How to Turn Your Property into a Long-Term Rental

Suzie Wilson • Feb 19, 2021
rental investment home for landlord


If it’s time for you to move out of your property, your first thought might be to sell it. However, if you have the means and time to turn it into a long-term rental property, doing so can be a huge boon. With a rental management company like Century 21 Haggerty on your side, you can make the most of this opportunity. Here’s how to get started: 


Research the Process


You should never go into an investment without a solid understanding of how the process works and if the investment is right for you. So, it’s important to take some time to ensure it’s your best option. In many cases, selling can be a
better choice, especially if you’re not prepared to take on the work that comes hand-in-hand with running a rental. 


There are also ways to mitigate some of that work. For example, hiring a property management company like Century 21 Haggerty can take all of the work off your plate, and it can go a long way toward making it easier and
more manageable — especially for beginners. As a first-time landlord, there is bound to be a world of legal issues and best practices you don’t yet know. Having a property management team on your side can help you learn to navigate this world with confidence. 


Protect Yourself 


Whenever you begin a landlord-tenant relationship, you open yourself up to potential legal troubles. Although most leases go off without a hitch, it’s important to be prepared for the ones that don’t. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself in such an event. The first is to
establish an LLC. Once you have this designation, create a bank account for your LLC and only use those funds for your business. This creates a layer of legal separation between your personal assets and business assets that can be invaluable if you ever face litigation. 


On the same note, find a solid
landlord-tenant attorney you can turn to for advice and have on call if you ever have issues. You’ll need one on your side to help you create rental agreements, ensure you provide all the proper paperwork, and, if necessary, serve and enforce evictions. Developing this relationship from the start will put you in a far better position if a lawyer ever becomes urgently necessary. Alternatively, you can hire a property management company to assist you with any problems or issues that may arise during the rental process.


Focus on Marketability 


Once you’ve decided to get started in property rental and you’ve started the basic steps to protect yourself and your assets, it’s time to look toward making your property as
attractive to renters as possible. There are many steps you can take to do this, and many strategies that will work. For most landlords, it’s a matter of combining the methods that make the most sense for your situation. 


For example, you can make your property attractive by offering a lower rent relative to the surrounding area. Too low isn’t wise — you don’t want to undercut anyone (including yourself) by offering a property below its fair value. However, if you take some time to investigate the rental rates for properties similar to yours in your area, you can get a sense of the range. Picking a number on the lower end of that range can boost your appeal. 


However, it likely won’t boost your profits. If you do want to set your rates a little higher, take some time to think about how to make your property worth that price point. Do you have high-quality appliances? Do you offer any amenities? Is your property in (or within a short walk of) a highly desirable area?
These kinds of features can help you justifiably set a higher price point without dashing your hopes of capturing a renter’s attention. 


If it’s the right fit for your circumstances, property rentals can be a great way to generate income while simultaneously allowing your property to continue to grow in value to sell down the line. It takes a lot of work and comes with risks, but it can easily be a solid investment that provides rewards for years to come. Make your investment property journey easier by turning to Century 21 Haggerty for your property management needs.
Get in touch today. (915) 757-3445 


Photo Credit:
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customer service between tenant and landlord
By Rob Carrillo 01 Dec, 2020
Property Managers often have to work a balance towards pleasing clients that don't always share a common goal. Where you have a real estate investor who is trying to accomplish maximum returns while maintaining little expense, you in turn have a tenant who wants great value with affordable rent. Excellent customer service can be an effective way to accomplish getting your tenants the value that they want all while producing those ROI(return on investment) numbers that your rental property owners are looking for. Cutting Corners Unfortunately too many landlords often look towards cutting corners that only end up hurting them in the long run. Often we find landlords that forego hiring a professional property management company and try to go it alone so that they can avoid paying property management fees . Not only do they soon find themselves stuck within an industry that involves state and federal laws that they are not entirely aware of, but they also will realize that their rental property and their tenants require frequent upkeep and communication. Ignoring a tenant leads to bad blood and quickly sours a relationship. And ignoring an investment property 's needs often leads to increased costs down the road that could have been avoidable. Bring in Professionals Mismanagement and bad customer service leads to a cycle of short tenancies, more vacancies and a loss in revenue. The more investment savvy rental property owner will look towards a professional property management company, like Century 21 Haggerty Property Management, to help improve customer service and tenant relations with advanced tools that allows for constant communication, easy rent payment options, quick work order turnovers and other tenant benefits. They also provide the owners with added benefits such as deferred maintenance inspections which not only checks-in on the tenants, but will also help to catch any hidden maintenance issues that have the potential to grow into a much more expensive issue if not tended to. 
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