How to Be a Long-Distance Landlord

Staying just a short distance from your rental home may be challenging for several reasons. Staying at a location close to the house makes things easier, but long-distance landlording can be successful if you’ve got a new house elsewhere and you're ready for some management challenges.

Real estate investors can use advanced technologies and services to buy property everywhere and get the most out of their investments. If you've invested in property out of state, you must understand how to successfully manage them to meet your financial objectives.

Let's look at some tips on how to become a successful long-distance landlord.

Hire a Local Property Management Company

One of the best choices long-distance landlords can make is employing the services of a local property management company like McKenna & Vane Property Management. This ensures that a good property manager can quickly respond to any rental property needs.

Hiring us as your property manager includes advertising vacant rental units, conducting tenant screenings, drafting lease agreements, and collecting rent on your behalf, and dealing with security deposits, among other things.

When tenants have concerns about the rental home that demand rapid attention, they will contact the rental property manager to have their issues resolved. Above all, having a local property management business on your side allows you to keep an eye on the status of your property while you're abroad.

Property managers may be trusted to conduct thorough property inspections and also perform annual property walk-through inspections.

Find Good Tenants and Keep Them

Homeowners want tenants renting their property who pay rent on time, maintain the premises, report maintenance issues, and have a mature way of issuing complaints. These tenants are even more important to long-distance landlords who are unable to see the property in person on a regular basis to manage issues.

The best way of getting good tenants renting your property is conducting an in person tenant screening. This will provide information to help determine their financial stability and rental history.

Before signing a lease, check all potential tenants' credit reports, references, income sources, and criminal history. Past due obligations, negative references, evictions, and criminal convictions should all be considered red flags.

Have a Good Maintenance Plan

For a homeowner at a long distance who isn't using a property management firm, having a trustworthy maintenance person is a must-have in the rental property business. They would be able to tend to the impromptu calls from tenants requesting maintenance services.

You should definitely keep a list of competent contractors on hand for emergencies and large repairs, and you can usually call these contractors when you need something fixed. At times, the tenants might not be in. Therefore, you might need a trustworthy person to give a second set of keys.

Your point of contact may be relied upon to do general maintenance services. This includes supervising the cleaning of the common areas and picking up the mail.

Make Arrangements for Property Inspections

Planning for regular inspections might be challenging, but it is important for homeowners not to overlook its importance. After a tenant moves out or just before a new renter moves in to the home, you should pay a visit to inspect the rental property and ensure there are no issues you weren't aware of.

Even if you have a long-term renter, you should visit the rental property at least twice a year to ensure they are taking care of the rental property and that the property is running smoothly. You'll also want to inspect the structure after severe weather like a storm. Heavy rains and snow can create damage that worsens as time passes.

Keep in Touch With Your Tenants

It's critical to keep in touch with your tenants regularly. You, as the landlord, are in charge of keeping in touch with them.

Use email, SMS, or phone calls to ensure you communicate with your tenants. It is your duty to make your tenants feel safe approaching you with any concerns they may have concerning the property or their rent payments.

It is not a good thing for your tenants to vanish without warning. Regular communication can help you avoid problems in the future.

Know the Local Rental Market

Each real estate market is unique, and you must understand the trends in the rental market where your rental is located in order to set the appropriate rental price and manage it effectively while remaining competitive. Start by looking at Zillow's Local Market Report for the area where your rental is located.

Check out the competition by utilizing Zillow to look for rental properties in the neighborhood that have similar attributes to yours.

You should also be informed of local regulations regarding rentals, and have a relationship with a local attorney who can assist you with any worries or issues that arise. This includes fair housing, lease guidelines, and security deposit laws.

Go through the headlines of local newspapers or television stations. This will keep you informed about new employers coming to town or other happenings that may affect your possible renter pool.

Automate Rent Payments

Since you don't have a local address for your tenants to mail rent money to, rent collection will take more effort if you live far away. You can request mailed rent checks, but then you risk waiting longer for your money.

Alternatively, advances in property management technology have made it exceedingly simple to receive and track rent payments online. Rental income is promptly deposited into your account without the need to wait for a cheque in the mail, thanks to property management software that allows tenants to pay rent using credit cards.

Rent payments can be made online, which is more convenient for renters and more dependable for long-distance landlords.

Bottom Line

McKenna & Vane Property Management might be your local property management partner if you're a remote landlord with a rental in suburban Maryland or the neighboring area. We have the abilities and experience as a full-service property management firm to assist you in a variety of ways, and offer tips to help your rental thrive.

Among the rental properties we manage are single and multi-family rentals, commercial and private real estate investor groups, and homeowners' organizations. Our clientele will attest to the fact that we go above and beyond to fulfill their demands and keep their property running smoothly.

If you'd like to learn more, call us at 410-381-3336. Being a distant landlord is difficult, but it will be much easier to manage with the proper partner at your side.