There are two options for landlords when it comes to selling their rental property. You can either wait for the lease to end before you sell, or you can sell while your tenants live in the home. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages.

Many areas of the country are experiencing a boom in the real estate market. This means landlords who have held onto properties while waiting for equity to rise may decide it is now the right time to let them go.

If you're a landlord, the chances are that people are living in the house. Tenants can make or break a sale. Selling to tenants can be difficult. To make your sale a success, you will need to plan ahead, communicate openly, and reach compromises with your tenant. Let's look at the pros and cons of each option.

Option 1: Wait Until The Lease Expires

Pros:

It gives you time to make updates: If your tenants move out, you can clean the house, make any cosmetic changes, and generally improve the property before you list it. This may help you get a better price.

When closing, this can help with timing issues: Your home may sell faster than you expected in hot real estate markets. Depending on your lease terms and the regulations in your state, you might have difficulty getting your tenants out of your home in the time you need. You can accept the highest offer if the house is vacant at the time you list it.

Cons:

Mortgage carrying expenses: Each month, you are responsible for your mortgage payment without tenants. In addition, you'll be responsible if it takes you a while to prepare your house for sale, list it, accept an offer, and close.

Option 2: Rent The House With Tenants

Pros

Staging is a way to make buyers feel more comfortable in their homes. Potential buyers may find it more appealing if the tenant takes good care of it and decorates it well.

This property is attractive for investors: Tenants already live in the property, which makes it a great selling point for anyone looking to purchase the home as an investment property. It will also save them the trouble of finding tenants!

Cons

Unhappy tenants can make it difficult to show their homes. Now you want them to maintain the home's showing standards and be available for open houses and other viewings. Unexpected tenants can make a huge difference in how your house sells.

Landlord Solution

To persuade tenants to agree to your listing plans, you might offer them a lower rent for a few months in return for a promise to keep the home clean. Other incentives include a flexible move-out date or reimbursement of moving expenses.

To Determine Your Legal Options, Review The Lease Agreement

Whatever your choice, you must always review the lease agreement that you have with the tenant. Also, you should research the laws in your state about how long notice you must give to vacate a property. A real estate agent is a good resource for information about local laws and tips to help tenants rent the property.

What type of lease agreement do you have? This will determine what actions you can take and when.

Month-To Month Leasing

Let your tenants know when their lease agreement is being canceled and when they will need to move out. You must give your tenants either 30 or 60 days' notice in most states. First, however, check your local laws. Your lease agreement will determine if you are allowed to show the property while they are still living.

Fixed-Term Lease

You can give notice to your tenants if the lease has an early termination clause. However, you'll have to wait until the lease ends before you can vacate your tenants if there is an early termination clause. One exception is that if your tenant fails to pay rent or violates any lease terms, you might be able to terminate the lease before it expires.

Think About The Message and Delivery

Honey can catch more insects than honey, as the old saying goes. These important conversations with tenants will go much more smoothly if you take into account what you are saying and how you're saying it.

Respectful and Informative

It is always best to meet in person. Ask your tenant for a cup and a chat. You should allow your tenant enough time to answer all their questions.

Give Your Tenant The Chance To Purchase

Your tenant might be interested in purchasing the property if they love their home. While it's okay to talk to your tenant directly about the possibility of buying, if they are interested in purchasing, it's best to get help from a real estate lawyer.

These transactions can be made in a number of ways:

• Lease-to-own, which includes a non-refundable option fee and a one-time payment. This allows tenants to buy the home at a fixed price within the year. They continue to pay rent in the interim.

• A lease-to-own agreement allows a portion of the rent to be used for a down payment.

• A seller-financed arrangement. Instead of a bank, you, the property owner, are the lender. The tenant agrees that they will make monthly payments to you for a period of time, sometimes with one lump payment. The greatest benefit to the seller is the interest you will earn on the debt. To take advantage of this type of sale, you will need to own the house free and clear without any mortgage.

Check Out All Details

It is best to get in writing a deal on such things as how much notice you will give before showings (usually at least 24 hours), when showings will take place, and the home's condition.