So! your going to rent your home:
While renting your house out may seem as easy as posting an ad on Craigslist, we highly recommend that you set aside plenty of time and money to prepare for you new business venture before you leap into the world of finding and managing tenants and property. Here are 7 essential steps that every new landlord should take:
1. Get the right Insurance Policy
Purchasing landlord insurance (also known as rental property insurance or investment property insurance) is one of the most important steps to take before renting your home. In addition to the things covered in a typical homeowner’s policy, landlord insurance will protect you from any major damage done by tenants, as well as from legal actions they may take against you. Be aware, and make your tenants aware, that rental property insurance will not cover your tenant’s personal property—they’ll need to purchase rental insurance to cover their possessions.
2. Enlist a qualified Accountant
Assuming you’re not an accountant or deeply familiar with rental tax laws, it would be wise to enlist an accountant that is familiar with investment property accounting to help you sort through the tax implications of renting your house. An accountant will help you figure out what records you’ll need to keep in order to navigate Schedule E come tax time. He or she can also help you figure out how to minimize your tax bill by helping you choose the right depreciation strategy.
3. Have a Lawyer Review your Lease Agreement
A real estate lawyer can help ensure that your lease agreement does not contain any illegal provisions, while also protecting you from the financial harm that could result from tenants exploiting loopholes in your agreement. A good lease agreement will specify the ways tenants can and cannot use the property, how many people can occupy the rental, what insurance is required, who is responsible for paying utilities, and what will happen if the tenant doesn’t uphold his or her obligations.
4. Establish Criteria for a Tenant
Its important to work within Fair Housing Act guidelines, outline a set of criteria your rental applicants will need to meet, and put these down on paper to hand out to potential tenants when you show them the property. These criteria should include acceptable monthly income levels and credit scores and the number of tenants who may occupy the house. You should also clearly lay out your smoking and pet policies.
5. Get Your Paperwork and Forms Ready
Beyond the lease agreement, there are a number of forms you’ll need to have on hand before renting your house out. These include rental applications, credit check authorization forms, any disclosures your state requires, move in checklists, move out forms, and various notices and letters to tenants.
6. Get a Home Inspection
Having your home inspected by a professional will help you fix any critical maintenance issues before your tenants move in. This will help protect you from potential legal issues, while also saving you from having to answer multiple maintenance phone calls within the first few weeks of renting your property. Having home inspections both before a tenant moves in and after he or she moves out will also provide third-party documentation of any damage caused by the tenant.
7. Clean, Paint, and Landscape
There’s no substitute for a through deep cleaning and a fresh coat of paint when it comes to brightening the interior of your rental home. While trendy upgrades may be optional, if you want to attract the most qualified tenants, this basic rental hygiene is required. Likewise, it’s important to make sure that the lawn and garden surrounding your rental house is neat and tidy before you post the “For Rent” sign.
There is a lot more to it than you thought right? If you have a house to rent you may want to consider hiring a professional management company to take care all of this. Most management companies charge a percentage of the monthly rent (always do your homework before hiring anyone) and have the knowledge to protect your investment. Find a local professional property manager .
Good luck!!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
