What to Know Before Leasing Your Home

At McCourt Property Management, we love helping homeowners turn their properties into successful, well-managed rentals. When it's done right, leasing can be a great way to build long-term wealth.

But here’s the truth: not everyone is ready to be a landlord.

If you're considering renting out your home—whether it's a former residence, an inherited property, or a long-term investment—there are a few important things to understand before we list it.

Renting a Home Isn’t Passive Income. It’s Managed Income.

Leasing your home isn't like setting up an automatic stock investment. Homes require care, repairs, updates, and people—both residents and vendors—to keep everything running. That’s where we come in.

But as the owner, you’re still responsible for:

• Approving and funding repairs
• Keeping the home in safe, working order
• Covering the costs of deferred maintenance or major systems that fail

A home that's not move-in ready can't be rented responsibly and will not rent. And a home that's not maintained once occupied will not keep good residents. Period.

Let’s Talk Money: The Cost of Getting Rental-Ready

We often hear questions like:
“Can’t you just clean it up and get it rented?”
“Do we really have to fix that right now?”

Here’s the reality:

• Most take-over make-ready projects start at around $2,000 and go up from there.
• Older homes or those with deferred maintenance will need more—sometimes significantly more.
• Things like worn carpet, leaky faucets, broken light fixtures, outdated thermostats, or homemade repairs must be addressed before showing the home.

Even if you’ve lived there for years, or rented it to a relative previously, renters will expect—and deserve—a clean, safe, and professionally maintained space.

Emergency Repairs Are Not Optional

If a water heater breaks, we can’t “wait to see if it starts working again.” In Texas, you’re legally required to provide hot water. That means:

• A new water heater must be installed ASAP Texas Property Code allows the resident to “repair & deduct” if we do not take care of it. We do not want to get into that.
• You’ll be invoiced immediately for the cost
• There’s no deferring or disputing—it must be done

Typical cost: around $1,300, plus a coordination fee.

If that kind of expense is stressful or feels unreasonable, leasing may not be the right fit for you—at least not right now.

Resident Retention = Better Returns

The best income from a rental property doesn’t come from turning over tenants every year—it comes from having a great resident who stays for multiple years. When a resident renews their lease, you avoid vacancy loss, utility expenses on the vacant property, leasing fees, and wear-and-tear from turnover. That’s why we prioritize long-term satisfaction. If we take good care of the residents—and the home—they’re far more likely to stay. That benefits everyone.

Don’t get me wrong—our top priority is YOU.

You are our client. Our fiduciary relationship is with YOU—not the resident. Our job is to protect your property, your interests, and your bottom line. That said, the best way to serve you long-term is by taking care of maintenance items in a timely manner. When we do, they stay longer. And when they stay longer, your income is more stable, your expenses are lower, and your investment performs better. It’s a win-win—but make no mistake, our loyalty is to you.

We’ll Help You Succeed—If You’re Ready

When we take on a property, we take it seriously. We:

• Market your home aggressively across MLS and many other rental platforms
• Vet applicants thoroughly (nationwide credit & criminal checks, job & bank verification, etc)
• Use a strong, attorney-reviewed lease
• Handle all resident communication and maintenance coordination
• Send your funds electronically every month
• Keep detailed records through your 24/7 owner portal

We also charge fair and transparent fees:

• 10% monthly management
• 50% leasing fee (shared if co-leased)
• 15% on maintenance, with access to deeply discounted vendor pricing

We’re not a franchise or a side hustle—we’ve been in business for over 20 years and love what we do.

The Bottom Line

Leasing a home is a business, and we’re here to manage it like one. But your investment needs to be ready. That means:

• It’s clean, functional, and safe
• You’re financially able to maintain it
• You trust us to manage it professionally

If that sounds like you—we’re a great fit.

If not, it’s okay to wait until the time is right.

Still interested? Let’s talk.
Reach out for a consultation and let’s see if McCourt Property Management is the right partner for your property.