In order to have great tenants and keep them you have to know how to be a great landlord. What does that look like? Great landlords treat their tenants as customers. They follow the law and the lease that is in place. Additionally, a great landlord is professional and remembers that they are running a business and their actions reflect this.
Here are some tips on how to be a great landlord. You can decide if this is something that you can do.
- First and most importantly provide your new tenant with a clean place to move into. Moreover, that means appliance and the carpet professionally cleaned too.
- Be warm and welcoming to your tenant. If they are new to the area, provide them with some helpful hints and ideas on where to get groceries, pharmacies and where to get a good burger in town. Let your tenant know trash day, where to park and other information so they can feel at home.
- Stock the bathroom with toilet paper. Make sure there is a roll of paper towels in the kitchen and perhaps a bottle of an all-purpose cleaner. Furthermore, this shows them you care about cleanliness.
Some Other Ideas
- Review the lease with the tenants. Make sure they know what is expected of them. This benefits both of you. Let them know that you follow the lease to the letter, ALWAYS. That way they know exactly what to expect.
- Be professional and look the part. Tenants are not your friends but a friendly professional relationship is ideal. It is a business relationship. Keep your emotional distance.
- Always keep your cool whatever the situation. Additionally, be respectful.
- Be accessible. If your tenant needs to reach you, you need to be reachable. Respond promptly when your tenant emails or calls. If you are going to be unavailable for a period of time, provide them with an emergency contact.
Being a good landlord is not complicated.
Treat others the way that you would want to be treated. Additionally, be respectful, professional and available. Make sure that you properly maintain your property and you will be considered a great landlord. Contact us to learn more and ask to be placed on an email list for our upcoming book The Naked Truth About Being a Landlord.