Just a few things I did to help me save (and they added up):- Cut out the cable and use wifi/Netflix - Make coffee at home - Stop eating out, only making it a special occasion here and there- Stop buying unnecessary clothes - Switched from a 35$ a month gym to a $10 a month gym- Cut out "snacks" when grocery shopping- Quit smoking cigarettes - Be mindful of utilities, shut off lights at night, don't leave them on- And most importantly, stay busy.

Previous owner was a heavy smoker and left behind all furniture and personal staff(that was part of the deal).

If a tenant prepaid a year in advance and the PM passed along all the rent to you at the beginning, they'd have to bill & collect money from YOU to do necessary repairs to the unit during the year, they are not going to do that.As for the weed issue, most people I know smoke weed in some capacity these days, and I'd much rather have a weed smoker in my units than a cigarette smoker.

I will require parent co-signers, but I think I will do other basic things - "have you been evicted, how many people will be living in the house, are there any smokers, provide references" , etc.

@James WiseI don’t give it much thought really ,i just assume my tenants view me as a greedy evil slumlord that steals their PrecIous alcohol , CIgarette, and lottery money each month.

This apartment was occupied by smokers for 16 years.

Other evidence may be found in the floor ducts just below the registers (cigarette and reefer butts, hypodermic needles, other), so look before you vacuum and be careful what you touch.Face this head on.

I'm going to have the outside vinyl sided which will be the only cash I have left in the deal.Actual Monthly Expenses:Mortgage Principal & Interest: $380Monthly Taxes: $68.92Monthly Insurance: $63.75Cap-Ex: $95Vacancy/Credit Loss: $47.50Property Management: $50Total Expense including estimate for vacancy and cap-ex: $715.17Rented @ $950 per monthExpected Cash Flow: $234.83Living Room:Master Bed/Bath:Under the cardboard box in the pictures were about a hundred cigarette burns in the carpet...Between the 5 people and 3 dogs living here when I bought it there wasn't a blade of grass in the back yard:Still haven't done the vinyl but it sod does wonders and it only took 1 pallet. 

We pulled those out (all the previous tenants were indoor cigarette smokers so all drywall had to be removed from the entire property).

Hi All-My tenants just moved out after a year and the apartment reeks of cigarettes smoke.