There's a huge misconception that being a landlord is a cushy job.
Yes, you get to take advantage of a hot Houston rental market, but being a landlord is a lot of difficult work. Whether you're dealing with a delinquent tenant or a property that needs a lot of maintenance, it's easy to find yourself in over your head.
It's important to know that you've got options. In today's post, we'll look at a few tips for managing landlord stress. If your landlord responsibilities are stressing you out, keep reading and we'll do our best to show you how to alleviate this stress in 2024.
Tenant Screening
One of the most stressful aspects of being a landlord is dealing with a difficult tenant. Every landlord goes through this at least once in their career and, in the worst circumstances, you'll find yourself dealing with evictions.
Evictions themselves can be highly stressful, not to mention the stress of paying for a vacant property when the eviction goes through. The best way to avoid this altogether is good tenant screening practices.
Tenant screening involves looking into an applicant's financial, criminal, and rental background. Performing a criminal background check helps to protect your property and any other tenants. A credit check gives you an idea of a tenant's financial standing over time.
You can also contact former landlords to find out more detailed information about an applicant. The end result is that you weed out all of the bad options and are left with the best tenants in Houston.
Outsource Maintenance
Maintenance is an important part of being a landlord. The more you put into your rental property, the more you'll get out of it, but not everyone is equipped to perform maintenance.
When you get that dreaded call from a tenant that something is wrong with the property, you need to act fast. It can be stressful, but if you have good vendor contacts for everything from HVAC to landscaping, you won't have to worry about it. One call will have the problem fixed in no time.
Automate When Possible
There are plenty of landlord tools available to help alleviate your responsibilities. For example, property management software that makes use of tenant portals will help you stay organized and give your tenants an easy way to reach you.
Through this type of software, your tenant can pay rent and make maintenance requests. You'll know where to go to ensure you're being paid on time and deal with maintenance and repairs accordingly. It'll streamline operations and make your life as a landlord much easier.
How a Property Management Company Reduces Landlord Stress
If you're feeling landlord stress, it might be time to call a property management company for reinforcements. A good property manager can take all of the most stressful landlord responsibilities off of your plate, leaving you to enjoy the perks of being a rental property owner.
For those in Houston, PMI Infinito is the best choice for property management services. Contact us today to learn more about what we do and how we can make your life less stressful.
