Been a landlord for 12 yrs. Have 17 apts. Lots of experience. You need to go to MrLandlord.com. Great site with lots of info (as long as you ignore the right wing political bias of most posters
). You can sign up for on-line credit checks at that site. Once you get the paperwork in, you can get the credit report in seconds on the site for $9.95. The also do criminal checks and SS checks for more $.
I don't rely heavily on credit reports. I prefer landlord references but you have to be careful to make sure you are actually talking to the applicants landlord and not just a friend posing as one. Prior landlords, as opposed to current landlords, are more reliable references.
Familiarize yourself with your state's landlord/tenant laws. There are links at MrLandlord what will take you to those state laws.
I have had no problems splitting utilities in houses with one meter, including my own which has a small apt. in the back.
Never found a property management company I liked and I've worked for a number of them. A management company had picked the tenants for a property I purchased and they had chosen the worse possible tenants.
Federal laws are different if you are renting an apartment in your own house compared to renting apartments in a multi-unit in which you don't live. You have more flexibility.
Go to the question/answer board at MrLandlord for a good education.