Introduction

      Welcome to Property Management Kit For Dummies, 4th Edition. You can discover many of life’s lessons by doing some on-the-job trial and error. But that possibility doesn’t apply to property management: The mistakes are too costly, and the legal ramifications too severe. This book gives you proven strategies to make rental property ownership and management both profitable and pleasant.

About This Book

      Many landlord–tenant relationships are strained, but they don’t have to be. A residential rental property owner who knows how to manage their property properly and who responds promptly to the legitimate concerns of their tenants will be rewarded with good people who stick around. The key is maintaining your property properly and constantly investing in upgrades and improvements. By doing this, you can be successful in meeting your long-term financial goals and realize that being a landlord is an excellent primary or secondary source of income.

      This book is based on hands-on experience and lessons from my own real-life examples. Unlike many landlords and property managers, I believe that your tenants are your customers, not your enemies, and as such, you should treat them with respect. You may find investing in residential rental real estate to be a key piece of your overall investment strategy, but not everyone is cut out to be a property manager. I want to make sure you understand not only the basics of the rental housing business, but also some of the tricks that can make you glad you’re a real estate investor.

      Although this book is overflowing with useful advice and information, it’s presented in a light, easy-to-access format. It explains how to wear many hats in the property management business: advertiser/promoter (in seeking tenants), host (in showing the property), handyman (in keeping up with and arranging for repairs), bookkeeper (in maintaining records), and even counselor (in dealing with tenants and their problems). Just as important, this book helps you maintain your sense of humor — and your sanity — as you deal with these challenges and more.

I wrote this book in essentially chronological order — from your first entry into the world of residential rental property ownership and the corresponding steps to prepare and promote your property to showing your rental and selecting the right tenants. As a result, reading the book cover to cover makes sense, but feel free to read the sections that are most relevant to you at any given time. Skip around and read about those areas that are giving you problems, and I’m confident that you’ll find some new solutions to try. You can also skip sidebars (text in gray-shaded boxes), but I think you'll enjoy these humorous anecdotes.

      To make your life easier, I’ve included many of the forms you need to be successful in managing your rental — whether you’re just starting out with a single-family rental home or condo, you have a handful of rental units, or you possess a whole portfolio of rental properties. These forms are available online at www.wiley.com/go/propertymanagementkitfd4e.