Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property - 5th Edition by Michael Boyer (Paperback)

About the Book

Small-time landlords are a key market for Nolo and account for some of our bestselling titles, notably Every Landlord's Legal Guide, First-Time Landlord, Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide, and The California Landlord's Law Book. This book fills a huge gap in Nolo's library of landlord titles by focusing on the everyday practical issues affecting landlords who want to manage their properties (and tenants) themselves.

Book Synopsis

The ultimate property management guide for the do-it-yourself landlord!

Written for the millions of landlords who own a single-family home, condo, or small (fewer than four units) rental property, Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property covers everyday skills a hands-on landlord needs, including how to:

• retain good, long-term tenants


• handle maintenance such as snow removal, toilet clogs, and painting


• avoid conflicts over late rent, unauthorized roommates, and move-out procedures


• limit costly tenant turnover and vacancies


• manage condos and deal with association restrictions


• track income and expenses and prepare for tax time


• hire and work with repairpersons, lawyers, and other contractors, and


• balance landlording with a day job or other pursuits.

The 5th edition is completely updated to cover the latest issues affecting small-scale landlords, including updates to tax laws and advice on incorporating rental properties into a side hustle or FIRE strategy.

Review Quotes

"The rental market continues to grow even as the for-sale market recovers. Rents are rising and inventory is dropping, and the gap is being filled increasingly by small landlords with just one or two properties. Michael Boyer's Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property is a must-have survival guide for newcomers to the market." Alan J. Heavens, Residential Real Estate Columnist/the Philadelphia Inquirer

"The ultimate property management guide for do-it-yourself landlords who own a single-family house, condo, or duplex. The best do-it-yourself landlording book on the market, packed with tips every DIY'er will love." DoItYourself.com

"If you are or will be a landlord, you simply need this book!" Gary Ransone, Author of the Contractor's Legal Kit

"This practical guide is written especially for small-scale, part-time landlords renting houses, condos, or small rental properties. The book reviews types of properties, then covers knowing the market, selecting rental properties, working with service contractors, and preparing each room for rental. There are several chapters on attracting, choosing, and keeping tenants, screening criteria, credit checks, lease terms, and communicating with tenants. One chapter is devoted to using the services of lawyers, accounts, and insurance professionals. The final chapter gives instructions on tracking income and expenses for tax purposes. A companion web site offers forms, FAQs, and a directory of landlord-tenant lawyers by geographical region, along with videos, podcasts, and blogs." Eithne O'Leyne Editor, ProtoView

"Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property: Best Practices, From Move-In to Move-Out" by experienced landlord Michael Boyer is specifically designed for the novice landlord who own a single-family home, condo, or small (less than four unit) multiplex. This informed and informative instructional guide will show them how to keep their day job and manage their properties (and tenants) on the side. It also provides the best practical and legal compliance advice for small-time landlords who want to manage and grow a successful rental property business with a personalized approach and minimal hassle and cost. This book focuses on everyday skills the do-it-yourself landlord needs, including property oversight and maintenance, effective communication with tenants, and general management. It covers a wide range of topics, such as how to: market and differentiate your rental units from the competition; handle nitty-gritty maintenance from snow removal to toilet clogs to painting; screen and deal with tenant issues like late rent payments, pet problems, clutter, unauthorized occupants, and other conflicts; track income and expenses for filing taxes and completing Schedule E; hire and work with outside contractors, lawyers, and other help; and so much more. Simply stated, "Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property: Best Practices, From Move-In to Move-Out" is the ultimate property management guide for the novice landlord and has a great deal of relevant value for even the more experienced property owner. Of special note is the section devoted to 'Tracking Landlord Income and Expenses for Tax Time'. Practical, comprehensive, informed and informative, "Every Landlord's Guide to Managing Property" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community library Small Business collections." Midwest Book Review by Michael J. Carson

FROM THE AUTHOR:

As a small-time residential landlord, I've learned a lot in my many years of owning and managing residential rental property. I started out in this business when, rather than selling a condo that our family outgrew, I simply rented it out. I soon repeated the process so that I had four condo rentals, and then added a fourplex.

Like many residential property owners, I have a day job. Many times on my way to or from work, I do a quick change of clothes (and change of roles), from college professor to landlord. As a small operator without a staff, I am a hands-on property manager.

I've never changed clothes in a phone booth or leapt a tall building in a single bound, but with some exceptions (such as when I need to hire a contractor) I do everything myself--from choosing tenants to unclogging toilets. This book is about this endeavor, a guide specifically for the part-time landlord balancing a rental property with work and life.