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Most landlords spend years building a rental portfolio — and almost no time planning what happens to it when they're gone. Whether you have no estate plan in place or think you have everything handled, this episode may reveal a gap you didn't know existed.

In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, Kevin and Stacie walk through the most common estate planning mistakes rental property owners make — many of which they discovered firsthand when creating their own living trust. From assuming a simple will is enough, to forgetting to fund the trust as your portfolio grows, to mismatched documents between spouses, this conversation covers the practical and emotional side of getting your estate plan right.

They also cover two estate planning tools that many landlords overlook entirely: Power of Attorney and the stepped-up basis tax rule — and they explain why having a Standard Operating Procedures manual is just as important as the legal documents themselves when it comes to protecting your rental business and the people you love.

LINKS & REFERENCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Episode 6 – Standard Operating Procedures for Landlords

Power of Attorney Article – Your Landlord Resource

Property Management Software with Digital Lease and Tenant Records Management:

• TurboTenant

• Innago

• Avail

• DoorLoop

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Most landlords don't think twice when a teenager has been living in their rental for years. But the moment that kid turns 18, something quietly shifts — and if you're not paying attention, it can cost you.

In this Shorty episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, Kevin and I dig into one of those landlord blind spots that doesn't announce itself until something goes wrong. We're talking about what actually happens — legally and practically — when a minor living in your rental unit becomes an adult, and why doing nothing about it is one of the riskiest moves you can make as a self-managing landlord.

Here's what surprises most people: screening an 18-year-old occupant has nothing to do with income. You're not evaluating whether they can pay rent — their parent is still responsible for that. What you are doing is finding out if this adult, who now has zero legal obligation to you, has any background history you should know about before letting the situation continue unchecked.

We share two real stories from our own experience — including one from our own portfolio that, honestly, we're still a little embarrassed about — and walk through the difference between adding a young adult as a full co-tenant versus using an adult occupant addendum, and why that distinction matters more than most landlords realize. We also talk through what happens when something catastrophic occurs with the primary leaseholder, and why having the right lease language in place before that birthday arrives can save everyone from an impossible situation.

If you have a tenant with a teenager living in your rental — or you're drafting a new lease and kids are part of the household — this one is for you.

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Most landlords know they need photos to market a vacant rental. But if that's the only time your camera comes out, you're leaving serious money — and legal protection — on the table.

In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, Kevin and I dig into why rental property photos are one of the most underutilized tools in a self-managing landlord's toolkit. From attracting quality tenants to winning security deposit disputes, the right photos taken at the right time can make all the difference in how you operate your rental business.

We share a real story from our own portfolio — a move-out that was anything but clean — and how our documentation photos saved us from a potential dispute. We also get into the debate between smartphone photography and hiring a professional, and Kevin walks through exactly how he takes our listing photos to get the best results without spending a dime on a photographer.

Whether you're a new landlord building your systems or a seasoned property owner who's been winging it on photos, this episode will give you a clear, practical framework you can put to work immediately.

LINKS & REFERENCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Episode 23 Tips on Marketing Your Rental Property

Blog Post: Tips for Taking Great Rental Property Photos

Kevin's Tripod Used for Marketing Photos

Kevin's Gimbal (for video walkthroughs)

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Running rental properties efficiently often comes down to having the right systems in place. In this episode, Kevin and I walk through a very effective landlord system we’ve created for our rentals — our unit binder.

A unit binder for landlords is a simple system we place inside every rental unit that answers common tenant questions, explains how appliances work, and provides helpful information about the property. Over time, this system has dramatically reduced tenant questions, prevented unnecessary maintenance calls, and helped our tenants handle everyday situations more independently.

Inside the binder we include property information like trash schedules, parking rules, inspection expectations, and appliance care instructions. We also use QR codes that link to short instructional videos so tenants can troubleshoot common issues without needing to contact us.

What started as a simple idea has turned into one of the most valuable landlord systems we use in our rental business. It helps our tenants feel supported while also allowing us to manage our properties more efficiently.

If you’re a self-managing landlord looking to reduce tenant questions, prevent maintenance issues, and operate your rentals more professionally, let us walk you through how our unit binder system works and how you can build one for your own properties.

LINKS & REFERENCES

Episode 119 Roommate Tenants and Why We Don’t Prefer Them

KwikSet Halo Smart Lock Touchscreen & Deadbolt:

Kwikset Halifax Passage Doorknob

QR Code Generator

Emergency Gas Shutoff Wrench

Front Load Washer Door Prop

Garbage Disposal Hex Key

Clean Dryer Lint Trap Sign

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Owning rental property isn’t just about collecting rent — it’s about running a service-based business. And whether landlords realize it or not, their tenants are customers. The way you communicate, handle maintenance, and manage the living experience inside your rental property can directly impact tenant satisfaction, lease renewals, and the long-term success of your rental business.

