You can rent it to yourself, but then you would also have to declare that income, so it becomes a wash and not a write-off?  

It took a year of washing to get the color right, and remove the stench!

Hey Mose, I'd say you're better off washing the walls with soap and water and then going with a paint w/ primer. 

I found myself occasionally going to a laundry mat or doing wash and fold. 

Bought a triplex in 2015 for $800k (Wash Park, Denver).

As for the smell, remove floor coverings such as carpets, remaining drapery, wash walls, and paint.

It tends to be a bit awkward organizing so the tenants wash by hand.

It is easy to access the supply lines for toilets, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, and outside spigots.

My feeling was he thought this was too risky at this point in our lives.

It may lend you a little privacy, but folks who want to find you will just look up who created the LLC and then find you.That being said, in MO, they are incredibly easy to set up, and are not that expensive to establish (~$50 last I checked, although that may have gone up) and doesn't require any input from an attorney or tax professional (in my state)Personally, I have an LLC bc I pay myself through an S-Corporation as a realtor...the savings come out in the wash, but it allows me to pay taxes quarterly and avoid end of the year surprises.Another reason you may need an LLC is if you are investing with partners, and/or seeking certain loan types ( I know hard money lenders often require an LLC)Once again, this isn't my wheelhouse, so at the end of the day, I would reach out to a tax professional to learn moreLong answer short: in my opinion, you do not need an LLC if your plan only involves renting out your inherited home