Renting out your house can generate consistent monthly income and build long-term wealth, but being a landlord comes with responsibilities as well. By realistically assessing your goals, getting your property rent-ready, screening applicants, drafting solid rental agreements, managing maintenance issues promptly, and cultivating positive tenant relations, your rental investment can thrive and passively grow your assets over time.
Is Renting Right for You?
Use this guide to rent your house and weigh key considerations to determine if renting out your current or newly acquired property matches your financial objectives and lifestyle:
- Financial Goals: Will rental income sufficiently cover your mortgage payments and maintenance costs while also hitting target cash flow projections? Consider consulting a financial advisor to crunch the numbers across possible appreciation scenarios.
- Time Commitment: From conducting repairs to screening tenant applications, plan on dedicating 8–15 hours monthly to rental property oversight, even with a property management company assisting. Does your profession and family lifestyle afford these bandwidth hours?
- Risk Tolerance: Are you financially and emotionally ready to handle major maintenance issues like a broken HVAC system or lost income from vacancies? The risk gets balanced by sufficient cash reserves and insurance coverage.
- Local Market Conditions: A thriving local economy and robust rental demand suggest easier tenant placement while steadily increasing your rental rates over time. Leverage market data in your area.
Getting clear on your specific goals, budget, and appetite around the demands of being an independent landlord steers your ensuing preparation and planning.
Getting Your House Rent-Ready
With the decision made to proceed, optimize your property’s leasing desirability through:
- Deep Cleaning – Scrub surfaces, steam carpets, clear cobwebs, polish fixtures and sanitize appliances to make all rooms sparkle. First impressions matter greatly.
- Minor Repairs – Fill cracks, touch up paint, update hardware, and ensure everything works properly from drains to thermostats and appliances. Check local housing codes.
- Curb Appeal – Neat landscaping, swept walkways and a freshly painted front door render an inviting first impression encouraging tenant applications.
- Neutral Decor – Repaint loud or controversial wall colors to lighter neutral tones allowing tenant personalities and furniture to comfortably fill the space. Safe beats are memorable.
- Pest Control – Schedule regular treatments with Corky’s Pest Control to ensure the property is free of pests, providing a clean and safe environment for tenants.
First showing readiness attracts top-tier tenants able to reliably fulfill their lease terms.
Finding the Perfect Tenant
Your tenant screening rigor directly determines rental success. Prioritize selecting reliable, conscientious renters willing to properly maintain your property.
- Marketing Basics – List the property on multiple sites like Zillow, Trulia, and Craigslist to maximize visibility alongside yard signs. Leverage professional photography presenting the space in its best light while being factually accurate in descriptions.
- Screening Process – All applicants should formally apply including credit/background checks, current and former landlord references, and proof of sufficient income to confidently manage rental payments.
- Application Process – Using standardized screening templates ensures fair assessment of each submission side-by-side on criteria like credit scores, debt-to-income levels, criminal records if any, eviction history, employment longevity, and income stability.
- Tenant Interviews – Meet shortlisted candidates in person at the showing allowing you to further assess trustworthiness for final tenant selection. Conversations also set relationship tones. If possible, charge tenant screening fees to cut application spam.
Set minimum leasing requirements pre-listing then rigorously screen all interested parties for precedent safety. The time invested prevents major troubles down the road.
Drafting a Clear Lease Agreement
Clarify all rental expectations, obligations, and policies in writing through a comprehensive lease agreement:
- Rental Term – Standard initial lease terms span 12 months with a clause detailing renewal procedures, typically converting to month-to-month absent notice. Build flexibility for both parties.
- Monthly Rent – State dues dates (1st of month common) and accepted payment methods per local laws. Require autopay. Note if any utilities reside with the tenant (vs. owner) to prevent confusion.
- Security Deposit – Collect 1-2 months’ rent as a security deposit refundable following lease termination minus damages deductions, if any. Outline legal usage allowances like accrued interest in certain states.
- Permitted Uses – Clarify if tenants can drill holes, paint walls, modify landscaping or gardens, operate businesses from the property, own pets, park RVs, or reasonable restrictions. Disclose pertinent HOA bylaws.
- Maintenance Responsibilities: – Spell out which party handles various repairs like appliances, fixtures, general maintenance, landscaping duties, pest treatments, and related costs if not stated upfront.
- Pet Policy – Specify numbers, sizes, breeds allowed, and any deposits required to cover additional wear and tear or cleaning come move out.
- Both parties should initial all pages confirming full understanding before signing. Keep records safe throughout and following the full tenure.
Property Management Essentials
While tenant selection sets the foundation, consistent oversight preserving great tenant relations ensures a smoothly running building residents happily call home, including:
- Rent Collection – Communicate expected due dates and grace periods. Send friendly payment reminders before applying late fees per state laws. Offer modern payment mechanisms.
- Maintenance/Repairs – Respond promptly as issues arise. Provide 24/7 contact methods for emergencies. Leverage a cost-effective handyman to contain expenses.
- Property Inspections – Complete annual inspections assessing damage or leaks. Schedule visits in advance at convenient times to maintain mutual trust.
- Record Keeping – Maintain thorough electronic documentation around lease contracts, transactions, maintenance records, safety certifications, tenant communications, and related matters.
Staying organized and responsive regarding property obligations maintains positive interactions on both sides.
Building Great Tenant Relations
Cultivating reciprocal appreciation and good rapport with tenants establishes a constructive long-term relationship rooted in mutual respect and understanding:
- Be Responsive – Replies to maintenance requests, alarm notifications, or operating inquiries within 24 hours, even if just confirming issue receipt and the next steps planned.
- Be Respectful – All interactions remain professional and courteous in both word and deed, setting clear boundaries while also emphasizing you value each tenant.
- Be Clear – Provide tenants ample notice regarding property access needs for repairs/inspections, clarifying the next steps after assessments and the reasons behind any lease policy updates.
- Show Appreciation – Verbal or written acknowledgment when observing tenants properly caring for the property or referring responsible friends/family for vacant units builds lasting connections.
- Remain Reasonable – Compromise when possible on minor lease violations if tenants proactively notify you before issues escalate further.
- Address Issues Early – Initially, minimal concerns inevitably compound if left unresolved. Proactively resolve disputes through open dialogue, not legal threats.
Conclusion
While becoming a landlord certainly involves responsibilities and occasional frustrations, the financial and asset-building incentives make rental property ownership well worth the effort for most. The keys lie in sufficient preparation, rigorous tenant screening, transparent agreements, prompt issue resolution, and maintaining mutually considerate relations once leasing commences. Over time, the income generated by content tenants occupies less work than initial setup demands. Allowing a property management company to field tenant queries and coordinate maintenance offsets of the lift for busy owners. Either way, diligently addressing duties on the front and back end makes renting out your house a wealth-building endeavor that runs smoothly with minimal stress.
