Get an application, copy of identifications and run a background check thoroughly. Talk to past landlords, check credit, references, jobs references, and arrest history. I get 30 dollars and give them an application which ask everything about them. (we do $45, but that is what our system charges us). Also look at the current bills ( can they afford it). If you need and application PM me your email address and I will send you a copy.

do inspections and don't let one thing slide. if they won't pay for the first thing they damage then there will be more.

We don't have enough information to give you an answer. (location, pictures, school system, avg rents in area, etc). Yep, all that counts in the decision making. You need good tenants is easy to say, but hard to find.

Some people have what it takes to be a landlord and some don't. It's a great business for the right person and the tax benefits are good. Don't get in the business unless you plan on getting upwards of 10+ houses, and at that point you need to have a management company in place taking care of everything. For the average investor it's not worthwhile to just own one (too many headaches for the return).

Since it's paid off, I'd say yours is worth taking a shot at renting, but I say that without having enough info from you to tell you plainly what I'd do. (yep, agreed). For doing it yourself - get a bulletproof lease that gets down to the nitty gritty, then hold the tenant to it. (Here is where the rubber meets the road is this lease, but you have to stick to your end too). (Get a lawyer to draw it up for you or go to an online lawyer type app that will help you draw it up). (You have to stick to the lease too)

Try to rent to mature working class couples - no singles, especially not single moms or young people - who have a good job history and income. (unfortunately, you get single moms wanting to lease, and they want to include the child support on there, don't count that, you know how many dead beat dads there are out there ---- I'm not saying everyone is, I'm just saying, don't count that as income ---- Also, she gets married in 6 months and wants to break the lease, "We're moving in together!).

Get 2x the rent up front and make sure they understand what the expectations are. (You have to hold them to this). Tell them straight up here's what happens in the event that you don't pay. If you say the rent is late on the 5th, then that's what it is and enforce your late fees. It's a good idea to get them on auto pay with their bank. (Yep, charge the late fees, if you don't, they will be late every month after that with a story). (They have to have skin in the game to make it worth their while to pay you). When they give you trouble - don't give them an inch. Per my leases - after the 10th of the month I send the Pay or Quit notice and go to raising hell. (We haven't had that problem, yet, but we stick to our rules).

If they suck at life - GET RID OF THEM QUICK....BUT....Eventually YOU WILL get a good God-fearing tenant that does what they're supposed to do. (yep)

Treat that person like your favorite customer - like an old repeat customer who you love to see. Send them thank you notes and $40 home depot / target gift cards for sticking with you. Talk to them when you go by to check on things. Keep them happy. (Don't get to be friends with them, but treat them like a valued customer ------- Think of Norm on the show Cheers, everyone loved him, everyone knew him, Sam was friends with him, but he didn't pay his bill.) (Think of how you want to be treated. ) (That $40 and a hand-written thank you note will go a long wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy).

But the avg people - keep them on a leash and be hard on them. I mean treat them like crap, until you get the good ones. BOOM

Lease option would be a good thing for that property. It's more than your typical rental.
Buyer pays you a good down payment, they own the property but you hold the owner financing and can take the property back if they decide to not purchase or quit paying.