stories and scenarios for landlords

keys & chaos.

The stuff that doesn't fit in a listing description. A biweekly newsletter and journal on running rentals with a little less chaos.

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Latest story

She Said It Was “A Little Water”

A rental pipe failure taught me why landlords need clear resident emergency instructions and routine under-sink plumbing inspections.

Read the story

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Landlording

I Made an Exception. The Next Email Told a Different Story.

Learn why landlords should document lease notice changes and resident exceptions in writing, plus the simple follow-up line I use after every agreement.

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For DIY Landlords

You Like Them. You Still Need a Lease.

Renting to someone you know feels too friendly for paperwork. Here's why that's exactly when you need it.

White and blue apartment building with balconies and palm trees under a clear sky

For DIY Landlords

You're Going on Vacation. Who's Answering the Emergency Call?

A one-person rental operation needs a backup plan for the week you're not answering your phone.

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For DIY Landlords

You Don't Need 200 Units to Need a Move-In Checklist.

One house, one tenant, and a memory that won't hold up. Why a move-in record is for small landlords too.

A person crouching to photograph the plumbing inside an open under-sink cabinet

For DIY Landlords

The Tenant Is Great. Inspect the Property Anyway.

Good tenants aren't building inspectors. A routine inspection is about the house, not about them.

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