estate agents and independent rental owners throughout the U.S. For nearly three decades, CIC has leveraged the use of technology to deliver the most reliable and comprehensive information to clients, and continues to do so, today. By delivering quality affordable data solutions to the multifamily housing industry, CIC is proud to provide clients with applicant information they can trust giving them The Power of Decision. For more information about CIC's solutions including tenant screening, employment screening, wholesale data, screening platforms and property management tools & software, please visit www.CICReports.com or call 888-316-4242.

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