Rental property maintenance is an integral part of being a landlord. But whether you’re managing your first rental or are planning to add another property to your portfolio, it’s essential to understand how to estimate rental property maintenance costs. 

In this article, we cover common methods used to estimate rental property maintenance expenses, different types of maintenance costs, and helpful rental property accounting platforms.

How Do I Calculate Maintenance Costs on A Rental Property?

There are various ways to estimate maintenance costs, such as the 50% rule, 1% rule, and square footage rule. The approaches differ slightly, but each rule ensures that you have enough available to cover routine maintenance and unexpected repairs.  

The 50% Rule

The 50% rule encourages landlords to set aside half of their monthly rental income for repairs, maintenance, and additional property management costs. If you charge your tenant $1,200 for rent, then $600 would go towards monthly expenses if you’re following the 50% rule. 

The 1% Rule

This method suggests that annual maintenance costs will total approximately 1% of the total property value. If your unit’s value is $300,000, plan to budget about $3,000 to spend on rental property maintenance. 

The Square Footage Rule 

Under these guidelines, landlords set aside $1 per square foot of the property. A 2,000-square-foot rental will require approximately $2,000 to maintain annually.

These are only a few of the general rules of thumb for estimating costs, but remember that they are only estimates. As an additional step, you can reach out to other landlords and property managers operating in the area for feedback on their costs and budgeting strategies via phone, social media, or an online community for landlords.

What Is Included in Rental Property Maintenance Costs?

Maintenance costs cover a wide range of expenses that can be separated into two categories: fixed and variable. Understanding these distinctions can help make estimating rental property maintenance costs more accurate.

Fixed Expenses Examples

Fixed expenses are costs that are paid for at regular intervals, such as monthly or annually. These expenses aren’t fixed at a specific price point but are recurring expenses to help maintain the property and operate your rental business. Here are some common examples of fixed property expenses.

1. Routine maintenance: Routine maintenance refers to the necessary fixes that a rental property requires. This includes tasks like landscaping, power washing windows and siding, replacing furnace filters, and more. Landlords can combine the costs of each task over the course of a month for a reliable estimate of this expense. 

2. Move-out repairs: These are repairs that you complete when a tenant’s lease has expired and they move out. After completing a move-out inspection, you can identify whether certain rooms require new paint, if the carpet needs to be shampooed, and more. 

3. Utilities: Utilities can include electricity, water, natural gas, and more. Before estimating this cost, consider who is responsible for paying utilities at your rental — the landlord or the tenant. If you cover them yourself, combine the total monthly fees to estimate what other months could cost. If you operate a multifamily rental, consider the utilities for common areas. Even if you include utilities in your rent price, you may have to cover additional costs for these shared spaces. 

4. Insurance: Purchasing rental property insurance coverage can make for a smoother renting experience for landlords and tenants. You may need additional protection based on geographic location, or you may want to protect your property from specific situations. After speaking to an agent, you can incorporate your insurance premium into your expense estimates.   

Variable Expenses Examples

Variable costs are expenses that arise throughout operating your rental. They may or may not occur regularly, so it’s a good idea to set aside a little bit extra in case of emergencies.

1. Seasonal maintenance: If you live in an area that experiences different seasons, some of your maintenance expenses can go towards adjusting for seasonal scenarios. For example, you may need to replace filters and check the belts of the HVAC system to prepare your rental for summer, rake leaves during the fall, and have sidewalk paths shoveled during the winter months.

2. Appliance repairs: Over time, your rental property appliances will require repairs. Appliances don’t break down at regular intervals, so consider the number of appliances in your rental, their age, and how frequently they’re used when you estimate this expense.     

3. Emergency repairs: It’s always good to have funds available for emergencies to address emergency repairs right away, especially considering local landlord-tenant laws require landlords to do so. If a pipe bursts at night, the heater dies in the middle of winter, or a tenant’s air conditioning stops working during a heat wave, you’ll have to get the problem addressed as quickly as possible. It’s impossible to know when an emergency may occur, so you may consider accounting for an emergency fund when estimating your rental property maintenance expenses. 

4. Capital expenditures: Capital expenditure, or CapEx, refers to the cost of making improvements to a rental property to increase the overall value. Unlike necessary repairs, these improvements are mainly intended to raise the value of the property and aren’t necessary to make the space safe for tenants. Replacing a fridge with a stainless steel version would be a capital expenditure, while simply fixing the old fridge that’s already on the property would be considered a repair.

