The Screening Mistake That Costs Thousands: A bad tenant costs 10x more than a month of vacancy. Between unpaid rent, damage, and legal fees — one bad placement costs $10K-$20K. This is one of the <a href='/learn/hidden-costs'>hidden costs</a> that can destroy a deal. The Communication Playbook: Friendly but firm, responsive but boundaried. Respond within 24 hours. Document everything. Address late payments immediately. The Maintenance Balance: Clean, safe, functional — not luxury. Maintain big-ticket items preventatively. A $200 HVAC tune-up prevents a $10,000 replacement. When to Raise Rent: Keep good tenants at slightly below-market rent. Turnover costs 1-2 months vacancy plus $500-2,000 in repairs. Raise 2-3% annually, stay 5-10% below market. Consider the <a href='/learn/flip-vs-rent'>flip vs. rent trade-offs</a> and whether long-term renting still fits your <a href='/learn/common-mistakes'>risk profile</a>.