If your relationship with your tenant goes sour or become combative, your ability to work productively together will decrease. Thankfully, there are many things you can do as the property owner to foster a positive relationship with your tenant.
Probably the most significant thing you can do to create a positive relationship with your tenant is to develop strong communication skills. Establish and maintain open lines of communication with your tenant. Therefore, when the tenant contacts you, respond quickly to their inquiries or concerns. If you are unable to personally field tenant calls, then it is important to hire someone who can do it for you.
A quality property manager will be able to communicate effectively with your tenant on your behalf. However, it makes no difference who will be communicating directly with your tenant, be sure to give your tenant plenty of clear information, explain why things are happening, and provide advance notice in the event anything changes.
An additional crucial part of a positive tenant relationship is trust. As the Garden City property manager, you can encourage your tenant to trust you by following through on your promises. If you tell them that you will be somewhere at a specific time, show up at that time. If you inform your tenant about plans to fix or update certain parts of the property, give them a clear timeline for those repairs and then complete them as promised.
When a tenant earns a sense of trust for their landlord or property owner, they are more likely to work cooperatively to keep the property in good condition and tell you about minor repair issues before they become big problems.
Some components of a positive tenant relationship include respecting boundaries. As a landlord, it is significant to set clear boundaries for yourself and your tenants. If you need to visit the property, be sure to give advance notice and set up a time that is accessible to your tenant’s schedule. The last thing you want is for your tenant to think like you have violated their privacy or their quiet enjoyment of the property to satisfy your needs as a rental owner.
Finally, you can foster a positive relationship with your tenant by listening to suggestions and documenting everything. Organize a plan for your tenant to give you feedback on your rental property, and show them that you are considering those suggestions. It could be as simple as an email exchange, which will allow both parties a possibility to discuss effortlessly with your tenant and provide documentation of your conversation.
Regardless of how you choose to communicate with your tenant, make sure to document everything. Keep all emails, letters, notices, and voicemail messages related to your rental property and your tenant. Just in case a problem or argument occurs, this paper trail will be an invaluable resource for settling the matter quickly.
As a property owner, it is in everyone’s best interest to keep things friendly and professional. Your accomplishment as a real estate investor depends upon good tenant relations. Handling your tenants with respect and understanding can help you optimize your rental income for many years to come.
At Real Property Management Landmark, we treat your renters and property with the utmost professionalism and respect. Call us at 516-522-2859 today, or contact us online to see what we can do for you!