I've definitely been there—got a bit carried away with upgrades on my first duplex. Thought tenants would love quartz countertops and fancy faucets, but turns out the neighborhood just didn't justify the higher rent I needed. Learned quickly that simple stuff like fresh paint, clean landscaping, and decent lighting mattered way more. Now I just scope out nearby rentals online and do walkthroughs when possible to see what's actually renting fast...saved me a ton of headaches since.
"Thought tenants would love quartz countertops and fancy faucets, but turns out the neighborhood just didn't justify the higher rent I needed."
Haha, been there myself—it's easy to get caught up in HGTV dreams, right? Curious though, when you're scoping out nearby rentals online, do you mainly rely on Zillow or have you found other platforms more accurate for rental comps? I've noticed Zillow can sometimes lag behind reality a bit...anyone else seeing that too?
I've noticed Zillow can be hit or miss too, especially lately. I usually cross-check with Rentometer or Apartments.com just to get a broader picture. But honestly, nothing beats driving around the neighborhood and calling those "For Rent" signs directly. Sometimes you'll find landlords who don't even bother listing online...old-school but effective. Have you tried that approach much, or do you mostly stick to online comps?
I've done both, but honestly, driving around and calling signs directly has saved me more than once. Online comps can lag behind reality, especially lately... landlords who don't list online often price differently, sometimes better. Worth the extra effort, imo.
Driving around definitely has its perks, but honestly, I've found online comps pretty reliable if you're using the right tools. Maybe you've just had bad luck lately? I wouldn't dismiss online listings entirely—they've saved me plenty of headaches.
