Landlord Tips: Top 7 Tips That New Landlords Must Know

Brad Smith • March 24, 2021

Being a landlord can be quite challenging, especially when you are a new landlord.


Some important landlord tasks are:


  • Collecting rent online


  • Finding and screening tenants


  • Creating and following a rental agreement

7 Important Landlord Tips

Here are the top 7 tips for first-time landlords:

  • Finding tenants online:

    Most tenants search for their next apartment online. The most effective way to find tenants is by creating an online rental listing. A rental listing that advertises your requirements and highlights your best features is the best way to attract good tenants who will:
  1. Pay rent on time
  2. Take care of the rental property

  • Setting the right rent price:

    To set the right rent price, you should research your market to know the fair market rent price in your area. Pricing
    your rental at rent price means the difference between vacancies and attracting good renters so you can quickly rent your property. To compare your rental income to costs, you need to list your fixed and estimated expenses. By comparing income to expenses, you can more easily see how the rent price affects your monthly revenue.

  • Enforcing and following the rules:

    Your
    rental agreement will lose its importance if you do not enforce rules the proper rules. If you do not enforce rules, tenants will notice and might take advantage of your leniency. The most important rule you should enforce is your late rent fee. 

  • Having a written rental agreement:

    Having a written rental agreement is the best way to:

  1. Express your expectations
  2. Protect yourself in legal situations

    It can create a good landlord-tenant relationship. It provides timeline stipulations and sets up a process for your response to tenants who have property issues.


  • Keeping digital records of everything:

    As a landlord, you must keep records of everything such as:

  1. Rent receipts
  2. Deposit receipts
  3. Maintenance receipts
  4. Landlord-tenant communications

    It is a wise idea to have evidence to back up your claims. Manage your business professionally by keeping good records. Keeping records digitally is the most up-to-date and organized way.

  • Creating and following tenant screening:

    The main goal of tenant screening is finding good tenants who will pay the rent on time and take care of your property. Look for the renters who:
  1. Have no criminal history
  2. Can pay in full each month
  3. Have a good rental background

    Filter out responsible tenants from the several applications you may receive to select good tenants.


  • Treating rental property like a business:
    Managing the
    rental property is a business and an additional source of income. The best ways to run a successful rental property business are:
  1. Being professional
  2. Preventing tenant issues 
  3. Following the state laws
  4. Keeping your finances in mind
  5. Protecting yourself from liability

    Before the renters move in, it is important to keep your finances intact and perform a thorough screening of tenants.

Consclusion

Being a first-time landlord is a lot and you will probably get overwhelmed. But it is all a part of the growing process, so you should embrace it instead of resisting it.


From managing your rental property business, finding tenants, and collecting rent, every step along the way matters. With the right landlord tips, being a landlord will not be challenging.

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