I am completely unprepared. Please help.

[Brandon Holtzinger]

I have been reading bigger pockets and copying good articles, forms and tips into word documents. I have been listening to bigger pockets podcast and writing down important things. I have this stored on my computer. Nothing is in any order. Just stored in separate word documents. I am reading the suggested readings (landlording on autopilot, rich dad poor dad, etc).

My first rental is rented out and I am breaking all sorts of landlording rules (not laws). Renting to family. No lease agreement. I know this may end bad. I am prepared for that. I am trying to be more prepared to do things right the next time. I have learned so much from Bigger Pockets in a month than I ever thought possible.

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Lets just assume I am renting to Joe Blow off the street. He tells me he is moving out at the end of the week. Or if Joe Blow stops paying and I have to start the eviction process. I am completely unprepared for this situation.

Does anybody have a checklist for each stage of the rental process?

I want to be able to grab my checklist and start going down the list from the time he/she gives me the notice or stops paying until the time I have it rerented.

I hope I am making sense. I want to make a check list to make sure I don't forget anything in the process.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Joel Owens]

Brandon you really need to look at two things to get you going.

1.Most states have a " your state landlord tenant handbook" online in .pdf you can download for free from the Department of community affairs or other similar departments.

2.Go sit in someday at your local eviction courts for the area you will be owning property in. See how people argue on both sides and what kind of solutions are given.

Not having a lease and hoping for the best will get you out of this business within a few months. A judge will eat you up and the tenants will along with their attorneys if they have one. In some states are verbal agreement (no writing) is legal but generally held unenforceable in a court of law. So get it all in writing. A judge can interpret the law and what's on paper versus who do they believe with nothing in writing.

Family or no family it's business and every transaction should be handled professionally. No legal advice.