Property Management
A Landlord's Operating Checklist for Loudoun County Rentals
Rent is gross, not net
A common mistake is to set rent by looking at the mortgage and hoping the rest works out. Operating a rental means carrying a set of recurring obligations that the rent has to cover — with margin to spare.
The recurring list
- Property taxes and HOA dues
- Insurance appropriate for a rental, not an owner-occupied home
- Routine maintenance and turn cost between tenancies
- A repair reserve for the major items: roof, HVAC, water heater, appliances
- Vacancy allowance — no property is rented every day of every year
- Management, whether professional or the value of your own time
The non-recurring that becomes recurring
Some costs arrive as surprises but repeat over a holding period: a new water heater, a tree removal, an HOA special assessment. A disciplined owner reserves for these before they arrive.
Why this matters
If the rent you expect does not cover this list with margin, the rental may still be the right long-term decision — but you should know that before you commit, not after.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, financial, or investment advice. No client, agency, or advisory relationship is created by reading this content.