No matter which way you slice it, you’re in the business of turning a profit. You didn’t become a landlord as some saintly act of giving back to society.

You did it because you want to put your money to work and generate income. Unfortunately, you may be making costly mistakes that are killing your profitability.

4 Expensive Mistakes Landlords Must Avoid

Successful landlords aren’t cheap, but they are definitely cost-conscious. In other words, they understand that costs add up over time, so they make smart choices to maximize revenue.

For example, a $100 mistake might not seem like a big deal in isolation. But if you’re making a $100 mistake every month on three different properties that you own, you’re costing yourself $300 per month—or $3,600 per year!

This can create cash flow issues and prevent you from being able to accomplish your long-term goals.

There’s a time and place for spending money to set yourself up for success. However, there are also ways you can limit your expenses to maximize your revenues. Here are some expensive mistakes to avoid.

1. Investing in the Wrong Properties

You make your money when you buy a property. Repeat that out loud: You make your money when you buy a property.

The biggest profitability problem landlords have is created by investing in the wrong properties—or overpaying for the right ones. If you make either of these mistakes, you’ll find it nearly impossible to generate a profit that’s worth your time and energy.

Bad properties have slim margins and a tendency to need lots of work. While you won’t find a perfect rental property, you should practice greater patience and seek out ones that have the opportunity for greater gains. This will provide more margin for error.

2. Poor Tenant Screening

After selecting the right property and making a smart investment, nothing matters more than tenant selection. And if you don’t have the right screening processes in place, you could seriously impact your long-term profitability.

A bad tenant will cost you in multiple ways, including:

• Late rent checks and/or missed payments
• Lack of care for property (frequent maintenance issues)
• Violation of lease agreement terms
• High turnover
• Failing to leave the property in good condition upon moving out

The list could go on and on. If you aren’t carefully screening tenants, then you’re taking a major risk.

Should you end up with a bad tenant who has financial issues and a lack of regard for your property, it could cost you thousands of dollars. By enhancing your tenant screening, you’ll minimize these instances and maximize profitability.

3. Overpaying for Insurance

In the pursuit of efficiency, a lot of landlords make the mistake of quickly accepting whatever insurance or personal loan products they’re offered. However, in their haste to move on, they end up overspending.

It’s easier than ever to shop around and compare rates. Services like GoBear allow people to analyze and compare hundreds of products from dozens of providers in a matter of minutes.

Landlords who are conscientious about saving in this area will enjoy meatier profits.

4. Selecting the Wrong Finishes

Be smart with the finishes you choose for your rental property. You want designs that look good yet don’t require expensive replacements after every tenant moves out.

Carpet, for example, is cheap and easy to ruin. Stains, rips, and snags often mean landlords have to replace it between each tenant.

For a little more money, you could purchase vinyl plank flooring and get a better look with greater durability and longevity.

Take Control Over Your Cash Flow

In the end, there’s a very fine line that separates highly successful landlords/real estate investors from the average ones who barely scrape by. It comes down to purposeful cash flow management and intelligent, proactive decision-making.

Profitability is the name of the game. If you aren’t doing everything you can to increase revenues and limit expenses, you’re missing out on a chance to maximize your profits.

Article Source: https://www.biggerpockets.com/