The answer is YES! You can manage your property instead of hiring a property management professional. You will also have to do your own taxes, defend yourself in court in case the tenant you chose was not as trustworthy as you though, manage maintenance procedures and costs and many other hassles. This takes a lot of time and attention, both of which could be used differently and more productive.
You need to understand that Florida landlord/tenant laws are in favor of the tenant, like in many other states; not only this, but the rules of the game changed every year. You can invest in yourself and even become the best manager for your property. But you can choose a team of professionals to do it for you. We have assessed the risk of illegal leases, not providing proper notices, illegal or improper terms in your lease contract, or simply put, taking shortcuts. They are not worth it and will only create a stronger “waiver defense” for a tenant in case your misunderstanding takes this path. Allowing your tenant to not abide by your contract’s terms creates a precedent, implying that the terms do not apply, and making it difficult for you to enforce them later on. Without understanding every single word of Florida’s law about the landlord/tenant relationship you might end up losing more money than you can afford. Do not risk it!