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Knowing how to successfully manage your rental property can only be good for your business. It keeps your tenants happy, which means they’ll stay longer and ensures you can enjoy a steady stream of passive income. If you respect your tenants, they will respect your property, so it becomes mutually beneficial for everyone involved.
If you’ve just accepted new tenants after the end of a previous lease, you want to get off on the right foot as soon as possible. Your new tenants may have moved from the other side of the country or are raising a young family after finally moving out of their parent's house. Because of this, you need to make them feel welcome, but how?
Prepare The Property For Their Arrival
If you’ve ever rented property before, you know there’s nothing worse than moving in on your first day and seeing heaps of garbage, leftover (and broken) furniture, and a lot of work to do. As a landlord, the very least you can do is prepare the property for their arrival.
Furnished or not, you should make sure everything is clean, as this makes it easier to move their stuff into the home. You should also check that all appliances, such as the oven and washing machine, work. Otherwise, you can expect a stressed-out phone call soon enough.
Provide Useful Contact Information
While you want to be there for your tenants at all times, it isn’t always convenient, especially if you live in another part of the country. Compiling a list of useful contact information, including gas services, locksmiths, the local police and firefighters, and your local 1-800 water damage company can all benefit tenants in the event of a disaster.
You should also provide your contact information with both a phone number and email address. If you work with a property management company, add their details and encourage tenants to get in touch with them if they have any problems, but still cc you on the message.
Think Of The Essentials
Moving is a stressful time, so you can usually expect tenants to forget something they may need during their first week before they can make it to the supermarket. You don’t need to stock their freezer full of goodies, but you can offer toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and quick dinners for them to eat if they get hungry during the move-in process.
These essentials can relieve stress and allow the tenants to get everything else finished. They’ll probably order in on the first night, but after that, they’ll want to be able to cook and clean their dishes.
Check In On Them
An absent property owner can cause plenty of frustration for their tenants, so it’s important not to ignore them, which you can do by checking in on them. A phone call or email after the dust has settled will let them know you’re thinking of them, and you ask them if they have any questions or problems that they would like you to fix.
It’s best to get this information as soon as possible because they might forget or the problems could become more severe if left unchecked.
But Don’t Overstep Their Boundaries
However, while you should check in on your tenants, you must not overstep their boundaries. Depending on where your property is located, you may need to provide at least 24 hours' notice if you want to drop by and check the property. It’s best to keep in contact with the tenant or let the property management firm organize this for you.
Your tenants need to feel welcome in their home, but they will never feel comfortable if they worry you’re going to drop by at any minute. This is true even if they aren't doing anything wrong, as they’ll feel they can’t just relax.
Put Together A Welcome Pack
Welcome Packs are a fantastic way to introduce your tenants to the property. Just like a collection of essentials, they can solve many first-night problems, but you can also offer other things, such as a welcome letter and details about the area.
If your tenants have recently moved to the city, they may not know anyone or have any clue what to do. A collection of activities, as well as information about supermarkets, cafes and restaurants, and public transport, will make it easier for them to feel welcome and integrate into the community.
Welcome Home
Everyone deserves to feel welcome in the home they pay for, and as a property owner, you must make sure they feel as comfortable as possible as they begin the next chapter of their life. With these tips, you can make your tenants feel right at home, hopefully for many years.
