I do not use a point type screening...and do this instead...
I start with a list of minimal rental criteria things, such as, income 3x the rent, employment & good rental history (no evictions no significant damages, no nuiscence police calls at past rentals) of at least 2 yrs, pets policy, a credit history of minimal late payments and collections, etc.
Then I develop phone screening questions to attempt to feel out the callers to seek if they might possibly meet or not meet my written rental criteria...and my questions are the open-ended type to get the caller to talk and possibly give me hints to determine whether or not to proceed further to show etc., such as...
What kind of work do you (and others who will live there). Obviously, a burger flipper will not meet my 3x income requirements.
When I run a credit and a criminal background check, will I find any negatative blips on the radar screen?
What kind of pets do you have? Phrasing it this way makes it sound to the caller that I "might" accept pets...and possibly making them feel it's ok to talk about their mastiff or pit bull...NOT....
Who else will be living in this rental besides you? Again, a non threatoning question to get them to tell how many.
When I contact your previous LLs, what will they tell me about you?
Why are you moving? When do you have to move?
The key is to ask questions to set them at ease, and to get them talking freely, while they little know that they are talking about themselves and telling me, i don't need to waste my time proceeding any further than this phone call.
IF...they pass the phone screening, I will attempt to set a time to show, at which time, I will ask some of the same questions again to compare, as well as to again get them to talk more....
For more info on phone screening, do a site search on this site on keywords-screening/rental criteria, etc...search the archives...lots more details available...
--68.236.xxx.xxx