Good landlords attract good tenants. If you are a good landlord, then you will spend less time having to fill vacancies. You will also have an easier time retaining the tenants that you have. There are several things that you can do in order to become a good landlord.
Help Your Tenant Get Adjusted
There are many tenants that have moved from another area. They may not be familiar with the city. That is why it is a good idea for you to help them get adjusted to the area. Tell them where the pharmacies, grocery stores and schools are. You can also give them a map of the area.
Additionally, you should help them get adjusted to their new home. Stock their bathrooms with supplies. Put toilet paper in the bathrooms and soap in the dispensers. If they need to change their address, then you should also help them do that.
Be Mindful of the Fair Housing Laws
Every place has fair housing laws. You could be fined if you don’t follow all of those laws. You can’t discriminate against someone based on their sex, color, religion or sexual orientation.
Screen Your Tenants Properly
One of the keys to good property management is to pick the right properly. There are likely a lot of tenants who are interested in your property, so you are bound to attract a few bad apples. Before you allow a tenant to come visit your property, you will need to make sure that they meet the basic requirements.
You should look at your credit score, do a background check and verify income. If you pre-screen your tenants properly, then you will likely have a reliable group of people who will pay the rent every month. However, if you have to deny a tenant, then you should make sure that you are not doing so on a discriminatory basis.
Be Professional
You should present yourself in a professional matter any time that you interact with a tenant. You will need to dress neatly because the right appearance will help you make the right impression. You will also need to follow the guidelines of the lease.
It is important for you to be consistent and available at all times. Additionally, it is important to remember that tenants and landlords are not supposed to be friends. You have to keep emotional distance because you may have to take them to court or evict them one day.
Be Available
One of the reasons that tenants get frustrated is because landlords take too much time to respond to requests. That is why it is important to make yourself available to your tenants. There should be multiple ways for your tenant to get in touch with you.
Handle Problems the Right Way
There are many problems that you will have to deal with as a landlord. Tenants may not always pay their rent on time. They may have to break their lease or have issues with their neighbors. Additionally, you may have to evict them.
You have to be able to address these issues the right way. You have to stay calm, cool and collected when problems arise.
Get Online
We live in a time where most people prefer to do things online. If you don’t have an online profile, then you should definitely get online. You should give people the option of paying online and applying online. They should also be able to put in work orders online.
This will make things easier for your tenants. They will appreciate the fact that the landlord went out their way to make things convenient for them. Additionally, you should be aware of your online reviews. If you get a negative review, then you should reach out to the person and try to rectify the situation.
Keep Everything Organized
Organization will make your life a lot easier. You will need to make sure that everything in your office is organized. Everything in the office should have its own place. This will allow you to find things when you need it.
You will also need to make sure that your website is organized. Your tenants should be able to easily navigate the website and find what they need
By: Eric Reyes
About the Author:
Eric Reyes is a passionate thought leader having been featured in 50 distinguished online and offline platforms. His passion and knowledge in Finance and Business made him a sought after contributor providing valuable insights to his readers. You can find him reading a book and discussing current events in his spare time.