Thinking About Leasing Your Home? Here’s What to Know About Short vs. Long-Term Rentals

May 14

Leasing out your home can be such a great way to create extra income, especially if you're looking to travel more, build long-term wealth, or just put your space to work when you're not using it.

But getting your home ready to rent really depends on the type of rental you’re offering. Are you leaning toward a furnished short- or mid-term rental? Or going the more traditional route with an unfurnished long-term lease? Both can work beautifully—it just comes down to your goals and how hands-on you want to be.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect (plus some tips I always share with clients from experience):

Furnished Short-to-Mid-Term Rental

1 to 6 months

This setup is ideal for traveling professionals, digital nomads, or folks in transition—like between homes or during renovations. These types of rentals tend to be more flexible, with higher per-month returns.

Here’s what to plan for:

● Fully furnish the space. Think: comfy bed, couch, dining area, dishes, towels, Wi-Fi, and maybe even a welcome binder.

● Include all bills in the rental rate—utilities, internet, trash service. It keeps things simple and expected for the renter.

● You can also wrap in basic landscaping or routine cleaning if it makes sense for you. Just decide upfront and price accordingly.

🛠️ Maintenance tip: Since these tenants usually aren’t around long enough to deal with issues, I recommend scheduling regular upkeep. At the very least, plan to flush the HVAC drain and water heater twice a year. It’s one of those little things that can prevent big, messy problems down the line.

If you’re looking for a more hands-off investment, this is a great route. Long-term tenants bring their own furniture, usually handle their own utilities, and often treat the home like their own.

Things to consider:

● Make sure appliances are in solid working order and the place is squeaky clean before move-in.

● Most tenants will set up their own utilities, but I do recommend including basic landscaping in the rent. It keeps your yard looking great and avoids misunderstandings about who’s responsible.

● Like with short-term rentals, it’s smart to flush the HVAC drain and water heater every 6 months here too. Staying ahead of maintenance keeps your investment protected.

💡 Pro tip: You'll want to have a solid plan in place for repairs. That could mean having a reliable handyperson your tenants can call or getting a home warranty plan (or even both). A home warranty helps with bigger systems like plumbing or HVAC, and a good handyperson is gold for quick fixes.

There’s No One-Size-Fits-All Lease

One of the coolest parts of leasing your home is that you can structure things in a way that works for you:

● Add cleaning or landscaping fees to the rent if needed.

● Set clear expectations around maintenance, inspections, or lease renewals.

● For mid-term stays, you might want to offer some flexibility with extensions or shorter lease options.

Whether you’re just getting started or looking to fine-tune your setup, I’m always happy to chat and help you figure out what makes the most sense for your goals. Leasing your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it can actually be a really empowering move.

Let me know if you want help getting started or listing your space!

Let's chat!