In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, Kevin and I talk about why customer service is such an important part of being a landlord. Many owners assume the best strategy is to simply stay out of the tenant’s way and only respond when something goes wrong. But in our experience, landlords who focus on communication, responsiveness, and professionalism tend to build stronger tenant relationships and experience fewer problems over time.

We share real examples from our own rental properties about responding to maintenance requests, communicating repair plans, notifying tenants about work being done on the property, and creating clear communication procedures. We also discuss why tenants should always have a backup contact when landlords are unavailable and how small gestures — like welcome gifts or birthday cards — can make tenants feel valued.

These simple practices may seem small, but they can make a significant difference in how tenants perceive their landlord and their living experience.

If you want to improve tenant relationships, reduce turnover, and run your rental property more professionally, this episode will give you practical ideas to strengthen the customer service side of your rental business.

LINKS & REFERENCES

Episode 87 Essential Communication Methods Every Landlord Should Know

TouchUp Cups

3M Claw Picture Hanger

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Spring is the perfect time for landlords to take a close look at their rental properties after months of winter weather. Wind, rain, snow, and temperature swings can cause hidden damage that many owners won’t notice until problems become expensive repairs.

In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, Kevin and I share the five spring maintenance tips we focus on every year to help protect our rentals. These inspections help identify small issues before they turn into major structural problems that can cost thousands of dollars to fix.

We talk about everything from inspecting roofs and cleaning gutters to checking mechanical systems like HVAC units and water heaters before summer arrives. We also explain why communicating with your tenants before inspections can help uncover problems you might otherwise miss.

Spring is also a great time to evaluate curb appeal, landscaping, and exterior safety issues such as loose railings, cracked walkways, and damaged siding. Even small maintenance tasks can make a big difference in protecting property value and keeping tenants safe and happy.

If you own rental property, these spring maintenance tips will help you stay proactive, reduce costly repairs, and keep your investment property running smoothly all year long.

LINKS & REFERENCES

FREE Spring Maintenance Checklist

Episode 4 – Importance of Rental Property Inspections

Episode 42: Deck and Balcony Safety Beyond California SB-721

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Domestic abuse protections in rental housing are something most landlords hope they never have to deal with. Unfortunately, situations involving harassment, intimidation, or safety concerns can arise unexpectedly, and when they do, landlords must understand the legal protections involved.

We share a real experience encountered when a tenant invoked domestic abuse protection and legally withdrew from their lease after only four months. While the situation did not involve physical violence, the tenant claimed ongoing bullying and emotional harassment and provided legal documentation that allowed their lease termination with only 14 days’ notice.

We walk through what happened behind the scenes, including the difficulty landlords can face when privacy laws prevent them from sharing information with other tenants involved. Even though our lease contained clauses related to tenant behavior and the right to quiet enjoyment, we learned that eviction decisions require very specific types of evidence that landlords can legally present.

This experience reminded us that being a landlord isn’t only about collecting rent and maintaining property. Sometimes it means navigating sensitive human situations while carefully following housing laws and protecting everyone involved.

If you’ve never encountered a tenant’s domestic abuse claim, this episode will help you understand the legal basics, privacy considerations, and practical lessons we learned the hard way.

LINKS & REFERENCES

Episode 119 Roommate Tenants, Why We Don’t Prefer Them

EZLandlord Forms

TurboTenant

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At first glance, renting to roommates seems like a great idea for landlords. Two tenants splitting the rent should make larger units easier to fill and potentially increase your rental income.

But after years of managing rental properties, Kevin and I have learned that roommate situations can bring a unique set of challenges.

In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, we share our real-world experience renting to roommates and explain why we personally prefer not to. While many roommate households start with the best intentions, they often represent a temporary life stage for renters.

We also discuss the operational issues landlords may face with roommate households, including lease modifications, deposit disputes, personality conflicts, and increased turnover.

However, roommates can also be a great option in certain markets and property types.

Listen in as we break down the pros, cons, and landlord strategies for managing roommate rentals.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

• Why roommate households often lead to shorter tenancy periods
• Common landlord challenges when renting to unrelated tenants
• How roommate turnover can create qualification issues
• Why deposit disputes are more common with shared housing
• Situations where renting to roommates actually works well
• Why “joint and several liability” is critical in your lease
• How clear replacement and guest policies protect landlords
• Why landlords should align tenant types with their long-term strategy

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