Only good tenant screening can protect you to the best degree, and then follow that up with a month to month agreement, in case your best-screened tenant decides to move in some crazy lover or a pit bull.Use the Nolo Press landlord-tenant agreements. 

I had seven people slotted, 5 showed and of those, 2 would have likely met my criteria and signed leases.One thing I definitely learned: "we are still looking and we will get back to you" = they are not interested.  

I LOVE real estate and I'm really excited and don't want to make a stupid move just to get in the game. 

There is a $35.00 Non refundable background check that the applicant needs to pay to smartmove.Look at the ID of the person when they get to the property,.......and make sure it matches the person.....A quick tip on showing......and setting rental prices.......Do a "soft advertisement on Craigslist with all the info.....but without the actual address.....just the name of the street.....see if you get lots of responses quickly.......if you do......that means you need to take the ad down for a couple days and then re advertise it at a higher price..............I advertise on CL and when the phone rings.....Do NOT ANSWER.............let people leave voicemail .....you want to see if when they leave a message they sound like someone that you may feel comfortable talking with on a daily basis......And DO NOT DO OPEN HOUSES..............What you need to do is when the first person you talk to that you get a good vibe with expresses an interest in seeing the house......you tell them I'm showing it Saturday at 10am and Sunday at 3pm...........then be quiet.....they will pick a time.......and you repeat that process with everyone that calls and make sure it at or around the same time slot as everyone else.....Don't tell them other people will be there also......When they do show up and they see other people there also.....it creates more of a demand for the room :-)   Also...pick a time that is withinn 24 hours of talkin with the person....if you talk with them Monday afternoon....tell them you are showing it tonight at 7 and tommorow at 6.        

I leave a note in the door slot that says:  "Make sure you keep paying...We know where you live.   

So, they paint a red wall, and the tenant's furniture and artwork won't work and they hate red - you work harder to find the tenants who not only qualify, but love red feature walls.

H Shawn,Pet a fish and you get a wet hand.Pet a bird, I don't think they like that very much.If it were mine, I'd just ignore them, but have a TALK with the "Animal Lover" and make you policy on other critters VERY Clear.Good Luck! 

He regularly says, "I love real estate.

Do you love real estate or is this a means to an end for you?

We love real estate and have invested in Canada in the past.