We all have our favorites, right? The tenants are great to deal with, they pay their rent on time, they’re polite and courteous, and they’re overall just great members of the community. It can be sad when they have to suddenly leave. But, what can you do as a landlord to attract these kinds of tenants and retain them for a longer period of time? Find out some of our top tips for how to find and keep good tenants.
How to Find Good Tenants
Be professional.
When prospective tenants get in contact with you about a listing, be professional! Respond to emails and calls in a professional and timely manner. Be sure to go through the process with care and attention to detail. Doing so will increase your chances of impressing good tenants and therefore help you to find them, too.
Create high-quality listings.
When advertising your property, ensure that you create high-quality listings that garner a lot of interest. Spend adequate time writing your descriptions, including taking the time to answer all the potential questions applicants may ask about. And, don’t overlook the importance of sharing high-quality photos of a clean and tidy home. Put yourself in the applicant’s shoes. If you were to come across this listing, would it catch your eye or would you scroll right past it? To find good tenants, you need a listing record that will prompt as many people as possible to stop and think about viewing it in person.
Carry out thorough screenings.
Ensure that you have carried out all of the required background checks and screenings to put your mind at ease. Finding and securing good tenants in your property means also confirming they have adequate financial means or subsidized assistance to pay rent on time.
How to Retain Good Tenants
Consider the current market and external factors.
If there is something going on locally or nationally that is impacting your market, try and identify the ways that you can best support your tenants. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen millions of people lose their jobs, which creates uncertainty about housing. As a landlord, it is in your best interest to be as communicative as you can and offer support when needed. Can you afford to waive rent for a month or reduce the amount? Maybe you can help them look for alternative living arrangements? Can you help them with temporary employment?
In times like these, your good tenants will remember how they were treated! If you believe in karma, you will be rewarded in the end. And, if not this time, then next time. Do good, be good.
Resolve issues quickly.
As a landlord, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed with requests and occupied with many things to do. However, it is in your best interest to be as communicative as possible. If you can’t quite get to something ASAP, try and let your good tenants know that their request was heard and you’ll work on it soon.
Try and avoid letting maintenance requests pile up, as it can become very costly to try and fix in the future. Additionally, if the tenant is in any danger in your property while awaiting maintenance or repair, it can reflect very badly on you as the landlord. This can potentially have legal consequences, too.
Be professional.
This point is so important that we mention it again! Having the applicant sign the lease and move in isn’t the end of the relationship. Keeping the good tenants that you found feeling happy and valued during their tenancy is vital to maintaining a long-term agreement. Act and communicate professionally, and try to be personable. Everyone loves to deal with kind, caring, and respectful people! If you’re lucky enough to have a landlord like this, wouldn’t you consider staying put for another year if there’s otherwise no good reason for leaving?
To learn more about how PropHub can help you find and retain good tenants with the help of property management software, register for free today!
You can read our previous post about organization tips for landlords here!