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:
Should You Rent to Section 8 Tenants? Pros & Cons of Section 8 for Landlords (Infographic)
Heard tales of guaranteed rent payments for landlords who rent to Section 8 tenants? Deposited by the government, and paying higher-than-market rents? If these stories perked up your ears, you’re not alone. Section 8 landlords can collect rents reliably, with fewer...
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Ep. #79 Invest in Mobile Home Parks? Are You Nuts?
Image Credit: Mike Smith and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons LicenceMost real estate investors never even consider buying mobile home parks. Which is why they're so profitable. Brian chats with Doug Harvey, a renaissance man who works a full-time job,...
Do Real Estate Investors Owe Self-Employment Taxes?
No one likes paying taxes. And that goes doubly for bootstrapping entrepreneurs trying to build income without the safety net of a W2 job. But Uncle Sam sees it differently. The IRS expects self-employed people to pay double FICA taxes, covering both the employee’s...
More Cities Upping Legal Liability for Landlords: 5 Tips to Protect Yourself
Years ago, I had a tenant who violated a zoning ordinance. Local laws prohibited placing barbecue grills on the rental property patios or porches. Mind you, this was not about use; it was about storage on the outside of the residential property. Well, guess who...
Ep. #78 Have $100? Try These 3 Real Estate Crowdfunding Investments
Image Credit: InvestmentZen under the Creative Commons LicenceLove the idea of investing in real estate, but don't have $30,000 for a down payment and closing costs? Try these three real estate crowdfunding investments, that let you invest as little as $10 or $100....





