As a homeowner your home is likely one of if not the largest asset that you own. As such it’s an extremely valuable possession and I’m sure you personally treat it as such. But how do you protect your home – and your sanity – when renting it out?

Whether you’re renting permanently as an investment property or temporarily you’ll want to be well prepared to mitigate your risks and avoid future headaches.

We’ve developed this list for you. Check out the most frequent blunders to avoid in order to save time and money on your investment.

–       Trying to do everything on your own

New investors often try to handle their properties on their own. This frequently costs them more in the long run. An expert will be able to walk you through the documentation and vet your tenants while keeping your rights and responsibilities in mind.

–       Vetting Your Own Tenants Without Your Real Estate Agent

Many landlords don’t have the time or rather want to spend their downtime ‘vetting’ potential tenants. A boring and length process but it’s one of the most important pieces to ensure your largest asset is in good hands. Let a professional take this off your hands. Typically agents charge one month’s rent in return for their services – money well spent!

–       Managing Multiple Properties Yourself

Maybe the largest error you can make as a real estate owner. Your goal is to create wealth, time and freedom for yourself. While you may be able to manage a few properties yourself as your portfolio grows it may no longer allow you the freedom you were searching for.

Consider working with a property management firm. All of your properties are managed appropriately with a staff in place. You’ll be better positioned to handle your usual company operations while the property experts handle the day-to-day chores. It might be tough to tackle all of the difficulties on your own when you own many homes. You have a variety of responsibilities, from dealing with renters to upkeep and repairs.

–       Failure to have enough property insurance

Given the high cost of insurance, many investors may settle for the bare minimum to save a few dollars. This blunder entails not obtaining enough insurance coverage. As a landlord, you must ensure that your rental property is covered by the appropriate insurance. Avoid purchasing the incorrect sort of insurance or the incorrect level of coverage.

Consider purchasing both property and liability insurance. Getting the appropriate insurance might really save you hundreds of dollars. It’s critical that you grasp the many coverage-mitigation choices accessible to you. Investment insurance is far more complicated than standard homeowner’s insurance.

Make time to speak with a registered insurance specialist who is familiar with real estate investments about your insurance alternatives.

–       Failure to charge reasonable rental fees

By attempting to charge above-market rentals, you will ultimately lose money. Your greatest liability is a vacancy. Charge reasonable rentals, treat your renters with respect, and answer to their needs as fast as possible. It’s possible that a house may sit unoccupied for an additional month or two, which you can’t afford.

–       Failure to Understand Tenant Rules and Regulations

When it comes to the rules and your relationship, you’ll need to be very explicit with your renters. It is critical that the renter acknowledges the lease/rental agreement, particularly the rental regulations. Fairness and consistency should be applied to all of your renters. It’s also important to have a monitoring and communication system in place to verify that your renters are aware of the regulations and follow them.

–       Refusing to Resolve a Tenant Dispute

It’s nearly always best to negotiate an issue than to take it to court, especially when landlord-tenant regulations may be unjust to landlords. Tenants often have access to “legal assistance” attorneys who will battle you with public funds. You may have the upper hand and win the lawsuit, but thousands of dollars in legal fees may make it difficult for you to recoup. Maintain a healthy landlord-tenant relationship by resolving any issues peacefully.

–       Saving Money by Hiring Unprofessional Contractors or Do-It-Yourself

You are responsible for maintenance and may need to hire a team. Respond quickly and professionally if a renter calls you to report mold or a broken air conditioner. Don’t attempt to save money by cutting shortcuts and doing it yourself if you are not qualified.

If you do not attend to your tenants’ maintenance needs, you risk gaining a bad reputation. After all, they are yours, so take care of them. Even if you’re an expert, the time you spend sprucing up your homes might be better spent on other vital duties, such as building your company.

–       Failure to Screen Tenants

Don’t feel compelled to fill in the blanks. This is yet another major blunder made by first-time home owners. You will make terrible selections if you are frantic to fill a rental. Taking the effort to identify a good-quality tenant is preferable than just filling in the gaps. A good tenant screening procedure can assist you in finding qualified, loyal, and long-term tenants. That is well worth the investment of time and money. Don’t get trapped with untrustworthy tenants or wait for an eviction. Enlist your realtor for help!

–       Allowing tenants to handle their own repairs

Hire a professional even if the renter is capable of minor maintenance fixes. You are accountable if anything goes wrong with the renter throughout the procedure. You also incur the chance of the tenant doing a shoddy job, resulting in additional losses and costs. Keep your hiring to pros,

–       Signing the rental agreement without carefully reading it

Even as the landlord you’re going to want to carefully read the contract if you had help putting it together from someone like a realtor. It is possible to make errors, no matter how attentive you are. While purchasing a house requires far more money and paperwork than renting one, both procedures may be difficult.

Despite the fact that it is common knowledge, few individuals understand the significance of a rental agreement. It not only contains practically all tenancy laws and restrictions for a certain property, but it is also a legal agreement between a renter and a homeowner. As a result, properly reading the contract is critical. Don’t let procrastination get the best of you and sign something you’ll come to regret later.

Now you know about the mistakes that people do when they rent out their houses. Keep these mistakes in mind and make sure that you don’t commit any of them.