Saving Hundreds, Losing Thousands: A Landlord’s Lesson

[Pedro Andrade]

Last week, I got a call from an accidental landlord who had been struggling to get his rental back on the market. He had moved to Central Florida, but ever since his tenant left ten months ago, he had been traveling to Fort Lauderdale every other week, trying to handle the renovations himself.

When I arrived at the property, I found him outside, working on the landscaping. Inside, the house was in solid shape—nothing major, just a few outdated light fixtures, some worn-out kitchen handles, and the need for a deep cleaning.

As we talked, he explained his plan: finish the yard work, then tackle the small repairs and he estimated 2 months for this, and then he’d be ready to hand it over for listing and management. But after running the numbers, I showed him how waiting another two months would cost him far more than the few hundred dollars he was trying to save. With market rents at $3,000 per month, every delay was a direct hit to his bottom line. I suggested bringing in my handyman and cleaning crew to get the house rent-ready in a matter of days instead of months.

It’s a common story—landlords trying to DIY their way to savings, only to lose thousands in lost rent. Do you know anyone who’s stuck in the same cycle?