Looking for an Experienced Residential Property Manager?

If you have a home to rent in the Orlando area be assured there is no substitute for experience. Covering Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere, Dr Philips, Kissimmee, Davenport, Champions Gate, Hunters Creek and Haines City. We remain focused on this greater Orlando area to ensure we are able to provide outstanding service to our Clients without sacrificing performance. Looking for an experienced residential Property Manager in the Orlando area with a demonstrable track record – look no further.

Owning a rental property is a great way to generate passive income, but taking on the responsibilities of a landlord isn’t for everyone. You may be considering hiring a property manager, but it’s advised to know how much a property manager charges and if there are more affordable options, like landlord software, to check out first.

We share how much property managers can charge, the fees to save for, and if they are really worth investing in for your rental business.

How Property Management Fees Work

Property managers typically charge various fees depending on what tasks you need help with or for when certain situations (like an eviction) occur.

Each property manager can vary in what fees they charge, but the fees usually consist of the following:

• Setup fee: Property management companies can charge a one-time setup fee per unit to set up an account with the property manager and cover any required property inspection fees.
• Management fee: Property managers charge a percentage of the rent price (typically a percentage) or a flat fee on a monthly basis to manage your tenants, collect rent payments, and more.
• Leasing fee: The leasing fee is usually one months’ rent or a certain percentage of the rent price that covers the cost of advertising your rental, conducting showings, preparing a lease agreement, and performing a move-in inspection. If the tenant decides to break the lease or is evicted, then most companies refund the leasing fee.
• Lease renewal fee: When a tenant decides to renew, the property manager is responsible for performing a rent price analysis to recommend any rent price changes and create a new lease agreement.
• Maintenance and inspection fee: If you’re planning on hiring a property manager to help with your long-distance real estate investments, prepare to cover a maintenance fee for when a property manager helps handle maintenance requests.
• Eviction fee: Although evictions don’t happen often, there may be a chance that a property manager will need to facilitate the eviction process for you. 
• Late payment fee: Property managers can charge fees for late rent payments.

How Much Do Property Managers Charge Per Month?

Property management companies can vary in how much they charge per month, but it can range anywhere from 8% to 12% of the monthly rent price. If the rent price for one of your properties is around $1,500 per month, then you can expect to pay anywhere from $120 to $180 each month, not including the other fees listed above.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Property Management Fees?

Property management companies charge varying prices based on the type of property, the amount of units that need to be managed, how much you need their help with, and market competition.

If you own a multifamily home or duplex, then this may cost more for a property manager to oversee compared to a single-family home. You should check with more than one property management company to get an idea of how much each is charging for the services you need and if it’s worth investing in.

Is Hiring a Property Manager Worth the Cost?

Hiring a property manager may be worth it for real estate investors looking to offset the responsibilities of managing a rental to someone else or need help with a rental that’s in another state. A property manager can not only be the go-to person for your tenants, but can help you reduce in-person visits.

The decision on whether or not you should hire a property manager will depend on what aspects of your rental you need help with, if you’re willing to do everything yourself, and how much you’re willing to spend on a property manager.

Looking for an Experienced Residential Property Manager?

If you have a home to rent in the Orlando area be assured there is no substitute for experience. Covering Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere, Dr Philips, Kissimmee, Davenport, Champions Gate, Hunters Creek and Haines City. We remain focused on this greater Orlando area to ensure we are able to provide outstanding service to our Clients without sacrificing performance. Looking for an experienced residential Property Manager in the Orlando area with a demonstrable track record – look no further.

If you’re planning on moving to a new house, then you may be wondering whether you should sell or rent out the one you currently own. Both options have their benefits — selling provides you with cash now, while rentals can be a great real estate investment — but one option may be the best based on different factors.

Here are questions to ask yourself to determine if selling or renting makes more sense, as well as the pros and cons of renting out your house.

Should I Sell My House or Rent It Out?

The goal is to land on a decision that will provide more rewards than issues. However, it’s important to keep in mind that both selling your house and renting it out have their own pros and cons. We outlined five questions to ask yourself when planning the next steps for your property.

1. What Is the Local Demand for Rentals?

Before determining whether or not you should sell or rent your house, it’s important to determine what the local demand for rentals are in your designated area. If you decide to rent out your house in an area filled with owner-occupied properties, then it may limit your pool of qualified tenants and take longer to fill your property.

