Clara vs. SmartMove: The Best Tenant Screening Tool for Small Landlords

Landlords, property managers, and real estate investors - finding the right tenant is one of the most important steps in managing your rental property. Whether it’s a cozy duplex or a spacious family home, selecting the ideal person to rent your property means more than just collecting rent - it’s about ensuring your investment is in responsible hands. A reliable tenant keeps your property secure and well-maintained, giving you peace of mind.

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The key to finding that ideal renter? A strong screening process. In today’s digital-first world, the right online platform can help you make informed decisions with confidence and ease. That’s where Rent with Clara and SmartMove (TransUnion) come in.

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In this post, we’ll provide a clear comparison of both platforms, including their features, costs, and benefits. By the end, you’ll know which platform is the better fit for your rental needs. Let’s dive into this transparent, side-by-side analysis to help you make the best choice for your rental business.

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Overview: Clara vs. SmartMove at a Glance

What is Clara?

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Think of Clara as your modern, all-in-one digital assistant for finding tenants. It’s a seamless digital rental application and screening platform designed to make life easier for both you, the landlord, and your prospective renters. Clara isn't just about collecting data; it's about curating a secure, consolidated hub of applicant information.

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For property owners like yourself, Clara is more than just a screening tool. It’s a gateway to a pool of highly qualified and meticulously verified renters. It's built to remove the headache (and financial risk!) of fraudulent applications, helping you zero in on that ideal renter quickly, efficiently, and with a comforting sense of confidence. 

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What is SmartMove?

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SmartMove, brought to you by the credit giant TransUnion, is a specialized tenant screening platform. Its primary mission is straightforward: give independent landlords and smaller property owners access to the same caliber of renter credit, eviction, and criminal reports that larger property management companies typically use.

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Essentially, SmartMove democratizes powerful tenant screening tools. It’s designed to help you make educated leasing decisions by leveraging TransUnion’s vast data and analytics. SmartMove prides itself on being a "consumer-initiated service," meaning the potential tenant actively participates in releasing their data, which offers certain privacy benefits for the applicant and simplifies the paperwork for you.

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Clara vs. SmartMove: Feature-by-Feature Breakdown
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Let's examine how these two tenant screening platforms compare across the features that matter most to independent landlords managing smaller portfolios.
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Application Experience & Workflow
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Clara

Clara offers a streamlined, mobile-first application process designed for today's on-the-go landlords. Tenants receive a link to complete their application and reports, which works seamlessly on any device without downloading an app.

The entire workflow is optimized for speed and simplicity, with clear status updates and notifications keeping both landlords and applicants informed throughout the process.

SmartMove

SmartMove uses a more traditional application approach where landlords must enter tenant email addresses into the system, which then sends applicants a link to complete their screening. The process is functional but less streamlined for mobile users.

The workflow requires a separate application process and more back-and-forth between landlords and applicants, which can slow down the application process.

Fraud & Identity Protection

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Clara

Now, this is where Clara truly stands out among screening services. Clara partners with advanced security and encryption tools (think bank-level security) to verify vital information.

This isn’t just about checking a box; it’s about confirming identification documents, names, dates of birth, and ID numbers with robust verification.

The platform uses a multi-factor authentication process that includes:

• Government ID verification with facial recognition matching
• Employment status verification through payroll providers
• Cross-referencing personal information across multiple databases

This comprehensive approach makes Clara particularly effective at preventing increasingly common rental application fraud, giving independent landlords peace of mind when approving new tenants.

SmartMove

SmartMove relies on more traditional identity verification methods, primarily using knowledge-based authentication (KBA) questions derived from credit history.

While effective for basic verification, this approach is more vulnerable to sophisticated fraud attempts.

The platform's identity verification includes:

• Knowledge-based authentication questions
• SSN verification against credit bureau records
• Address history matching

While these methods provide a baseline level of protection, they lack the direct financial institution verification that Clara offers, potentially leaving landlords more exposed to sophisticated application fraud.

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Income Verification

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Clara	SmartMove
Clara stands out with its real-time income verification through direct payroll connections. Rather than relying on self-reported income or estimates, Clara verifies actual gross income from the applicant's connected accounts.	SmartMove uses an income estimation model based on employment data and credit history rather than direct verification. While convenient, this approach provides less certainty about an applicant's actual financial situation.
This approach provides several advantages: Verification of actual income and employment status Detection of document tampering or other modifications that might be missed in traditional verification Immediate results without waiting for document processing Reduced risk of falsified pay stubs or income data	SmartMove's income verification includes: Income estimation based on reported employment Correlation with credit utilization patterns Self-reported income documentation Manual review of uploaded pay stubs (which can be falsified)
Clara's income verification is legitimate. You're getting verified income, not just reported income – a huge differentiator that provides unparalleled peace of mind.	This estimation-based approach is faster than traditional manual verification but lacks the accuracy and fraud protection of Clara's direct bank verification method.

