Long-Term Rentals: Everything You Need to Know Before You Self-Manage

Thinking about investing in long-term rentals? Finding the property is only half the battle. Getting it rent-ready, landing great tenants, and keeping everything running smoothly is where successful landlords get it right. So today, we're flipping the script and bringing Ashley into the hot seat to share exactly how she does it, and the costly mistakes to avoid along the way!

Welcome back to the Real Estate Rookie podcast! Tony has spent years running short-term rentals, but in just three weeks, he'll be self-managing a long-term rental for the first time. So Ashley, our resident long-term rental expert, is giving him a full crash course on everything she's learned from owning and operating long-term rentals.

Ashley walks us through her make-ready “punch” list—including how to decide what your rental actually needs before you rent it out. Next, we’ll learn why it pays to list your rental early, how to run showings and open houses, and how to move applicants smoothly from first viewing to signed lease. Ashley also breaks down her step-by-step process for screening tenants and spotting red flags, setting clear income requirements, collecting a holding deposit, handling move-in inspections, and what every lease agreement should cover.

Whether you're buying your first long-term rental or deciding whether to self-manage, this episode gives you the full playbook to get started!

In This Episode We Cover

The make-ready “punch” list for turning your home into a rental

How to decide which appliances to leave 

Why you should list your rental before you move out

Showings vs. open houses (and why most booked showings never show)

How Ashley screens tenants and spots fake pay stubs

Holding deposits, prorated rent, and move-in inspections explained

And So Much More!