Maintenance is another important part of being a landlord. The appliances need to be kept up, the electrical needs to be in order, the heating and air conditioning systems need to be working well, and the plumbing needs to be in tact as well. For that matter, make sure you address any needs and repairs as quickly as you possibly can.

You need to take some responsibility for the safety of your tenants as well. For instance, in addition to providing safe locks, you should also think about smoke and fire alarms, security alarms, outdoor lightly, good parking areas, and even outdoor lighting.

The privacy of your tenants is important as well. Make sure you give them at least twenty four hours before you enter their unit.

As always, make sure that the lease is exactly how you want it and that it details payments as well as security deposits.

So now you know how to become a landlord. The next step is being a good landlord — because that will inspire good tenants.

You need, of course, to make sure you know all of your rights as well as your responsibilities, as they exist under the landlord tenant laws in your area.

So, what you should do first is get in contact with the rental housing authorities in your area. You can talk to a real estate attorney as well; that way, you will be sure to have a clear, strong understanding of your responsibilities and your legal rights when you are a landlord. Typically there are state laws as well as more specific local laws.

It is likewise important to make sure you are familiar with housing and building codes, health regulations, and safety regulations.

After you have screened your tenant and have decided that they are okay to live there, the next step is going to be making sure that you are aware of everything that is wrong in the house before the tenant moves in.  That is why taking a picture of the place before anyone moves in is so important.

When you are a landlord, you are responsible for so many things and you definitely want to make sure that if you get taken to court for anything at all – that you are certainly going to be able to proof your tenants wrong.  Always cover your back!

You also want to make sure that you keep track of any of the repairs that you do to the house or any receipts that you think might be useful.

Becoming a landlord is stressful.  You have to be responsible not only for another person it seems like but also for another house and what happens to that particular house.  There are a ton of things that you need to look for when you become a landlord and in the next couple blogs that is exactly what we are going to touch on.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that you screen all of your tenants.  While you do not want to judge a book by its cover, you certainly want to make sure that you make a smart decision when you allow someone to live in a space that you own.

You also want to make sure that you check up on their credit as well as their rental history, as those can be two key points when you are looking at a new tenant.  More in the next post!

Sometimes, some landlords are open to negotiation. However, this is not true for all of them, and realizing this up front is going to save you a whole lot of frustration.

Some apartment houses or communities simply will not allow pets. Trying to change their mind is just going to make you angry. Thus you may want to first look at individual properties; sometimes the owners of those properties are more open to negotiation.

You can help yourself out as well, by taking up some of the responsibility. Make sure a potential landlord knows you are responsible; show them some references from previous landlords.

You will be able to find a pet friendly rental property somewhere out there. Planning and patience are both key elements, however.

Finding a rental property that accepts pets can be an effort in frustration, but there are tips you can follow to give you a hand.

For one thing, you have to give yourself plenty of time to find such a place. You need to check out appropriate adds at least a month and a half before moving.

You also need to be understanding. Landlords do not reject pets because they are mean spirited; many of them are simply protecting their properties.

As well, you need to use the resources which are available to you. If you contact animal care agencies in the area you will be moving to, they may be able to give you a list of rental properties that do not have a problem with pets.

While I am not exactly used to this particular style of renting, I think that this is actually a really great idea.  While you get all of the conveniences of a home, I have to say that the outside really looks awesome too.  Personally – I do not like the complex feel or the look of it – everyone is crammed together in one complex and there is no real personality to it.

With the apartment/house, there is a ton of personality and truly … you do get more than what you get with just one apartment.  You get a full feel of a house and even if you have always lived in an apartment – your floor will look any way that you want it to.

Really – this is a better option if you want not to buy a house but want the feel of it.

Now, when I first started in the real estate area – I had no idea that there were houses that were actually referred to and rented out as apartments.  While I have heard of duplexes, I did not realize that you could take a three story house and make it so it had kitchens on each floor and bathrooms on each floor along with bedrooms – that is what an apartment house really is.

Currently, I am living in Michigan but I am going to be relocating to the Boston area and I have to say that in Michigan – we don’t have these but Boston is full of them!  That is really all they have besides complexes.  To me – this is a fantastic idea!

These house/apartments are fantastic for people that have dogs and cats for if you are on the bottom level – you get the yard.

When things get fishy and you are not sure that the offer you are so into is legitimate, there is one hard, fast, unbreakable rule: DO NOT PAY ANY MONEY!

Secondly, feel free to pester.  Let the potential landlord know you are uncomfortable with this situation.  Do not rest until you get a working phone number and address to reach the person, not to mention the verifiable address of the rental property.

If it is at all possible, acquire the services of a broker to act as a go between.  He or she will be able to ascertain whether this rental offer is legitimate, and it will save you from getting duped into anything.

Keep other properties in mind.  Sure, I am in love with this house, it suits all my needs, and it is affordable, but I know I logically have to realize that there are other places available out there.  I cannot hang all my hopes on this one property; I simply have to hope it turns out well.

I have got some up front talking to do, if you get my drift.  I am going to be making a move from Detroit to Boston quite soon, and am discovering the perils of renting a property without being in a position to view it right away.

Right now, renting is the only option, and naturally I started looking at places as soon as I found out I was going to move.  After recovering from the simultaneous coronary and aneurysm caused by seeing the rental prices of places in and around Boston, I buckled down in earnest, and promptly fell in love with a house that, wonder of wonders, I can actually afford!

But there are several problems.  Several things seem fishy.  The person leasing the house lives abroad … and wants me to pay a security deposit sight unseen … and barring that wants me to pay $350 dollars so she can mail the key with full insurance … and, and, and — and what do you do when you fall in love, only to experience so many fishy problems?