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Credit & Background Checks

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Clara	SmartMove
Both Clara and SmartMove use TransUnion for credit data, but Clara presents this information in a more user-friendly format.	SmartMove provides comprehensive credit data that includes detailed financial information beyond what's strictly necessary for rental decisions.
The credit report focuses specifically on factors that predict rental payment reliability: Easy-to-read summary with full credit report and detailed credit history FICO Score	While thorough, this can sometimes overwhelm independent landlords with excess information: Full credit report with detailed account information ResidentScore® (rental-specific credit score)
Clara's background check covers criminal history across all 50 states and includes eviction records with a clean, easy-to-understand summary that highlights relevant rental risks without overwhelming landlords with unnecessary details.	SmartMove's background check is similarly comprehensive but presents information in a more technical format that can require more time to interpret. The criminal and eviction data is thorough but not always presented with clear rental relevance indicators.

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Pricing Model

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Usability & Support

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Clara vs. SmartMove: Side-by-Side Comparison

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This comparison table highlights the key differences between Clara and SmartMove to help you quickly identify which platform better suits your needs as an independent landlord.

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Clara vs. SmartMove: Which is Right for Your Rental Business?

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When it comes to picking the champion for your rental screening needs, both Clara and SmartMove are undoubtedly strong contenders. They both leverage TransUnion data for credit and background checks, offering reliable insights into potential tenants.

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However, if we’re looking for the platform that offers the most robust application, multi-layer verification, the most landlord-friendly pricing, and a truly comprehensive digital experience, Clara takes the crown.

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Why Clara Shines Brighter:

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• Zero Cost to Landlords: This is a huge win. Not having to pay a dime for comprehensive screening means your rental income goes further. It’s a simple economic advantage that makes Clara incredibly attractive.
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• Verified Income and Identity Data: This is where Clara shines. The ability to directly access and verify income via payroll providers, combined with robust identity verification, is invaluable. SmartMove's "Income Insights Report" is helpful, but it's an estimation, not a direct verification. Clara reduces the risk of fraud and gives you unparalleled confidence in a tenant's financial stability.
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• Full 360 Digital Application: Clara offers a complete, integrated application and screening process that’s seamless from start to finish, benefiting both you and the applicant.

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Where SmartMove Holds Its Own (but isn't quite enough)

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SmartMove is an excellent tool, particularly for independent landlords who want direct access to TransUnion's powerful data. Its Resident Score is a clever innovation, and the consumer-initiated process (soft inquiry for the applicant) is a considerate feature. It also offers a cost-effective alternative to larger, custom-built solutions. However, the fact that you, the landlord, pay per applicant, and that its income verification is an estimation rather than a direct, verified link, puts it a step behind Clara's comprehensive, free-to-landlord model. Additionally, with SmartMove, you still need to ask renters to complete a rental application outside the system, adding extra steps to the process.

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In conclusion, while both services are reputable and will certainly elevate your tenant screening game, Clara offers a superior blend of features, particularly in its advanced income and identity verification, all wrapped up in a package that costs you absolutely nothing. For long-term peace of mind, reduced risk, and maximum efficiency in your rental business, Clara is the clear choice. It’s time to find your ideal renter with confidence, and Clara is here to help you do just that!

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"After trying both platforms, I switched to Clara because it gives me exactly what I need as a landlord with 7 units. The mobile interface saves me time, and the income verification through Argyle has already helped me avoid one fraudulent application that might have slipped through with traditional screening."

— Michael T., Independent Landlord

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Conclusion

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After comparing Clara and SmartMove across all key features, Clara emerges as the clear winner for independent landlords managing smaller portfolios. Its purpose-built design addresses the specific challenges faced by DIY landlords, with superior fraud prevention, real-time income verification, and a user-friendly interface that works seamlessly on smartphones.

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While SmartMove offers comprehensive screening capabilities, its broader focus and more complex approach make it less ideal for independent landlords who value simplicity, transparency, and mobile accessibility. Clara's straightforward pricing and landlord-focused report presentation provide exactly what small landlords need without unnecessary complexity.

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For independent landlords looking to screen tenants quickly, accurately, and with confidence, Clara offers the most effective solution on the market today.

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