All Forum Posts by: Lilly Harker

Congrats on your first investment property—that’s a big step! Will you be living on one side and house hacking the double? If so, that can be a great way to offset your mortgage while building equity, but one thing to consider is keeping a bit of professional distance—sometimes it helps not to let renters know you’re the actual owner, especially if you're managing the property yourself. Tenants may treat things differently if they know you’re the landlord, so presenting yourself as the property manager can help maintain boundaries and smoother communication. When screening potential tenants, be sure to collect a full application, run credit and background checks, verify income, and call prior landlord references. Also, take the extra step to look up their criminal history through a public records service—background checks from platforms like Zillow often only show major felony convictions, so you may miss key information. It’s also a good idea to search for any small claims cases, as some past evictions may not be labeled clearly as “evictions” but may show up this way.

Hi! Yes, there are several great platforms that allow tenants to sign the full lease—including addendums—completely online. Dotloop is a solid choice, especially if you're looking for something that handles documents and signatures smoothly. RentRedi is another good option that offers lease signing along with other landlord tools like rent collection and maintenance tracking. Zillow Rental Manager also provides a convenient way to create and send leases for e-signature, and it’s especially helpful if you’re already using the platform to list your rental. I’ve also heard good things about Dropbox Sign—it’s simple to use and works well if you just need reliable, straightforward e-signature functionality. All of these options can help streamline your rental process and keep things organized.

Installing a dedicated EV outlet in the garage may be worth the investment, as it adds a valuable and increasingly sought-after amenity with the rise of electric vehicles. It also significantly reduces potential trip and fire hazards from running a high-voltage cord through living spaces. Having a properly installed outlet designed for EV charging ensures safety and protects both your tenants and your property.

In my experience, including a dishwasher is definitely worth it if you're aiming to stay competitive—many tenants see it as a basic amenity and will pass on a unit that doesn’t have one, even if everything else is solid. While I totally get the frustration with maintenance issues and potential water damage (especially in multi-story units), the lack of a dishwasher can limit your pool of interested renters or even lower what you can reasonably charge for rent. That said, you can mitigate risks by installing higher-quality units, using leak sensors, and ensuring regular maintenance or inspections. Designing without a dishwasher might reduce headaches, but in most markets today, it can also mean leaving money on the table.

If I were in your position, I’d respond to the tenant with something like this: “Thank you for bringing your concerns to our attention. As soon as the issue with the blocked drain was identified, we had a professional resolve the problem and confirm that the leak was fully addressed. We are replacing the damaged ceiling tiles and have ensured everything is properly dried to prevent further issues, including mold. If any personal items were damaged, please refer to your renter’s insurance policy, as that’s the appropriate channel for handling such claims and is outlined in the lease. While we understand this was inconvenient, rent is still due on the 1st and considered late after the 3rd, per your lease terms. Let us know if you have any further questions.” It keeps things professional and clear, sets the right expectations, and reinforces the terms of the lease. Hope this helps!

That’s a tough spot to be in, and unfortunately not uncommon. You’ve already taken a solid first step by trying to work with the landlord directly—many owners appreciate a heads-up, but it sounds like this situation may be out of his hands or he’s choosing to ignore it. Continuing to document everything and encouraging your tenants to file formal complaints with the police is key. I’ve found that involving the local code enforcement or city housing authority can sometimes apply pressure if the property is becoming visibly run down or a public nuisance. It's frustrating when one bad neighbor impacts good tenants, but staying persistent and building a paper trail can help push things in the right direction.

Welcome to the forums, and congrats on getting ready to turn your property into a full-time rental! Shared driveways can definitely work smoothly, but to avoid potential issues down the line—especially with tenants who weren’t around for the original neighborly understanding—I’d recommend getting a written agreement in place with your neighbor outlining usage expectations. Then, make it a requirement that your tenants sign and agree to follow those terms as part of their lease. It creates clarity for everyone and helps prevent conflicts. A fence could help with boundary clarity, but a solid agreement might be the most practical first step.

Congrats on your first rental purchase—sounds like a great setup with newer units and local support from your brother! One important tip, even if it feels a bit formal or unnecessary, is to put an operating agreement in place between the two of you. It helps define responsibilities, financial expectations, and decision-making processes upfront, which can prevent misunderstandings later. Since you’re self-managing, investing in a good property management software will be key—Zillow Rental Manager, RentRedi, and Buildium are all options I’ve used that got the job done well depending on your needs. Sounds like you're off to a strong start—wishing you success on this first venture!

Congrats on your first rental—exciting step! As a new landlord, I recommend starting with a platform like Zillow Rental Manager—you can list your property, accept applications, and run background and credit checks all in one place, which keeps things simple and organized. When screening, aim to verify income (ideally 3x the rent), check credit (600+ is a good baseline), review rental history, and contact previous landlords. Always get written consent to screen and verify info. High-quality photos, a well-written listing, and clear screening criteria will help attract solid applicants. Taking the time to screen thoroughly now will save you a lot of headaches later.

Fraudulent income documents are becoming more common, and spotting them is all in the details—mismatched fonts, misaligned logos, rounded deposit amounts, or addresses that don’t line up. I’ve seen paystubs with inconsistent formatting or bank statements that just don’t feel right.

The biggest challenge is verifying employment, especially with privacy policies or fake companies. I’ve had tenants who looked great on paper but quickly became unreliable.

One thing that helps is including an authorization form in your application that gives consent to verify income and previous rental history. I also make a point to verify employers independently and closely review document formatting. A good eye and thorough process can save you a lot of trouble.