What about Lawn Care/snow removal?

Lawn care?

Comps don't support the cost.It was a lawn mower lol.

Also, some landlords might include utilities (I include some of the lienable utilities to be certain they get paid) or services (maybe lawn care and snow removal).

The replys are missing my point.I was probably unclear in my original question.For this discussion the pros and cons of doing work yourself and paying someone else is irrelevant.My question is:When I choose to do work myself, when I look at the numbers my profits are artificially high.Should I literally pay myself to make the numbers reflect reality?

It's hard to go wrong- you can get easy financing, get practice being a landlord , and hopefully your tenant will mow the lawn while you're in Japan!

I get this from one of our neighbors- a rental if it is run down and has loud trashy tenants and cars on blocks would diminish value and rightly cause neighbors anger-- all our rentals are in well established developments-- I give my card to both side neighbors and ask them to please call us if there is excess noise, traffic, residents,etc-- it creates much good will & I also tell the new renter that we have done this with the neighbors-- it puts renters on notice that you will find out about unmoved lawns, animals, etc. as long as your home looks like a home and not a shabby obvious rental, your neighbors will calm down.

I'm paying only closing cost.Rent = 650 + 425 + 315 = 1,390Taxes + Insurance = 208Water, Refuge, Lawn/Snow, Permits/Inspections = 295Separate gas & electric paid by tenants.I'm allocating $100 for short term repairs and $100 for long term repairs.Total Exp = 703Cash Flow = 687100% Occupancy = $687 -- Cap Rate equals 16.590% Occupancy = $549 -- Cap Rate equals 13.1680% Occupancy = $410 -- Cap Rate equals 9.8350k at 4.25% over 7/20 years = 310 monthly payment

Baby sit your neighbor's kids, mow a lawn, delivery newspapers - it doesn't matter.

We wait until we've taken possession and have done at least a few days of prettying it up so it shows as well as possible.If we post For Rent signs in the lawn or in windows it stops mail delivery, so we don't use that clause any longer.Agree the focus should be on retaining current tenants, maybe offering discounts for renewing leases and focus on keeping them happy.