Common landlord chores - what to expect as an owner-occupant landlord.
Being a landlord takes some work, but most chores are simple and can be done quickly. Either you can handle them yourself, or you can hire someone - and I’ll talk about that later on. I take care of almost all of my own chores.
Some of the most common ones include:
Vacuuming the entrance way, stair and hall.
Sweeping off the porch.
Putting out the garbage cans once a week.
Spraying for bugs every month or two.
Picking up any litter around the property or changing a lightbulb.
These are all very manageable and doing them yourself will save you a lot of money. If you don’t want to be bothered, or are unable to do them, you can also hire somebody. As long as you make sure they get done.
How I handle things:
For shoveling snow, about half the time I will do it myself. In the summer I usually have a landscaper cut the grass for me. For my Denver AirBnB I have cleaners who do a terrific job. Most of these chores can be done at your convenience. That is one of the great things about being an owner-occupant landlord. So if I have a dentist appointment in the morning, or feel like taking a hike, the chores will wait until later.
Finding a helper can often be done on social media or Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors. For minor plumbing or electrical I will find someone on Taskrabbit. With Taskrabbit you can hire by the hour and schedule a specific time for them to show up.
The most important thing is this: tenants will follow your example. So if you neglect things, and let the place look sloppy, the tenants will do the same thing. On the other hand, if you keep the property clean, and the tenants see that you address problems quickly, they will show respect and treat your property nicely.
The landlord sets the example!
Some useful videos that you can share with your tenants for free:
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