For those of you who are considering an investment property and being a landlord, there are several things that you may need to think about.

Firstly, to buy an investment property, you may need to do some research about the area that the property is located in. You want to consider buying an investment property in a place where there is a low vacancy rate. It is never a good idea being a landlord of an empty place that no one will ever want to rent out. Do your research carefully, and decide on an investment property in a good area with a good potential of prospective tenants.

Once you have an investment property, you will need to decide on the rental rate of the property. You do not want to go too high or too low. Look around at other properties in your area and find out what prices they are going for. You can look in local newspapers and shop windows for this kind of information as well.

You may want to get a property manager to help you with the application forms when they start flooding in. You will want to ensure that you get a good tenant for your investment property. You will want to check for their credentials as well as any references from previous landlords. You can never be too careful, and this way you can ensure a long and lasting relationship between you as the landlord, and the tenants.

It is always recommended to get home insurance on your investment property, just in case something goes wrong. You may also be able to get landlord insurance which takes into account what your investment property was like before you letted it out.

Try to be a good landlord, and put yourself into your tenant's shoes. What would you have wanted from your landlord if it was the other way around? If they ring you up with any maintenance problems, make sure you go over to fix it as soon as you can. Always try to be fair to your tenants, as they will occasionally want things done that you may not agree with. If you have long term tenants in your investment property, ensure that you have and maintain a good relationship with them. After all, they are making you an income every month. Always remember their names, and never treat them with anything but the utmost respect. This will be reciprocated and make your business relationship a good one and a lasting one. As a landlord, it is very beneficial to you if you can avoid changing tenants all the time.

Being a landlord of an investment property can be a fantastic way in which to make a passive stream of money coming in every month. As a landlord, having a good respectful relationship with the tenants in your investment property is vital. If you as the landlord of the property have respect for your tenants, then your tenants will have respect for you, as well as your investment property.