That's why you charge them higher interest and make them prove they can pay rent for two years before the banks will trust them.

If you have a nicely maintained and upgraded property charge a premium.

They might have a means by which they can manage the property at a reasonable fee.Please note that which ever management agency you find they will charge you an extortionate fee to manage the property unless you lease it to a renter on a long term.In Houston you have many options.

Let's say a tenants asks the LLC to repair a broken deadbolt lock and it takes you 3-4 days to get around to it, and in the mean time someone breaks in and assaults your tenant, you could be charged with negligence towards the safety of your tenant--this is serious stuff.

Agents that won't talk to me 2 years ago are now sending me post cards asking if i'm still in the market.

Even assuming they're charging $600 for labor on the door, that leaved $4K for the deck, or $40/square foot for labor and materials.

As the bird dog, he has no way to get himself in the deal without a fee agreement so I ask him what he's going to charge.

Rule 1 of landlording; THE LANDLORD IS IN CHARGE.

, and how do you learn what the average rent you can charge is?

Depending on what area you're in, pass through charges go by different names, but the concept is the same.