We've all heard about cash flow. The term that is most-used when speaking of rental property profitability. Cash flow is basically the cash that rental properties generate from various sources. The level of cash flow essentially evaluates the wealth of the property owner because even if a property owner owns 100 properties, the properties are worthless unless they are generating excess cash flow (cash after all expenses). Because of the importance of cash flow, below are five tips for increasing cash flow from rental properties.

1.) Raise the Rent -The easiest way to immediately increase monthly cash flow is too increase the monthly rent of one's properties. When raising rent, tell the tenant(s) that the rents are simply following inflation. Just make sure that the rent increase DOES follow the inflation number, or one may have an upset tenant. Another excellent time to increase the rent is when an old tenant moves out and a new one is coming in. The new tenant most likely didn't know the rent of the old one, and as long as the rent is fair, there should be no complaints.

2.) Cut expenses - Want more money but rents are basically maxed out to what the market is willing to pay? Well, quit paying the neighbor boy to mow the lawns for $10.00 each or save locks that are taken from apartments. Then one can use the old locks on other properties they own (Rotating locks is one term used to define this practice). Small expenses add up to make big ones. Don't be a slum-lord, but at the same time make sure that priorities are set when fixing problems or updating properties.

3.) Utilities? - If one lives in a healthy real estate market, they should have no problem making the tenant pay utilities. In fact, this can give the property owner an advantage when marketing their properties because the marketed rent will be less than comparable properties up for rent. In realty the potential tenant isn't saving any money (they'll pay a lower rent, but also utilities), but that initial low rent will stick in their mind.

4.) Decrease Property Taxes - This option is possibly the most "out there" in terms of easiness, but there are properties out there that could easily qualify. What if one owns a property that was newer when they purchased it. Some time has passed and now the property isn