Carpets and fabrics can trap odors, so it's essential to clean them thoroughly.

So make sure it is written as twice a month payment (or every 2 weeks)A clear red flag is this person has no saving as a safety net.

But emergency repairs that affect health/safety, like a gas leak, are usually exempt from that limit by law and contract.

Another effective option is a removable acoustic door plug—essentially a thick, custom-cut foam or dense fiberglass "cork" that compresses into the door frame to seal off sound when not in use.

Your personal safety and security are your personal responsibility.

The tenants are essentially buying you a house!

Lesson learned: tenant screening is critical.So next time around, I decided to stay anonymous (for safety, since I live alone), and I hired a property manager hoping they’d screen better.

I took the property to my local C and it appraised for $121,000 and I could take out 70% of the value I paid off the original loan and got reimbursed exactly $30,000 so I essentially only "put" $2,000 down.

Safety items sure, but those should be fixed because tenants are currently living there.

Effective communication and setting clear expectations are essential.