New Future landlord

[Simon Aristizabal]

Hello!

I am a new want to be real estate investor. I am on my way to close on my first owner occupied two family. The unit that I will not be living in is vacant.

I have read a lot about how to be a landlord and how to bring good tenants in and all. But then I lack the experience so there are a lot of things I will probably not do because I do not know it all.

Could I please get some tips, tricks, ideas on how to be a landlord? (Perhaps how to word an ad for the unit, how to get a legal lease and application)

I have heard of ideas such as paying a visit to the prospect tenants and checking how they live in their current place. But inside of me I feel like I would be judging/discriminating them because of that and I am not sure if that would be illegal?

I have also heard about creating policies to protect myself as a landlord and making sure prospect tenants understand what I do not allow for applicants and for the future tenant. My question about that is, how do you create those policies? Is it just literally creating a list of items/things not allowed by me and attaching it to the lease and application?

I may be just overthinking it, that is why I am looking for some advice here... my time will soon come to be a landlord and I want to do it right from the start.

Any advice, tips, ideas, or tricks would be really appreciated!

Thanks!