If you are a landlord, then you know the importance of establishing a good relationship between you and your tenant. A good relationship can breed tenant retention, and it can mean more references for you down the road. Nurturing a good landlord-tenant relationship can be difficult, of course, as managing property is a great deal of work, and tenants are not always the most agreeable. Here is a look at some tips to help you establish better relationships with your tenants.
Create an open line of communication from the get-go.
It’s important to communicate openly with your tenant from the get-go. Create an open line of communication starting from that initial showing, and make sure your tenant knows how to contact you and ask questions whenever needed. This open line of communication will prove vital down the road should any issues with rent payment or property management arise.
Don’t leave all communication to the lease.
On a similar note, while it is essential to draw up an organized, comprehensive, and explicit lease for each of your tenants, even the best of leases are simply skimmed by tenants. In addition to asking your tenant to read through the lease thoroughly, be sure to communicate to them outright the key points of the lease that they need to know—such as move in/move out dates, late rent fees, tenant behavior policies, and pet policy.
Respond quickly to repair requests.
Any time your tenant contacts you about a needed repair, be sure to take care of it as soon as possible. Quick repairs will keep your tenant happy and speak volumes about you as a landlord. Your quick response to needed repairs may even be what keeps your tenant from moving—or what drives them to recommend your property to others.
If you can’t handle property repairs yourself, don’t be afraid to outsource. You can always hire a property manager to get the job done for you so that it gets done in a timely fashion. We at Rhino Property Management, for example, specialize in performing repairs and maintenance to keep tenants happy.
Schedule regular property maintenance.
On a similar note, it’s also a good idea to schedule regular maintenance on your property, even if a repair is not needed. Services such as carpet cleaning, lawn care, pest control, and snow removal can help your tenant feel more comfortable at home while keeping your property value up.
Reward good behavior.
While not necessary, of course, it is a nice touch to reward good behavior such as regular, on time payments or a clean home. You might reward your tenant every so often with movie tickets, a gift card, or something of that nature.
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