By Paul Gerber
Employee background checks are crucial in every industry, but job duties related to self-storage operations pose additional risks that warrant thorough checks be conducted prior to hiring a candidate. This is particularly true when hiring a facility manager or assistant manager. Following is a list of typical job duties related to self-storage property management and the recommended background checks that correlate to those job functions.
Sales and customer service
If employees are going to be interacting with customers, you’ll want to make sure they are representing your company appropriately and that customers are safe in their presence. As an employer, it’s your responsibility to screen employees for criminal history so that you’re not held liable for an employee’s misconduct on the job.
Rent payments, collections and bank deposits
Obviously, handling finances is a major responsibility. Every year businesses lose thousands of dollars to employee theft. If an applicant will be handling cash and finances, you may be able to run a credit check, but keep in mind many states restrict employer access to credit. Another option is to run a criminal report checking for any history of theft.
Security and site inspections
Maintaining security by making periodic inspections of the property to make sure units are locked and untampered is a normal task for most self-storage managers. To ensure your property asset is in good hands, you must hire someone with experience and a clean record. Operators should verify an employee’s previous employment history and check references to make sure any job candidates have a history of responsibly dealing with security measures.
Multi-location responsibilities
If managers will be splitting time between multiple locations, they’ll have to drive from one property to another. In this case, you may want to check that they have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record. Any steps you can take to prove your due diligence as an employer can help protect your company in the case of an accident on the job. This is especially important if managers will be using a company car for travel or if they are reimbursed for gas.
A one-size-fits-all background check doesn’t necessarily work for every job opening. Depending on the size of the operation, each position can have job duties that require different types of background checks. Generally, though, if your employee will be handling finances, security, and/or face-to-face interactions, you’ll want to run a thorough, nationwide criminal background check with a reputable company.
Paul Gerber is director of business development at Application Research Inc., parent company of AGoodEmployee.com, and specializes in background screening for the property-management industry. Paul joined Application Research in 2008 and has more than 40 years of people-management experience. He previously served as vice president and sales manager for a large real estate developer in Los Angeles and chief financial officer for a national mortgage-servicing firm.