Are you considering owning a rental property in Central Mississippi? Make sure you know the surprising truth of being a landlord in Central Mississippi because it’s not always what you think it’s going to be…
Owning a rental property seems like a great idea. You buy it cheap, you find a tenant, and then you profit from the rental income while you manage the property… how hard could it be?
Problem is, it’s often much harder than people realize and you may find (as many landlords do) the surprising truth of being a landlord in Central Mississippi: You give up your personal life – no more private time, no more vacations, no more weekend getaways… all because you’re so busy as a landlord.
There’s the work required
Owning a rental will keep you busy. There’s the work required to find the property, then to fix it up, then to find a tenant, then to answer the phone from them every time they call. Even if they call late at night because the toilet is overflowing, you have to take their call and deal with it. That means: no more vacations, either, because what will happen if the toilet overflows while you’re in a different country? Ok, it’s not that bad, but you better have a good list of reliable vendors that your tenants know to call when you are not available.
There’s the time
Some landlords try to own a rental property while they have another job but many discover that it’s just as time-consuming… it’s like having a second full-time job! Between chasing down your tenants to fixing things around the house, it’s one thing after another and you may simply not have time to work at your other job… and that’s with ONE rental property. Landlords who own two or more are even busier.
There’s the cost
Rental properties aren’t cheap. Even renters are looking for all the bells and whistles that homebuyers want. Stainless appliances, granite or other solid surface countertops, a fresh coat of paint, and low maintenance floors are highly desirable with tenants too. Don’t forget Fido!!!! Tenants with a family pet are typically better tenants and will tend to stay longer. Nobody wants a big dog in an apartment! A fenced yard, additional fees for the potentail damage, and make sure you cover breeds that may be risky or even violate local ordinances. So, you get some rental income from the tenant, but you also have to take care of the property, fix it up, make upgrades, and repair it if the tenants trash it when they leave. In other words, the costs add up and the financial rewards of owning a rental property may not be there for you. Repair costs are a very important consideration as these costs can eat up your profits and your paycheck too. Be sure and factor in the costs of property insurance and property taxes also.
There’s the stress
When you add up all of those things so far, it equals STRESS! You’ve got so much to juggle with the rental property, and you worry about it constantly, and perhaps you even fear opening the mail because you may find bad news in the next envelope. That’s no way to live.
If you own a rental property and want to get rid of it, we can help. We buy properties (even frustrating rental properties that have damage or bad tenants you can’t get rid of). Can we make you an offer on yours? Call us or fill out the form below and Let’s Talk!
Thinking about “just one to try it out”?
Just one rental property typically will not cash flow or be worth the headache. Most landlords find they need 5 or more properties, excellent long term tenants, and help from a qualified property manager to really profit from rental properties.