When you take on a new tenant, you want them to take good care of your home. It’s an investment you made and you want that investment to remain in good shape. Helping your tenants feel at home will help them want to take care of your property.
A good relationship with a tenant starts with making them feel at home. No tenant wants to feel likely they are living in someone else’s home. They want to feel like it is their home and you probably want them to treat it that way. Here are some of the ways you can make your tenants feel at home.
Respond to Maintenance Requests Quickly
The number one complaint from any tenant will be slow maintenance. It’s one thing if it’s a very minor issue, but if something they used daily or weekly isn’t working properly, they need a quick response. Happy tenants take care of properties better than tenants not happy with your service.
When a maintenance request comes in, get someone out to fix it as fast as possible. This is a great way to help a tenant feel like you value them.
Send Birthday and Holiday Cards
It’s a nice little touch and shows your tenants you’re thinking of them. A simple handwritten birthday or holiday card can go a long way to helping someone feel at home. This isn’t very expensive and it can show your thoughtfulness. A small gesture, but one that can pay back pretty big, sending cards for birthdays and holidays is a good choice.
Provide a Move-in Gift Box
It’s going above and beyond the call of duty, but a move-in gift box can go a long way to starting the landlord-tenant relationship off right. With a welcome box, you can include things, such as local vendor coupons, nearby restaurant recommendations, inexpensive cleaning products, and other items they might need to get started.
This doesn’t have to be a costly thing. It can be pretty simple and can provide value. Partner with a few local restaurants and businesses in the area. They can give a small gift card or coupon for you to put in the gift boxes. Then, just add in a few basic things they can use, such as cleaning supplies and you’ll have a great little box to say “welcome” when they move in.
Respect Their Privacy
Nobody wants a landlord that shows up every other week. When people move into a new home, they might be coming from living with family, in a hotel during a transition, or another type of living situation without much privacy. Respect their privacy and let them get settled into their home.
As a landlord, you should only be showing up when it’s necessary, and with proper notice. Limiting visits to the property is a great way to let your tenants settle in and feel at home.
If you want to make sure your tenants feel at home, a property management team can help. Professionals know how to make sure tenants feel at home and they eliminate the need for the owner to have any contact with them.
