Monday, May 12, 2025
How to Lease Your Rental Without a Property Manager (Step-by-Step)
Learn how to lease your rental property yourself with this step-by-step guide. From setting the right price and creating listings to screening tenants and signing the lease, this video breaks down the entire leasing process for landlords.
How to Lease Your Rental
Without a Property Manager
Learn how to lease your rental property yourself with this step-by-step guide!
Leslie Duvernay
How to Lease Your Rental Without a Property Manager: Step-by-Step Guide for New Landlords
Take charge of your rental. Follow this clear process from start to finish.
Leasing your rental property yourself is not only possible, it can also save you time and money when done right. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the exact steps you can use to lease properties without relying on a property manager. You'll learn:
- How to price your rental property using market research and online tools
- Best practices for creating listings, managing leads, and running showings
- Step-by-step tenant screening, lease preparation, and move-in process
Why Lease Without a Property Manager?
A few reasons why many new landlords choose to lease on their own.
Many new landlords wonder if they really need a property manager to lease their rental. Here are the most common reasons landlords decide to manage the leasing process themselves.
- You’re local and want to be hands-on. You can personally show the unit and meet tenants.
- Cost savings. Management fees and leasing costs can quickly eat into your cash flow.
- Past bad experiences. Many landlords switch to self-managing after disappointing experiences with property managers.
The Two Biggest Mistakes New Landlords Make
Steer clear of these common missteps that can derail your leasing process.
Leasing your own rental isn’t hard, but skipping key steps can lead to avoidable problems. These are the two big mistakes I see over and over again that can cause unnecessary stress and tenant issues.
- Mistake #1 Winging it without a plan. Poor listings, no screening systems, and blurry photos lead to bad tenants and more stress.
- Mistake #2 Choosing the cheapest help. Discount leasing agents or services often result in costly tenant issues.
Step 1: Use Market Research to Set Your Rental Price
Get the facts first. Use research to set a competitive rental price.
Pricing your rental based on research, not guesses, is the foundation of a successful lease. Start by gathering real rental comps and avoid leaving money on the table.
- Location, size, upgrades, and amenities
- Use tools like RentFinder.ai, Zillow, Rentometer, and BestPlaces.net for comps
- Always compare similar property types and conditions
Step 2: Write a Listing Description That Attracts Qualified Tenants
Craft a listing that stands out and draws in serious renters.
A strong listing does more than describe the property, it attracts the right renters and saves you time. Write a rental listing that stands out and attracts your ideal applicants.
- Create a story about the property
- Use attention-grabbing headlines
- Include clear details on lease terms, deposits, and screening criteria
- Stick to Fair Housing guidelines
Step 3: Property Prep and Presentation
Present your rental at its best to attract the right applicants.
How your rental looks online and in person directly impacts the type of tenants you attract. Prep your property to make the best impression from the first click to the first tour.
- Stage and clean the property like you’re selling it
- Use professional photos
- Prep for showings by removing clutter, mowing lawns, and making sure it feels move-in ready
The Three P's of Leasing Success
Nail your Price, Presentation, and Product for faster leasing.
Successful leasing always comes back to the Three Ps: Price, Presentation, and Product. These simple pillars work together to help you get your rental leased faster.
- Price by setting competitively using comps
- Presentation by staging and photographing professionally
- Product by ensuring the property is show-ready inside and out
Step 4: Listing Your Property Online
Put your rental where qualified tenants are actively looking.
Getting your listing in front of as many quality renters as possible starts with knowing where to post. These are some of the best platforms to list your rental and help maximize your exposure.
- Zillow with Premium upgrade, Facebook Marketplace, Realtor.com, Apartments.com, and Zumper
- Always list directly on Zillow first for best placement
Step 5: Managing Rental Leads and Showings
Simplify showings and keep the process organized and efficient.
Managing rental leads doesn’t have to be overwhelming.Streamline showings and set up a simple system that keeps the process easy and efficient.
- Use group showings to save time
- Use a saved message template to reply to leads
- Avoid scheduling one-on-one showings unless necessary
- Ignore red flags like people refusing group showings
Step 6: The Tenant Screening Process
Use screening tools that help you choose trustworthy tenants.
Strong tenant screening protects your rental from costly mistakes. In this step, use online tools and gather key documents so you can select the right tenant with confidence.
- Tools like Stessa, Zumper, TurboTenant, or DoorLoop for screening
- Request supporting documents like ID, income proof, bank statements, and pet photos
- Verify information carefully and contact landlord references
Step 7: Drafting and Signing the Lease
Secure the agreement with a lease that protects both you and your property.
Once you’ve chosen your tenant, it’s time to lock in the lease terms. create a clear, property specific lease agreement.
- Use landlord software templates but have a local attorney review your lease
- Include key terms like rent, deposits, utilities, pet policies, rules, and move-in procedures
- Sign electronically or in person
Final Steps: Move-In and Wrap-Up
Wrap up with deposits, utilities, and a smooth move-in process.
The last few steps ensure your new tenant moves in without issues. You'll collect deposits, confirm utilities, and complete the move-in checklist.
- Collect rent and deposits
- Confirm utilities in tenant’s name
- Conduct a move-in walkthrough
Quick Recap
Use this step-by-step approach to handle your rental like a pro landlord.
Leasing your property yourself is doable when you follow the right steps. Use this guide as your roadmap from listing to move-in and set yourself up for success.
- Set the right rental price
- Create a winning listing description
- Prep your property for showings
- Manage leads and showings efficiently
- Screen tenants properly
- Draft and execute a strong lease
You can absolutely lease your rental yourself, especially if you live locally! For a complete checklist, grab my Essential Landlord Checklists Guide (Free) linked below.
And as always, happy landlording!
PS - Want to See the Full Process in Action?
Watch the full video on my YouTube channel where I walk through these steps in detail and share bonus tips to make leasing even easier.
PPS - Free One-Hour Landlord Training: Unlock the 3 Secrets to Leasing Your Rental Like a Pro
Feeling overwhelmed by the leasing process? Most landlords struggle NOT because they lack 'good' properties—BUT because they LACK a clear, REPEATABLE system for leasing.
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