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After years of managing rental property doors the traditional way—with keys, lockboxes, and coordinating access with contractors—Kevin and I decided it was finally time to try something different. In this episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, we talk about why we installed smart locks on our rental properties and what we’ve learned from using them.

We walk through the exact lock we chose, the Kwikset Halo touchscreen smart lock, and why it made sense for our properties. For us, the biggest benefit has been convenience. Instead of driving three hours round-trip to meet a contractor or cleaner, we can now create temporary access codes, monitor entry remotely, and lock the door from anywhere using the app.

Smart locks have also made life easier for our tenants. They can enter with a code if they forget their keys, and families or roommates can each have their own access code. It also allows us to quickly change access between tenants without calling a locksmith or replacing the entire lock.

Of course, smart locks are not perfect for every property so we also discuss the downsides like battery maintenance, the need for reliable Wi-Fi, installation costs, and situations where a traditional lock might still make more sense.

If you’re a self-managing landlord looking to create better systems and save time coordinating access to your units, this episode will give you a realistic look at whether smart locks are worth it.

Links & References

Quickset Halo Smart Lock Touchscreen & Deadbolt

Quickset Halifax Door Knob

Episode 66 Midterm Rentals Explained

Episode 103 We Installed Property-Wide Wi-Fi. The Pros, Cons & What to Know

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Kevin and I thought it was time to let our listeners do the talking. In this episode, we count down the Top 5 Most-Listened-To Episodes — the ones you keep coming back to — and break down why they resonated so strongly with self-managing landlords.

The countdown includes Episode 58 on the hidden costs of owning rental properties, Episode 6 on creating standard operating procedures, Episode 95, a fan-favorite Q&A where we tackled real landlord problems, Episode 56 on how and when to transfer your rental property into an LLC, and the number one most-listened-to episode of all time: Episode 99 on Five Oversights That Drain Landlord Profits.

We revisit what made each episode so impactful and share a few updates since they were originally published.

Whether you are brand new to rental property ownership or a seasoned investor looking to sharpen your systems, this episode is a great roadmap for where to start — or where to go deeper.

Links & References

Episode 99 – Five Oversights That Drain Landlord Profits

Episode 56 – How and When to Transfer Your Rental Property into an LLC

Episode 95 – Solving Landlord Problems Q&A

Episode 6 – Creating Standard Operating Procedures for Your Business

Episode 58 – Hidden Costs of Owning and Operating Rental Properties

Episode 115 – Charging Tenants a Flat Utility Fee

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber

TurboTenant – The best software for self-managing landlords.

EZ Landlord Forms – State Specific Leases and Forms

Connect with Us:

🌎 Visit our website

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter.

👆Click HERE for our FREE Landlord Forms and Doc’s

🤳Text Us: 650-489-4447. We love questions and love letters!

📩Email us at: Stacie@YourLandlordResource.com, Kevin@YourLandlordResource.com

➡️ Review the Podcast on Apple or on Spotify or YouTube

✔️Course Waitlist: From Marketing to Move In, Place Your Ideal Tenant

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Managing utilities in rental properties has become increasingly challenging for small landlords. In this shorty episode of the Your Landlord Resource Podcast, we discuss a strategy many landlords are beginning to implement: charging tenants a flat monthly utility fee.

Many duplexes, fourplexes, and older multifamily buildings have shared water meters, which means landlords often include water, sewer, trash, and recycling in the rent. Historically this worked well when utility costs were predictable. But as rates continue rising in many areas, landlords are often unknowingly subsidizing tenant usage.

In this episode, we explain how a flat utility fee works and why landlords may choose this method as a cost-sharing solution. They also discuss how tenants typically respond when this change is introduced and the importance of communicating clearly and implementing the fee properly through lease renewals.

Stacie shares real examples from their own rental properties and explains how they calculated a fair utility fee while still maintaining positive tenant relationships. The goal is not to increase profit but to allocate shared building expenses more fairly while helping landlords maintain sustainable rental operations.

If you own small multifamily rentals and are struggling with rising utility costs, this episode provides practical insight to help you decide whether a flat utility fee might be right for your property.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why many landlords historically included utilities in rent
• How rising water, sewer, and trash costs impact rental property profitability
• What a flat monthly utility fee is and how it works
• Best practices for implementing a utility fee at lease renewal

Links & References

EZ Landlord Forms State Specific Leases and Forms

TurboTenant The best tenant management software for self-managing landlords.

Connect with Us:

🌎 Visit our website

📧 Subscribe to our newsletter.

👆Click HERE for our FREE Landlord Forms and Doc’s

🤳Text Us: 650-489-4447. We love questions and love letters!

📩Email us at: Stacie@YourLandlordResource.com, Kevin@YourLandlordResource.com

➡️ Review the Podcast on Apple or on Spotify or YouTube

✔️Course Waitlist: From Marketing to Move In, Place Your Ideal Tenant

📱 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, & join our private Face...