Landlords tend to have a negative reputation, but there is a lot of hard work that goes into being a landlord and even more so if you’d like to be a good one. Being a good landlord requires a range of different soft and technical skills, as you tend to deal with many different people, situations and tasks simultaneously. Here are some of the traits we think you’d need to be a good landlord.
Empathy
Empathy is extremely important, tenants can come into rough times, especially financially while renting from you. It’s important that you can hear them out and imagine yourself in their shoes. Your tenant will be appreciative of this and will remember it in the long-term.
Assertiveness
Being firm but fair is a great trait to have that ties directly with empathy. You can understand your tenant’s position if they are in a rough place, but you also need to establish rules and boundaries in order to maintain a balanced relationship and to ensure that you aren’t being taken advantage of.
Transparency
Be transparent and open with your tenants, it’s the key to a long and healthy relationship. From open communication to receipts for rent payments, your residents should have a good idea of what’s going on behind your closed doors as you work to maintain transparency. Additionally, be honest and have integrity.
If you are aware of a mould or pest problem, then your tenants have a right to know. Don’t be afraid to let them know what’s going on, and try and remedy the issue.
Professionalism
You’ve got to make a strong impression on your tenants, especially if you want them to stick around for a long time, so being unprofessional just isn’t an option. Everything from how you present yourself, in appearance, word, and action, is essential to being a successful landlord and coming across as professional.
Reliability
A solid presence is more important than you may realize as a landlord. It lets your renters know that they can rely on you. To that end, answer the phone when you’re in the office, and promptly call people back if you’re not. Perhaps one of the most impacting elements of being a landlord is following through when you make a promise. Let tenants know they can rely on you by keeping your word and not making promises you can’t keep.
We have even more tips and hacks for you in our previous post: Landlord Hacks You Should Know