First Time Landlord
Homeowner · Taylorsville, UT · Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 10 votes
First Time Landlord
Most Popular Reply
Ryan SpathBusiness Member
Real Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 577 posts · 379 votesParker,
Welcome to the amazing life of Re investing! I have a client that uses TT, he loves it. We use Rentredi, and schedulemyrent.com for rent collection. I’ve used Zillow for tenant screening for many many years and we have personally never had any issues with it.
Pro tips:
Treat this like a business from day one. Set up systems early so whenever something happens you are not guessing you are following a pre-determined process. This makes it easier as you get more properties. Have criteria for tenants EX 625 credit, income to rent 3x, no evections etc, stick to it this makes the tenant selection less emotional. Have separate accounts for the RE biz. Separate credit cards too.
Document everything, you want a paper trail of every conversation should you need it. Don’t over think this. At the end of the day, we are all people and most of us are good and we treat each other how we are treated!
If you have any specific questions, send me a DM.
18 Replies
- 6moRyan SpathBusiness MemberReal Estate Agent · Boise, ID · Member since 2017 · 577 posts · 379 votes
Parker,
Welcome to the amazing life of Re investing! I have a client that uses TT, he loves it. We use Rentredi, and schedulemyrent.com for rent collection. I’ve used Zillow for tenant screening for many many years and we have personally never had any issues with it.
Pro tips:
Treat this like a business from day one. Set up systems early so whenever something happens you are not guessing you are following a pre-determined process. This makes it easier as you get more properties. Have criteria for tenants EX 625 credit, income to rent 3x, no evections etc, stick to it this makes the tenant selection less emotional. Have separate accounts for the RE biz. Separate credit cards too.
Document everything, you want a paper trail of every conversation should you need it. Don’t over think this. At the end of the day, we are all people and most of us are good and we treat each other how we are treated!
If you have any specific questions, send me a DM.
- Member since 2018 · 62 posts · 37 votes6mo
Hi Parker,
Congratulations on your first rental! You are making a great decision by investing in RE.
In addition to what @Ryan Spath mentioned, let me add that if you are going to self-manage the property, you should start building a network of reliable services you can call when a problem arises: plumber, electrician, carpenter, handyman, etc. Tenants really appreciate it when you can take care of problems in a timely manner. The first time a toilet fails, you don't want to be searching for a plumber; you want to pull out your list and call one!
Also, let me reiterate the importance of screening your tenants with very strict criteria. Don't fall for the person who tells you, 'My credit is bad because my ex left me with all their credit card debt, but I’m working on it.' I am sure we've all heard that sad story.
Most importantly, remember that your tenants are your customers and fellow human beings. Just as you don't like to be treated poorly by a business, treat your tenants like they are the most important part of your business.
- Property Manager · San Diego, CA · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 11 votes6mo
Hi Parker. I use TurboTenant and I love it. I tried several software platforms and this was the one I liked best. And it's free for most of the features, which is probably all you will need.
- Real Estate Broker · New York, NY · Member since 2020 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes6mo
For screening and applications, it’s generally reliable and widely used. It pulls credit, background, and eviction data in a way that’s pretty standard for independent landlords, and it keeps everything organized in one place. Most of the issues I see are less about the concept and more about occasional glitches or tenant support friction, which is pretty common across most all-in-one platforms anyway.
A couple of other tips:
1. Make your screening criteria very clear before you get applications. Decide your minimum credit range, income requirement, and any deal-breakers upfront, and stick to them consistently. Most issues new landlords run into come from being flexible too early.
2. Don’t rely only on the screening report. It’s useful, but always look at the full picture like income stability, landlord references, and overall rental history
3. Be very careful about how you set expectations in the lease. A strong lease does more work than any platform. Make sure things like maintenance responsibilities, late fees, and repair procedures are clearly spelled out.
If you combine a tool like TurboTenant with a clear process and consistent standards, you’ll be in a much better position long term. - Real Estate Agent · Memphis · Member since 2026 · 593 posts · 349 votes6mo
TurboTenant is a solid option for getting started — especially for a first unit. It covers the core pieces pretty well: listing, screening, lease signing, and rent collection all in one place.
Where I’d be careful is thinking the software replaces the judgment side of landlording. It’ll streamline the process, but things like screening decisions, lease structure, and how you handle maintenance still sit with you.
Most of the tools out there (TurboTenant, TenantCloud, etc.) are really built to handle the repeatable parts — they don’t necessarily protect you from bad decisions upfront.
If you’re just starting, a few things matter more than the platform:
• Be consistent with your screening criteria (income, credit, rental history — don’t bend it)
• Set expectations clearly in the lease (maintenance, communication, late fees)
• Stay responsive early — it sets the tone with tenantsThe software just helps you stay organized — the outcomes usually come down to how disciplined the process is behind it.
- Member since 2026 · 29 posts · 3 votes6mo
Parker — everyone above has the screening and platform basics covered well. One thing worth thinking about even at unit 1: build habits now that still work at unit 5 or 10.
The landlords I see struggle most aren't the ones who picked the wrong software — they're the ones who built processes around one unit that don't scale. Things like logging every maintenance conversation, keeping a record of what you approved and when, and having one place where all tenant communication lives.
TurboTenant is a reasonable starting point. Just treat the systems you build around it as seriously as the tool itself. Good luck with the move-in.
- 5moDrew SygitBusiness MemberProperty Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 12k+ posts · 9k+ votes
Quote from @Parker Davis:
Hello,
We recently closed on our home and are planning to have tenants move in at the beginning of next month.
Another landlord recommended using TurboTenant for tenant screening and rent collection. Have you found this to be a reliable platform?
We’d also appreciate any additional tips or advice as we get started.
Thanks in advance, we look forward to your feedback.
