10 Rent Collection Mistakes New Landlords Make
Rent collection is probably going to be one of your most gratifying responsibilities as a landlord. It’s a deceptively simple practice—all you…
With Luxury Housing Down, Are Houston Rents Rising?
Houston’s rankings as a real estate market have been on a rollercoaster ride over the last several years. Back in 2014, before oil prices crashed, the city was ranked first in PwC and the Urban Land Institute’s Emerging Trends survey, then subsequently took a tumble, and this year has landed in the middle of the… [Read More]
Choosing Your Top Tenant Applications: Who Stands Out?
The rental applications have come flooding in and it’s time to start reviewing them – but what should you look for? Too often, guides to the tenant selection process focus on red flags and while those are important, you want great tenants, not just acceptable ones. At the end of the day, red flags don’t… [Read More]
What to Do When Your Texas Tenant Doesn’t Pay Rent
The profitability of your rental property depends on your major source of income—rent from tenants. If all goes well, you’ll be able to collect rent, reliably, on a monthly basis, in excess of your ongoing expenses. You’ll easily meet all your ongoing costs, with a bit left over to serve as profit, all while your… [Read More]
Should You Offer “First Month” Deals on Rent to Attract New Tenants in Houston?
You’ve probably seen ads offering reduced rent, free rent, or other discounts to tenants for the first month. Discounts are a central part of marketing and if you can offer a deal, why not?
Should You Allow Vaping in Your Katy, Texas Rental Property?
Allowing tenants to smoke cigarettes inside your property can destroy your ability to rent or resell your property. Cigarette smoke sticks to walls, drapes, carpet, and even ceiling tiles in a form of sticky residue. This sticky residue, known as “third-hand smoke,” can linger for years unless it’s intentionally cleaned up.
6 Tips to Foster Healthy Communication With Your Tenants
Effective communication is the key to healthy landlord/tenant relationships. Effective communication is built on three main factors: transparency, honesty, and respect. With these three factors present, you’re more likely to resolve issues with your tenants before they grow into larger issues.
Can a Landlord Break a Lease Agreement Early?
If you’re a landlord, you probably have a lease agreement or rental agreement for your tenants, outlining the rules and restrictions for the property, setting rent prices, and outlining a period of time during which the agreement is active. If a tenant breaks the lease agreement early by moving prematurely, they may face a penalty… [Read More]
Security Deposit vs. Move-In Fee: Which is Better for Landlords?
Landlords are always looking for ways to reduce risk and increase profitability. And when you let someone else live in your property, one of the biggest risks involves the potential damage they could do to the residence. For years, the security deposit has been the preferred method of compensating for property damage related risk. But… [Read More]
The 4 Reasons You Want Your Tenants to Renew Their Leases
As a landlord, you can’t ever sit back and relax. Just because you have good tenants in your properties at the moment, doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to stick around. It’s up to you to retain them by encouraging and motivating them to renew their leases over and over again. Do you have a plan for… [Read More]
6 Ways to Earn a Tenant’s Trust (and Why it Matters)
If you’re the landlord, does it really matter if a tenant trusts you? Absolutely. A tenant who trusts and respects their landlord is less likely to cause careless damage to the property. They’re also more likely to communicate with you and work with you to resolve problems.
From Our Blog
9 Simple Ways to Increase Your Vacation Rental Income
Vacation rentals are among the most popular real estate investments. Not only are they fun and flexible investments, but they can also…