How WPM Real Estate Doubled Its Onboarding Capacity with Faster Background Checks
When WPM switched to Checkr, background checks began returning the same day, helping the HR team expand onboarding capacity.
WPM is a Maryland-based real estate management company that oversees multifamily residential properties, townhomes, HOA communities, and business parks. With roughly 550 employees, WPM’s HR team manages recruiting, onboarding, and background screening for roles across property management, maintenance, and field services.
Real Estate Management
~550 Employees
Key results
- Doubled onboarding capacity, from 4–6 new hires per orientation to as many as 10, supported by a newly built training area
- Background checks that previously took up to six months now resolve the same day in most cases
- Account configuration issues were resolved the same day
- Candidate complaints about the screening process disappeared after switching providers
- Rippling integration launched with minimal effort from WPM’s HR team
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From long delays and poor support to a better candidate experience
WPM’s HR team used its previous background screening provider until late 2024. While the screening process itself seemed standard, the day-to-day experience was far more difficult. Most criminal background checks came back within 7 to 10 days, but delays could stretch much longer, creating uncertainty for the hiring team and slowing onboarding.
When Stephanie Murray, HR Coordinator, asked for updates, she often received the same explanation: a courthouse had experienced a security breach, so there was little visibility into timing. Support tickets could sit for one to three weeks before generating a response that, in her words, “almost looked like AI had written it.”
“The customer service piece was so lacking in any sort of human aspect. If we needed assistance, you would get an AI chatbot, and that was it.”
The drug screening experience created even more friction. Candidates were given a pass and directed to a PDF list of testing locations, many of which were closed or no longer operating. If a candidate missed a screening, WPM had to restart the entire package. Several new hires told the HR team the process was frustrating before they even started their jobs.
Stephanie was frank about the experience candidates were having: “We had more than a couple candidates say to us, ‘We’re really excited to start here, but this was really unpleasant.’ I almost felt like we had to apologize on their behalf.”
Why WPM chose Checkr
After selecting Rippling as its new HRIS, WPM needed a background check provider that could integrate seamlessly with it. WPM’s Rippling representative recommended Checkr, and after a brief evaluation, the team decided to move forward. From there, the setup was remarkably simple—Checkr handled the integration, user setup, and implementation, so the HR team didn’t have to manage a complex rollout or learn a new system on their own.
That simplicity extended into the day-to-day experience, with several features that made the transition especially valuable for WPM’s team:
- Launch directly in Rippling, eliminating the need to log into a separate system and helping keep hiring moving
- Flexible screening for existing employees moving into roles with different requirements
- Easily order à la carte screenings, reducing the back-and-forth required with the previous provider
How faster screening increased hiring capacity
The improvement in turnaround times did more than solve occasional delays. It changed what WPM could support operationally. Background checks that once created scheduling bottlenecks began clearing quickly enough for the team to expand its onboarding process.
Originally, WPM ran orientations for 4 to 6 people at a time. After switching to Checkr, the team built a new training area and increased that number to 10. Faster screening made that investment worthwhile.
Responsive support when it mattered
The speed of Checkr's support team became apparent early on in a situation that could have delayed hiring.
At one point, Stephanie noticed that WPM’s account was missing a standalone MVR package, which is required when the service division assigns vehicles to employees. She reached out to Checkr for help and quickly received confirmation that the team was already working on a solution.
Within two hours, the package had been added. Stephanie ran the MVR, and the results came back before the end of the day.
“I’ve never seen that kind of turnaround before. Checkr’s support team responded right away, fixed the issue within hours, and we had results back before the day was over.”
Highlights: Favorite features
- Fast turnaround that removed a longstanding hiring bottleneck
- Standalone MVR package for field service employees assigned company vehicles
- Rippling integration fully implemented by Checkr’s team with minimal configuration required from WPM
Since switching to Checkr, WPM’s HR team has gone from apologizing for its screening process to crediting it with a meaningful increase in hiring capacity.
