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Know the difference!

A tornado WATCH means tornadoes are possible in and near your area. Be ready to act fast!

A tornado WARNING means Take Action! A tornado is near. There is danger. Move to safe location right away.

What Should You Do Before a Tornado?

Find Shelter Locations from High Winds in the Places Where You Spend a Lot of Time

• Find a safe room built to withstand high winds. The next best protection is a small room with no windows on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
• Mobile, manufactured, trailer homes and recreational vehicles (RVs) are not safe in high wind events. Plan ahead by finding a sturdy building to shelter in before a tornado watch or warning.

Practice Tornado Drills

• With your entire household, practice moving quickly to the safe locations that you identified.
• Create a personal support team of people you may assist and who can assist you.
• If you live in a mobile home, practice going to a safe place.

Plan to Stay Connected

• Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
• Plan to monitor local weather and news.
• Have a backup battery or a way to charge your cell phone.
• In case of a power outage, have a battery-powered radio.
• Know the difference:
  • Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Be ready to act fast!
  • Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado is near. There is danger. Move to safe location right away.
• You may not always receive a tornado warning. Know the signs of a tornado. Take shelter if you feel you are in danger.

Gather Emergency Supplies

• Gather food, water, and medicine.  Stores and pharmacies might be closed. Organize supplies into a Go-Kit and a Stay-at-Home-Kit:
  • Go-Kit: at least 3 days of supplies that you can carry with you. Include batteries and chargers for your devices (cell phone, CPAP, wheelchair, etc.)
  • Stay-at-Home Kit: at least 2 weeks of supplies. 
• Have a 1-month supply of medication in a child-proof container, and other needed medical supplies or equipment. 
• Keep personal, financial, and medical records safe and easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up). Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you.

Learn Emergency Skills

• Learn First Aid and CPR to help others. 
• Be ready to live without power. Utilities may be offline. Be ready to live without power, gas, and water. Plan for your electrical needs, including cell phones and medical equipment. Talk to your doctor. Plan for backup power.

Do outdoor chores early in the morning.

If you must do things like cut the grass or other outdoor work, start early in the morning when temperatures are low. We recommended getting up as soon as it’s bright enough for you to see what you’re doing. Depending on where you live, this can be as early as 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.

Dress appropriately.

Sometimes you won’t be able to make a fashion statement with summer outfits, and that’s okay! The focus is to keep you cool during the summer heat, so the lighter the clothes are the better. If you have a pair of old jeans you’ve been thinking about tossing, consider cutting them into shorts instead!

Go swimming.

This wouldn’t be a complete list if we didn’t include this one. Swimming has been a favorite summer activity for many people for centuries, and for good reason. Wanna stay cool? Take a dip in the pool! If you don’t have a private pool accessible to you, check public pools available in your area, or head to a beach or lake if you live near one.

Limit stove and oven use.

If you need to use your oven or stove on a hot day, try to be as quick and efficient as possible. We recommend prepping your food before you turn the stove on so you can start cooking as soon as it’s fully heated up.

Start your car early before getting in.

We know how long it can take for cars to cool off during extreme heat. If you have the ability to auto-start your car so that the AC is running before you get in, we recommend doing so. If you do this, always make sure your doors are locked.

Stay in air-conditioned buildings.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing like relaxing in some air conditioning (AC) on a hot summer day. If you don’t have AC in your home, consider spending time in public indoor places such as malls, museums or restaurants where you can enjoy their services and cool off at the same time.

Stay hydrated.

This is one of the most important tips on this list. If you’re going to be in the heat for long periods at a time, you need to be hydrated. Some studies recommend drinking eight cups of water a day, but it may be best to do some research on what best for your height and weight. Did you know cold water can lower your body temperature? If you’re not staying hydrated, staying cool in the heat may be difficult and you could find yourself in a dangerous situation.

Take cool showers.

If the heat has already gotten to you and you need a fast way to cool down, a cool shower can help. Get the water as cool as you can stand it and hop in. This will keep your body temperature down and feel very refreshing.

Use fans around the house.

If you don’t have air conditioning, or if the air conditioning isn’t working fast enough, fans are a great alternative. There are many different types of fans to choose from at different price points.

Now that you know how to stay cool in the heat, you can keep your pets cool too!

In this article:

• Buy an investment property
• Budget for unexpected costs
• Understand landlord tenant laws
• Purchase landlord insurance
• Get your property move-in ready
• Determine how much rent to charge
• Market the rental property
• Screen prospective tenants
• Sign tenants to a lease agreement
• Maintain the property
• Stay organized
• Decide if you want to hire a property manager

Whether you’re considering renting out a home you currently own or purchasing an investment property, becoming a landlord requires time, money and a thorough understanding of laws and best practices. This landlord guide provides tips and advice on how to become a landlord, so you know what to expect before you start managing tenants and property.

Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Zillow Group, Inc. does not make any guarantees about the sufficiency of the information in or linked to from this guide, or that it’s compliant with current, applicable or local laws. Landlord-tenant laws change rapidly and may be regulated at the federal, state and local levels. This resource is not a substitute for the advice or service of an attorney; you should not rely on this resource for any purpose without consulting with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Here are the 12 steps to becoming a landlord:

1. Buy an investment property

Before purchasing an investment property or renting out one you already own, make sure it has the potential to produce positive cash flow in current market conditions. Here are some things to look for in an ideal rental property:

• It’s within your financial budget.
• It’s in good condition (no major repairs are needed).
• It offers a potentially high return on investment.

If you’ve found multiple properties that make for an attractive investment, here are some factors to help you choose one:

• The property is close to your home.
• The property is in a walkable neighborhood — according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report 2019, 56% of renters find this important.
• The neighborhood feels safe (77% of renters find this important).
• The property offers an easy commute to the city’s center (57% of renters find an easy commute to work or school important).

Many landlords own single-family homes, condos and multi-unit buildings. The type of property you end up purchasing will determine the amount you’ll have to finance, budget for repairs and — most importantly — the profit you’ll make. However, the larger the property, the more labor-intensive it may be, and the more it may cost to make repairs.

2. Budget for unexpected costs

Decide how much you want to earn to make the investment property worth your time and effort. Budget out any financial projections for the property, and prepare for surprise expenses and missed rental payments. This is especially important for a first-time landlord who may be using a chunk of their life savings to purchase an investment property.

Common expenses for a rental property:

• Landlord insurance for accidents, sudden loss and liability
• Maintenance and repair costs
• Rental licensing, mandatory inspections and annual registration fees
• Property and rental income tax

Expenses to pay even if your rental sits vacant:

• Mortgage payments
• Utilities
• Property taxes
• Marketing or advertising fees

Additional expenses to budget for:

• Bookkeeping or accounting fees (if you don’t do them yourself)
• Property management fees (if you choose to hire a property manager)
• Legal fees for lease review and in the event of an eviction

3. Understand landlord-tenant laws

One of the most important steps to become a landlord is understanding landlord-tenant laws. These landlord requirements are set by states, so they vary across the country. Familiarize yourself with your state’s landlord-tenant laws to prevent unnecessary litigation or extra paperwork.

4. Purchase landlord insurance

Landlord insurance will protect your property from accidents and sudden loss and protect you and your financial assets in the event of a liability claim. If you’re a first-time landlord, check with your insurance agency to see what type of coverage you need — it will likely be different than the coverage required if you lived on the property. Landlord insurance typically covers:

• Your property’s structure
• Legal costs associated with your property
• Medical expenses associated with your property
• Loss of rental income if repairs are needed

One important thing to note is that a landlord is typically not responsible for a tenant’s belongings — so always encourage your tenants to purchase renters insurance.

5. Get your property move-in ready

Your rental needs to be livable— at the very least — but in good condition ideally. Make sure you fix any known issues and install any upgrades that make the rental more attractive and comfortable to renters. Here are some tips to prepare your rental property:

Clean the property. Vacuum or sweep the floors and wipe down all floorboards, walls, counters and cabinets. Eliminate any bad odors, and landscape the yard if it’s in rough condition.

Ensure the property is up to code. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and have the electrical system professionally checked. Make sure all doors, windows and gates function and latch properly.

Make any needed repairs. Fix any broken fixtures, railings, stairs, holes or water leaks. You’ll also want to make sure all appliances are working, and replace any damaged or worn flooring.

6. Determine how much rent to charge

It’s important to charge a reasonable amount of rent. Set the rent too low and you’ll miss out on potential profit, but too high and you won’t attract renters. Fortunately, figuring out how much rent to charge isn’t too hard. Get started by checking the cost of similar rentals in your area then factor in utilities and budget for repairs. Make sure to stay on top of changing market conditions, and work with a legal professional to be sure you give the appropriate amount of notice for any rent increases.

Did you know that 58% of renters say they want to pay their rent online, but only 36% are given that option? Aside from being a preferred option by renters, online rent collection makes it easy to keep track of your rental income — and you can even set up automatic payments.

7. Market the rental property

One of the steps to becoming a landlord is listing and marketing the property. You’re responsible for filling vacancies by posting ads, hosting open houses and using other methods to attract renters. However, since most rental property marketing can be done online, this step is easier than you might think.

Advertise the property for rent

With Zillow Rental Manager, you can create one property listing that gets posted across Zillow, Trulia and HotPads. All you need to do is:

• Take high-quality photos of the interior and exterior.
• Write a rental ad that highlights policies, features and upgrades.

Host a rental open house

In addition to online listings, you may choose to host an open house for prospective renters. If you do, it’s a good idea to:

Stage the property. This lets potential tenants picture themselves living there and gives them an idea of how much furniture can fit in each room.

