You've probably heard of, maybe even lived through, one of the landlord-tenant horror stories. While it's not unusual for problems to arise, getting ahead of the majority of them is indeed possible. The key to preventing issues is to build and maintain a good relationship with tenants and begin doing so right from the start. And you'd be surprised by how easy it is, so make sure to keep reading.
Build and Maintain a Good Relationship With Tenants With These Steps
Evicting someone isn't easy, and you should never resort to that unless it's warranted. To avoid finding yourself in such a situation altogether, it's imperative you at least attempt to build a quality relationship with your tenants. Below, you'll find tips that should help you achieve that!
Keep the Place Tidy
While new tenants will undoubtedly clean the rental before they officially move in, it's up to you to leave them as little work as possible. Ideally, you should have already presented them with a tidy place the moment they first laid eyes on it, as it's ultimately the first impressions that matter the most. Or, in your case, the first impressions that help build positive relationships. It's OK if you don't have the time to do the cleaning yourself. You don't have to! These days, there are many companies providing professional rental cleaning services that you could hire for the job.
Keep in Touch
It's extremely important you keep in touch with the tenants right from the beginning. They'll probably have lots of questions for you regarding the lease or anything else for that matter. Make sure you remain available for their questions, and if you can't provide the answers straight away, promise to give them a call-back. Open communication is vital in all kinds of relationships, including the one between you, as an owner, and them, as the current residents.
Tackle Maintenance Issues Rapidly
We can't expect anything to last forever, which is why maintenance problems tend to occur from time to time. While there's only so much you can do about the existence of issues, you can be prompt about solving them. Inform the tenants of how they can contact you if problems arise, whether that's through a phone, an email, or through a property manager if they are in charge of the maintenance.
It's common for owners to postpone the repairs, especially those that aren't as simple and cheap to tackle. But you shouldn't be that kind of an owner. Instead, a much smarter way to go about fixing damages is to do so as soon as possible. Problems have a way of worsening if left untreated. With that said, the more you procrastinate dealing with them, the harder and more expensive it will be to solve them.
But it's not only the property issues that can escalate without a prompt response. It's also your tenants' opinion of you as a landlord that can take a turn for the worse. If you wish to build and maintain a good relationship with tenants, the least you can do is call someone to deal with the problem once they report it. That way, they won't become frustrated over the inability to use a certain feature - one that was advertised as being included with the property.
Depending on the scope of damages, there is a chance the current residents will have to leave the premises for the time being while repairs take place. Moving experts behind verifiedmovers.com suggest owners, as a sign of goodwill, help them find a temporary place to stay at. Landlords can also provide assistance with packing or recommend a moving company to help transfer their essentials.
Nurture Trust
To build and maintain a good relationship with tenants, you'll have to build it on trust. When you make a promise to them, make sure you honor it. That means that if you agree on something, you'll follow through no matter what. If you fail to do so, you risk losing credibility in the eyes of your tenants. But it's not only your image that could suffer. In certain cases, if you promise you'll do something and fail to honor it, you risk facing legal repercussions. To avoid misunderstandings, perhaps it's best if you keep physical proof of important agreements. These can be anything from simple text messages to emails or a variety of written documents.
Be and Remain Honest
Honesty is one of the most important virtues for landlords. Establish yourself as a transparent individual from the beginning by specifically explaining the responsibilities the residents will have once they move in. Mention the cons of the property, not just the pros. After all, should they decide to move into the place, the truth will come out sooner or later. By keeping the tenants in the dark, you achieve nothing but fuel their anger.
Make the Tenants Lives Easier
Are you a landlord that genuinely wants to make the lives of their tenants easier? If so, you might want to consider equipping the house with all the necessary appliances. We aren't saying you have to turn the place into a smart home, but rather a fully functional one with everything one might need for comfortable living. That can include everything from a fridge, an oven, furniture, etc. In the end, it's up to you to choose what you'll bring into your rental property.
Leave a Present
The first, or in the case of this article, the final step is to leave the tenants a present. You can put together something like a welcome basket for them, containing the essentials such as toilet paper, tissues, cleaning supplies, a box of chocolate, and quality wine. You may think of this as futile, but it's the small gestures like this that ultimately help build and maintain a good relationship with tenants.
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