The work begins once you hold the keys. Treat the property like a professional business.

Use services like Zillow Rental Manager to run credit and background checks. A bad tenant is more expensive than a vacant unit [20].

Connect with a real estate agent who specializes in investments, a reliable contractor, and a tax professional who understands real estate law [9]. 🏠 Phase 4: Setting Up for Success

Include often-overlooked costs like landlord insurance, property management fees (typically 8-12% of rent), and a "vacancy fund" (5-10% of rent) [5, 10].