2. How Profitable Is Your Property?

There are operating expenses you will need to cover to keep a rental property running smoothly. This usually includes your mortgage payment, property taxes, landlord insurance, maintenance costs, and apartment turnover expenses. If you’ve been able to determine a rent price that’s both competitive and can generate a profit each month, you could use that price and a rough estimate of your operating expenses to determine if renting out your property would offer an attractive return on investment (ROI).

3. Are You Ready to Become a Landlord?

Although the money generated from a rental is considered passive income, becoming a landlord comes with responsibilities. You’ll need to advertise your rental, screen prospective tenants, create lawyer-reviewed lease agreements, collect rental fees, and repair any maintenance issues. You can opt for hiring a property manager, but this can add an additional cost and reduce your overall profit each month.

4. Does Your Property Offer Great Amenities?

Properties that offer apartment amenities such as in-unit washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, or a backyard have a higher chance of catching the interest of prospective tenants. They also allow you to charge more in rent, since the overall value of your property increases the more it can offer. If your property does not offer tons of amenities, then it may not attract interest from local tenants.

5. What Is the Current State of the Housing Market?

In real estate, a seller’s market is when more homebuyers are looking for their next home than available properties on the market. When that’s the case, sellers can charge more in their asking price. On the other hand, a buyer’s market is when less homebuyers are looking for homes than available properties. Sellers often have to bring down their asking price to avoid having their property listed on the market for too long.

If you find that it’s currently a seller’s market, then it may make sense to sell your property. But if that’s not the case, then you can rent out your property until the market favors sellers again.

When to Sell Your Home

If you find yourself in the following examples, it may be a good idea to sell your home versus renting it out.

• You need cash to cover the upfront costs of buying your next house such as the down payment, mortgage lender fees, homeowners insurance, and property taxes
• You’re not interested in managing a rental property or hiring a property manager to help
• You’re qualify for capital gains tax exemptions that allow you to exclude up to $250,000 or up to $500,000 of capital gains from the sale when completing your taxes

When to Rent Your Home

Here are some examples in which renting your home may make more sense than selling.

• You plan on returning to the area the property is located within the next year or two
• You want to generate passive income through rent payments and other rental fees
• You expect the value of your home to increase within the next year or so
• You’re current in a buyer’s market, which can result in selling your property at a lower value than originally purchased

Selling vs. Renting: The Pros and Cons

If you’re siding towards renting out your property, then you may be wondering what the main pros and cons are of selling versus renting. They are the following:

Pros of Renting

Renting out your house can bring in a wealth of rewards if approached strategically.

• Earn passive income: Rent payments, move-in fees, pet rent, and other fees can help you earn passive income. However, you’ll want to ensure the price you charge can cover your operating expenses and is competitive with other rentals.
• Keep a property you’re attached to: If you’ve outgrown your property but still want to keep it, then renting allows you to still cover the mortgage with rent payments your tenants pay.
• Expand your investment portfolio: Turning your property into a rental not only expands your investment portfolio, but it also diversifies it with assets that have a lower risk than other forms of investments.
• Establish more home equity: Not only do rent payments help cover the cost of your mortgage, but they can also help establish home equity during the lease term. The equity can then be used to finance other properties you plan on buying.

Cons of Renting

Even though renting is generally a great alternative to selling, this may not always be the best option for you.

• Handle maintenance: You’ll be responsible for handling most maintenance issues. Failing to do so can leave you open to a lawsuit from tenants or not receiving rent until the issue is resolved.
• Miss out on a seller’s market: Choosing to rent your property during a seller’s market can result in you missing out on earning a profit from your property — especially if you’re able to sell your property at a higher price than you initially bought it for.
• Difficulty to find tenants: Not all neighborhoods have a high demand for rentals, which can make it harder to find tenants for your property. If you find that there’s a higher demand for available properties versus rentals, then choosing to rent out your home can cost you more in the long run.

Looking for an Experienced Residential Property Manager?

If you have a home to rent in the Orlando area be assured there is no substitute for experience. Covering Clermont, Winter Garden, Windermere, Dr Philips, Kissimmee, Davenport, Champions Gate, Hunters Creek and Haines City. We remain focused on this greater Orlando area to ensure we are able to provide outstanding service to our Clients without sacrificing performance. Looking for an experienced residential Property Manager in the Orlando area with a demonstrable track record – look no further.