Starting the process of growing your real estate portfolio is a lot like starting a vehicle: You need the power to get going and momentum to keep moving. Once you leave the starting line, Newtonian physics is on your side; it’s a lot easier to keep things moving. Getting the power to overcome your initial inertia is the key! Acquiring the right information will take research—in real estate, knowledge is power.

Routine maintenance and inspections should include every area of your rental property. It's easy to remember to inspect floors, walls, appliances, and bathrooms between tenants or as part of your regular maintenance schedule. One of the questions many landlords seem to forget asking themselves is: "How are the basement, attic, and fireplace?"

We want to believe that every tenant who makes it through your screening process is going to be a model tenant. They'll take good care of the property, they'll follow the rules of the lease, and they'll pay the rent on time. 

Even with the best screening in place, tenants sometimes try to bend the rules or delay the rent payment. Different tenant issues require different responses from landlords—and sometimes it's hard to know what to do to protect your property and follow the law. If you're a new landlord, it's easy to get frustrated or feel helpless.