Leasing & Onboarding New Renters
Everything you need to know about signing new lease agreements and onboarding new tenants.
Preparing to sign a lease agreement?
Don’t sign it lightly.
Have you collected rental applications from a large pool of candidates? Have you run credit, criminal and eviction reports on all applicants? Collected application fees or charged the screening reports to the renter, to verify they’re committed?
If you’ve done all that, and made all the phone calls to verify income, employment, housing history, etc., and you feel 100% rock solid about this tenant… now you need to make sure you have a defensive lease agreement.
Think of your lease agreement as your shield, your armor. Most state landlord-tenant laws are extremely tenant-friendly, and designed to protect the renter, not the landlord. That means you’re responsible for protecting yourself.
How do you do that? With a comprehensive, protective lease package. Read on for more details, and happy leasing!
“Required Reading” – Start Here First!
Want more? We have you covered! Here’s some further reading on lease agreements, security deposits, move-in and everything else you need to know about onboarding new renters.
Full Library of Leasing & New Tenancy Articles:
The Landlord’s Guide to Pet Deposits vs. Pet Rent vs. Pet Fees
I love animals. I have almost always had at least one pet in my home. Pets enrich our lives and provide unmatched companionship and unconditional love. Except for my cat, whose affection seems to depend on my filling his bowl—and, even then, often includes the use of...
Umbrella Insurance for Rental Properties: What Landlords Need to Know
I have a theory that nobody likes insurance. Don’t get me wrong, it’s important and often required by law or by lenders. But insurance is just so psychologically unsatisfying. I don’t know anyone who’s really excited to get their sweet new coverage. At best it gives...
Ep. #158: From Marine to Real Estate Millionaire: Greg Butcher’s Story
How do you go from military servicemember to millionaire real estate investor in a few short years? Greg Butcher explains exactly how he did it.Video Broadcast Version Audio Podcast Version Also available on iTunes, Stitcher, and wherever else you listen 🙂 Want to...
How One Couple Retired Early with a Single Rental Property to Sail Europe
Martha and Terry live the dream. They currently live on a houseboat, sailing the rivers of Europe. From the canals of Amsterdam to beautiful Strasbourg, France, the retired couple has enjoyed waterfront living all over Europe. How did they do it? And how can you do...
Ep. #157: Creative Real Estate Investing Tips with Chris Prefontaine
Want to earn high returns on real estate investments? Zig while other investors zag. Chris Prefontaine, AKA The Smart Real Estate Coach, offers some of his best actionable tips to creatively invest in real estate for lower risk and higher returns.Video Broadcast...
California Rent Control Laws (2024): State Rent Stabilization & Cities with Rent Control
Almost half of California's residents live in rentals. The cost of living, especially rental rates, has risen dramatically over the last two decades, creating some of the least affordable rental housing in the world in many California cities. California’s response?...






