Unit is rent ready, what to do next?

[Thomas O'Donnell]

Hey all, I purchased a duplex and moved into one side a week ago. I have the other side pretty much rent ready. I’m kind’ve stuck on what to do when it comes to having a proper lease set up and drafted with additional things I want on there. I also am not sure how to start listing it for rent places. I guess my main questions are, when you have a unit ready to rent, how do you get a good lease set up? How/where/when do you begin listing it online? What should I be using to screen tenants and make sure all my basis are covered? And what other things should I make sure are set up or completed before renting it out? I really want to try and have it rented by November or in the beginning of November. Thanks for any and all help! 

[Tim Herman]

@Thomas O'Donnell all of the questions should have been answered by you before you bought the property. As a pro member you can get attorney approved investor lease agreements for the state your duplex is in. It will be under the tools section of BP. Different areas have more success with different listing services. Facebook marketplace, zillow, craigslist, sign in the yard, etc. Have you studied the landlord tenant laws. How about Fair housing laws. Do you have your rental criteria set. Minimum credit score, eviction after a set time or no evictions, income requirements, pets, allow cosigners, etc. You have to follow your rental criteria so you don't get into fair housing violations. You can use transunion smart move, rent prep, innago, zillow, apartsment.com to run screens on potential tenants. Watermark your pictures so scammers don't steal them when you post on the platforms. Also mention your rental criteria and when someone wants to see it do open house set 15 minumts apart. Many potential tenants flake. I do mine usually Friday afternoon and Saturday.