Let's follow a family that decided to rent out their home in Springfield instead of selling it when they moved to another city. At first, they were unsure how much to set the rent for. After moving all their belongings, they concluded that it would be better to rent the empty house for a few months rather than leave it vacant, as it would help with mortgage payments.

Before moving, they checked the condition of the house. They confirmed that the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors were working, and repaired any issues with the walls or floors. Since there was still a mortgage on the house, they also checked in advance whether they needed to inform the lender about renting it out. They took photos of the empty house during the day after moving everything out.

According to Zillow, the median rent in Springfield is $1,250, while other sources reported that the average apartment rent was $1,113 as of February 2026. They set the rent higher than the median because the house has three bedrooms, and they made this decision after directly comparing it to similar listings and market prices. If they priced it too high, the vacancy period would be longer, and if they priced it too low, their income would decrease, so finding this balance was their first challenge. They decided on a one-year lease but included a clause to review the rent upon renewal. Since the neighborhood had a stable school district, they received more inquiries from families than they expected.

After determining the rent, they listed the property on Zillow and Zumper. They included the rent amount, security deposit, and pet policy along with photos, and received several inquiries within a week. Not rushing due to the high number of inquiries and having conducted tenant screening were notable aspects of this case. They checked credit scores, income verification, and previous rental history, prioritizing applicants whose income was more than three times the rent. They also charged a small application fee to cover the cost of credit checks. They decided not to accept applicants with unclear documentation and to wait for the next inquiries instead.

The next step was the lease agreement. They documented the rent amount, payment due date, security deposit amount, lease term, and maintenance responsibilities. Since they had to manage remotely from another state, they also included contact information for repair requests and procedures in the lease. While this was advantageous, not being able to see the house in person could be a concern. Therefore, they agreed in advance with the tenant to receive regular photos of the house's condition. The key items included in the lease were as follows:

• Rent amount, payment method, and late fee criteria
• Security deposit amount and return conditions
• Contact information for repair requests and processing deadlines
• Lease term and renewal conditions

It's also important to be aware of regulations in Missouri. The security deposit cannot exceed two months' rent, and it must be returned to the tenant within 30 days of the end of the month in which they move out, along with a settlement statement. If this deadline is missed, the tenant can claim up to double the amount withheld. In case of late rent, a typical 10-day eviction notice must be sent before proceeding to the next steps. Rental income has a separate tax reporting category, so it's advisable to keep receipts for related expenses organized. Since they were renting out the house, they also changed their insurance to rental coverage. They confirmed that items that could be deducted from the security deposit were limited to actual damages, not general wear and tear.

Ultimately, this family decided to handle tenant communication and contracts themselves while only outsourcing maintenance to a remote management company. If they handed everything over to the management company, the fees would increase, and if they handled everything themselves, responses could be delayed due to distance. This decision was made after weighing the pros and cons of both options. The right approach varies by situation, so it seems to be a matter of assessing one's own circumstances.

The information covered in this article is for general informational purposes, and it is recommended to consult a real estate attorney or rental management company before entering into any contracts.