Have rental applications handy. Set up a tablet with internet access in the living room or kitchen so interested renters can complete an application.

Hand out flyers. Give potential tenants something to take with them — include a couple photos and features of the property, along with instructions on how to apply.

8. Screen prospective tenants

The screening process is where you determine if a renter will be a reliable tenant. You’ll collect rental applications and run credit and background checks on each prospective tenant over the age of 18. As a landlord, you must comply with all applicable fair housing laws throughout this process.

Considering many renters live with others, you should be prepared to review and screen multiple tenants for your property. Rental applications provide you with a renter’s background and history, including:

• Personal information like their name, phone number and email address
• Household information like additional occupants and pets
• Current and previous residences
• Employment and income
• Prior evictions or bankruptcies

If an applicant meets your basic requirements, you can proceed to run a background and credit check to verify the information in a prospective tenant’s application.

9. Sign tenants to a lease agreement

The lease agreement sets rules and expectations for both the tenant and the landlord. It’s important to ensure your lease complies with all applicable laws. Here’s our recommended process for finalizing lease agreements:

• Customize your lease.
• Run the lease by a legal professional.
• Review the lease with your tenant.
• Have you and your tenant sign and date the lease.
• Provide your tenant with a copy of the lease, and store your copy securely.

You can use a tool like Zillow Rental Manager to build a custom lease online, or you can hire a property manager to handle the lease agreement. Either way, there are standard policies and terms that all leases should have.

10. Maintain the property

Maintaining the property not only keeps your tenants happy, but it ensures you’ll be able to keep renting to future tenants without having to do major upgrades or repairs. Consider performing these tasks regularly:

• Pest control
• Cleaning gutters
• Servicing HVAC units
• Property walkthroughs
• Confirming and updating your landlord insurance

It’s a good idea to set a portion of your rent aside for maintenance and repair tasks. Many landlords use the 50% rule, where they set aside 50% of their rental income for repairs, maintenance, taxes and insurance. For example, if you charge $1,200 each month for rent, set $600 of that money aside to cover the above costs. Over the course of a year, you should expect to spend around 1% of the property’s value on maintenance.

11. Stay organized

Managing a rental property is a lot of work — especially for a first-time landlord. It’s one thing to figure out how to start renting property and another to stay organized and turn a profit. Here are some tips:

• Document all communication with tenants, maintenance people, and anyone else who uses or works on the property.
• Securely store all rental applications, lease agreements, repair bills and insurance documents.
• Create receipts for rent payments and security deposits.
• Create a filing system for receipts from advertising costs, tenant reimbursements and utility bills.
• Keep digital and printed copies of all your documents.

If you have a method for organization and stick to it, you’ll find it easier to list deductions and file taxes. You’ll also be able to settle any financial disputes between you and your tenant or contractor.

12. Decide if you want to hire a property manager

If you’re looking to avoid many of the issues that landlords must deal with, you can hire a property manager to handle the entire rental process or just a part of it. 

If you plan on professional management from the start, you can negotiate your property purchases and rents to cover the added cost. It will cost you a percentage of the rent — in many cases 8% to 10% — but it could be well worth it. Plus, it’s a deductible expense.

Read more articles and tips on being a landlord at our Rental Resource Center.

1. Know the risks.

The first step to protecting your home is to know the risks. Tornadoes can happen anywhere, but they are more common in certain areas. If you live in a tornado-prone area, it’s important to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect your home.

2. Make a plan.

Once you know the risks, you need to make a plan for what you will do if a tornado strikes. This plan should include where you will go to take shelter, how you will get there, and what you will do with your pets.

3. Secure your home.

There are a number of things you can do to secure your home from a tornado. These include:

• Trim trees and shrubs away from your home.
• Install storm shutters or plywood over your windows.
• Secure loose items in your yard, such as patio furniture and garbage cans.
• Bring outdoor furniture and other objects indoors.
• Check the integrity of your roof and foundation.

4. Have an emergency kit.

An emergency kit is essential for staying safe during a tornado. Your kit should include food, water, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio, and a whistle.

5. Stay informed.

It’s important to stay informed about the weather conditions in your area. You can do this by listening to the radio or watching the news. If a tornado warning is issued, take shelter immediately.

By following these tips, you can help protect your home from damage in the event of a tornado. Remember, tornadoes can strike quickly and without warning, so it’s important to be prepared.

Here are some additional tips for protecting your home in a tornado:

• If you have a basement, this is the safest place to be during a tornado.
• If you don’t have a basement, go to the lowest level of your home and find an interior room without windows.
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, such as a table or desk.
• Cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Stay away from windows and doors.
• If you are outside, find a ditch or other low-lying area and lie face down.

Remember, the most important thing is to stay calm and take shelter as soon as possible.

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