Turbo Tenant, Tenant Turner, ShowDigs and more, all provide value, but have their quirks & limitations.
Avoid Zillow's offerings as too basic.
Logical Property Management4.9465 Reviews - Real Estate Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2010 · 30 posts · 5 votes5mo
Congrats on your first property, Parker. TurboTenant is solid for screening and collection — a good starting point.
Biggest tip I'd give a first-time landlord: build your systems before your first tenant moves in, not after. Most new landlords learn that lesson the hard way.
I actually put together a complete landlord starter system that covers exactly what to set up before move-in day. Want me to send you the link?
- Member since 2025 · 7 posts · 5 votes5mo
Congratulations!!
I'd definitely recommend you keep good track of your expenses cause tax season can be tough!
I use Baselane for pretty much everything - rent collections, leases, bookkeeping, tenant screening... it's a great tool, you should take a look.
been using it for about a year now and no complaints! - Real Estate Agent · Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2020 · 490 posts · 205 votes5mo
love turbotenant! Use it for 6+ years and would never look anywhere else
- Member since 2023 · 24 posts · 12 votes5mo
Parker,
Congratulations on your first rental!
We use Apartments.com for rent collection/management software. Apartments.com doesn't charge the landlord or the tenant. Other platforms will charge the tenant a fee for rent collection.
Here's another piece of advice, have an iron clad lease agreement. Give the tenant the opportunity to review the lease prior to signing and read it through with them at the time of signing. This way, it reduces confusion in the future, if you should find a need to reference the lease.
All the best,
Brian
Parker congratulations on closing and welcome to landlording!
TurboTenant is a solid starting point for tenant screening and rent collection. User friendly and reasonably priced for a first time landlord. Good recommendation from whoever suggested it.
A few additional tips as you get started:
Document everything from day one. Move in condition report with photos before your tenant touches anything. This protects you at security deposit time more than anything else.
Know your state security deposit laws before you collect a single dollar. Utah has specific rules on how much you can collect, where it must be held, and how quickly you must return it. Violations can cost you more than the deposit itself.
Separate your finances immediately. Dedicated bank account for rental income and expenses only. Mixing personal and rental finances creates a nightmare at tax time and makes your CPA very unhappy.
Start recording every expense from day one. Not in January. Not at tax time. Every repair, every supply run, every mile you drive to the property. The landlords who build that habit in month one never regret it.
You are asking the right questions before your tenant even moves in. That already puts you ahead of most first time landlords.
You can absolutely do this!
- Real Estate Broker · Nashville, TN · Member since 2022 · 163 posts · 87 votes5mo
Parker, congrats on closing and welcome to the landlord side of real estate. I manage rental properties in Nashville and have onboarded a lot of first time landlords over the years, so here is what I would tell you to focus on before that first tenant moves in.
Screening is the single most important thing you will do as a landlord. Whatever platform you use, make sure you are checking credit score, criminal background, eviction history, income verification, and previous landlord references. The income piece matters more than people think. I use a minimum of three times monthly rent in gross income as the baseline. If someone makes $4,000 a month and rent is $1,500, the math works. If they make $3,000, it does not. Be consistent with your criteria across every applicant so you stay on the right side of fair housing laws.
For rent collection, go digital from day one. Do not accept cash and do not accept personal checks if you can avoid it. Online platforms create an automatic paper trail, send reminders before rent is due, and make it easy to track late payments. Most of them also let you set up automatic late fees, which removes the awkward conversation entirely.
Your lease is your business plan in document form. Do not use a generic template you found online. Get a lease that is specific to your state and covers the situations that actually come up. Things like early termination fees, guest policies, maintenance request procedures, pet policies with specific breed and weight restrictions, and clear language about what happens when rent is late. Spend the money on a real lease or have a local real estate attorney review whatever you are using.
Before your tenant moves in, do a thorough move in condition report with photos and video of every room, every appliance, every surface. Have the tenant sign it. This is your protection when they move out and there is a dispute about whether that scratch on the hardwood was there before they moved in. I take 100 plus photos on every move in and store them in the cloud. It takes an hour and saves thousands.
Switch your insurance from a homeowner policy to a landlord or dwelling fire policy before the tenant takes possession. Your homeowner policy will not cover you once someone else is living there. This is one of the most common mistakes first time landlords make and it can be catastrophic if something happens.
Set up a dedicated bank account for the property. All rent goes in, all expenses come out. Do not commingle rental income with your personal finances. It makes tax time simple and gives you a clear picture of whether the property is actually cash flowing.
One last thing. Build your vendor list now before you need it. Find a plumber, electrician, HVAC tech, and handyman before you get that 2 AM call about a water heater. When you are scrambling to find someone at midnight, you are going to pay emergency rates and get whoever is available instead of whoever is good. Line up your team while you have time to vet them properly.
- Homeowner · Taylorsville, UT · Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 10 votes5mo
@Stephen Delahoussaye thank you that helps a bunch
- Homeowner · Taylorsville, UT · Member since 2025 · 15 posts · 10 votes5mo
@Azizul Alvee thank you!
- Member since 2026 · 29 posts · 3 votes5mo
Sofia — fair pushback, and you're right that I oversimplified. The administrative layer is real — lease renewals, inspections, rent collection, that's not nothing, especially teaching full-time.
The question I'd ask is how much of that is actually judgment vs. process. Rent collection is automated. Lease renewals are templated. Inspections need a local person, but not necessarily a PM — a trusted neighbor or handyman with a checklist works. Vendor coordination is the one that genuinely benefits from a local network.
The math that pushed me out was paying 8-10% for tasks that were maybe 20% judgment and 80% repeatable process. Once I systematized the process side, the PM fee stopped making sense. That calculus changes depending on how many units you have and how much the 20% costs you personally.
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