Why not manage your own rental house? Three reasons

Sure, you could handle all the tasks necessary to manage the rental property you own. Before you make that commitment, ask yourself the following:

Do you know the laws pertaining to rental property?

Do you know when you’re required to change locks, what you can deduct from a security deposit, when you can access the property, and where smoke detectors are required? There are also fair housing laws to consider, rules concerning applications, and more. 

Will you be available when problems arise? Do you know what to do?

What will you do when there’s a plumbing problem or the AC doesn’t come on? What if there’s a burglary? What are your options if the tenant stops paying rent or leaves before the end of the lease?

What do you know about the market?

If you ask too much for rent, you’ll lose money waiting for a renter who will never materialize. Ask too little and you’ll lose money month after month. You’ll also want to keep up with the market so you know when to raise rents and what to ask the next time you have tenant turnover.

Fortunately, you can hire a Texas REALTOR® to handle all of the above for you. Your REALTOR® can also collect rent, market your property, and a take care of other tasks that come with being a landlord. To find a Texas REALTOR® to manage your property, ask friends for a referral—or you can use the Find a Texas REALTOR® search on texasrealestate.com.