If your house is on the market but you haven’t gotten any offers you’re comfortable with, you may be wondering: what do I do if it doesn’t sell? And for a growing number of homeowners, that’s turning into a new dilemma: should I just rent it instead?
There’s a term for this in the industry, and it’s called an accidental landlord. Here’s how Yahoo Finance defines it:
Why This Is Happening More Often Right Now
And right now, the number of homeowners turning into accidental landlords is rising. Business Insider explains why:
Basically, sales have slowed down as buyers struggle with today’s affordability challenges. And that’s leaving some homeowners with listings that sit and go stale. And if they don’t want to drop their price to try to appeal to buyers, they may rent instead.
If renting your home has crossed your mind, here is one thing to keep in mind. Becoming a landlord wasn’t your original plan, and there’s probably a reason for that. It comes with a lot more responsibility (and risk) than most people expect.
So, if you find yourself toying with that option, ask yourself these questions first:
1. Does Your House Have Potential as a Profitable Rental?
Just because you can rent it doesn’t mean you should. For example:
Are you moving out of state? Managing maintenance from far away isn’t easy.
Does the home need repairs before it’s rental-ready? And do you have the time or the funds for that?
Is your neighborhood one that typically attracts renters, and would your house be profitable as one?
If any of those give you pause, it’s a sign selling might be the better move.
2. Are You Ready To Be a Landlord?
On paper, renting sounds like easy passive income. In reality, it often looks more like this:
Midnight calls about clogged toilets or broken air conditioners
Chasing down missed rent payments
Damage you’ll have to fix between tenants
3. Have You Thought Through the True Costs?
According to Bankrate, here are just a few of the hidden costs that come with renting out your home:
A higher insurance premium (landlord insurance typically costs about 25% more)
Fees for management (a property manager typically charges about 10% of the rent) Maintenance and advertising to find tenants
Gaps between tenants, where you cover the mortgage without rental income coming in
All of that adds up, fast.
While renting can be a smart move for the right person with the right house, if you’re only considering it because your listing didn’t get traction, there may be a better solution: talking to your current agent and revisiting the pricing strategy on your house first.
With their advice you can rework your strategy, relaunch at the right price, and attract real buyers to make the sale happen.
Bottom Line
Be sure to carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks of becoming a landlord before renting your home. For some homeowners, the hassle (and the expense) may not be worth it.
