Addressing Common Fears (And Solutions) For New Crestview Landlords
Becoming a landlord for the first time can feel intimidating especially if you’re renting out your home in Crestview for the first time. Between the unknowns of pricing, expenses, and tenant management, it’s natural to have questions (and a few fears).
At Kuntz Property Group, we help Crestview homeowners navigate these challenges every day and we’ve seen just about every situation possible. In this article, we’ll tackle the four biggest fears new Crestview landlords face and give you practical steps to overcome them with confidence.
1. The Numbers, Good and Bad
The first fear most new landlords face is not knowing the financial side of renting their home. You might not know what your property will rent for or how to calculate your potential income and expenses.
Start with a rental analysis, something that a local Crestview property management company can provide. This gives you accurate rental comps so you know how much your home can realistically earn each month.
From there, consider these common monthly expenses:
Mortgage payments
Property taxes
Insurance premiums
HOA fees (if applicable)
Ongoing maintenance
You should also plan to set aside 5-10% of your annual rental income for maintenance costs, plus additional savings for major capital expenses like HVAC replacement, roof repairs, or plumbing updates.
Tip: Being financially prepared upfront prevents surprises later and helps ensure your property stays profitable long-term.
2. Costs For Preparation
Another big concern for new landlords is the cost of preparing the home to be safely and attractively rented.
Some typical expenses to expect include:
Professional cleaning: Around $0.22–$0.25 per square foot
Carpet shampooing: $50–$75 per room for a standard home
Repairs or replacements: Keys, remotes, appliances, fixtures, etc
Handyman work: Minor repairs or touch-ups
Utilities: Depends on usage
Professional photos: Optional but highly recommended to help your listing stand out online
On average, if your home is in decent shape, you can expect to spend around ~$750 for a 1,500 sq. ft. home or ~$1,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. home to make it rent-ready.
If you choose to hire a Crestview property management company, factor in any leasing or setup fees into your preparation budget - they’re often worth it for the professional marketing and tenant screening alone.
Feel free to use our rent ready standards as a checklist in preparation for your rental home.
3. “What If My Home Doesn’t Rent?”
This is one of the most common fears we hear is “What if my property just sits empty?”
The truth is, vacancy risk is real, but it’s manageable with the right pricing, presentation, and marketing strategy.
Here’s what you can do:
Price accurately: Use verified rental comparables and keep pricing competitive. If the market suggests $2,000, don’t list it for $2,600.
Make it show-ready: A clean, repaired, and well-landscaped home always rents faster.
Use professional photos: First impressions happen online so make sure your listing stands out.
Be flexible: Allow for convenient showing times.
If your property isn’t getting interest after a couple weeks, try reducing the rent by $50-$100 weekly until you start receiving inquiries. A correctly priced and well-presented Crestview rental home almost always finds a tenant within 30 days.
You should be receiving at least 1-3 prospective renter leads per day if your home is priced and marketed correctly.
Click here to read our article on 3 proven strategies to marketing your Crestview rental property.
4. “What If I Get a Bad Tenant?”
Every landlord’s worst fear is a tenant who doesn’t pay, damages the home, or violates the lease. But here’s the good news: there are always solutions.
If your tenant falls behind on rent, you can:
Offer a payment plan (if appropriate)
Begin the eviction process (as a last resort)
If a lease violation occurs, you can serve a 7-day notice to cure, reminding the tenant of the lease terms and giving them a chance to fix the issue.
However, the most effective tool you have is communication.
Reach out, ask questions, and work with your tenant to find solutions before escalating. Most issues can be resolved with respectful, proactive dialogue.
And of course, hiring a professional Crestview property manager ensures all communication, documentation, and legal procedures are handled properly protecting you from stress and costly mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a landlord doesn’t have to be stressful especially when you’re prepared and supported.
By knowing your numbers, budgeting for preparation costs, pricing your home correctly, and having a plan for tenant issues, you can turn your Crestview home into a successful long-term investment.
If you’re new to renting and want professional guidance every step of the way, Kuntz Property Group can help.
We specialize in Crestview property management and make the process of renting your home simple, safe, and profitable.
