It’s tempting to believe that renting out a property is as simple as collecting a check every month. I used to think that way too. After all, how hard could it be to find a tenant, sign a lease, and cash the rent? Then reality set in, and I discovered how quickly minor missteps can turn into expensive problems. Here are the three common mistakes that sabotage Arizona landlords.

Mistake #1: Letting emotions run the business. One of the biggest traps is letting emotions take over. It’s easy to meet a friendly applicant at an open house and assume they’ll be the perfect tenant. Without a careful screening process, that initial positive impression can lead to late payments, property damage, or legal issues.

Mistake #2: The high cost of poor pricing. Pricing is another place where many landlords get burned. Wanting to be fair or fill a vacancy fast often leads owners to accept less than the property is worth. Even a modest gap between market rent and what you charge adds up to thousands of dollars in lost income over a year.

Mistake #3: Navigating complex landlord-tenant laws. Then there’s the legal side. In Arizona, landlord–tenant laws stretch over fifty pages. Few owners ever read them, but you’re still required to follow every rule. A missed detail can result in fines, penalties, or lawsuits that cost far more than professional management would ever incur.