Typically, tenants are the ones that try to make a positive impression of their landlords to convince them to pick their application over the others. However, landlords should also consider their first impression to increase their chances of success. This is why so many landlords interact positively with tenants in their first few days on the property.
In this article, we’ll be going over how you can leave a good first impression on your tenants as soon as they move in. Your goal will be to remove friction, instill confidence and kick off a good business relationship. The following are a couple of suggestions on how this can be done:
1. Keep Your Property Spotless
It wouldn’t matter whether you are renting out rooms at $300 per month in an otherwise substandard location or a luxurious penthouse in the city for $900 per month, your property should be in tip-top shape when your tenants are ready to move in.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that your property has all the bells and whistles, or that it is something that most renters can only dream of. It means that the property is clean and has no dust-covered mantels or grimey sinks, cobwebs on the walls, and windows laden with fingerprints. Each and every crevice of the rental unit should be squeaky clean.
2. Offer a Welcome Package
Nothing is more welcoming for tenants than a welcome package, and you don’t necessarily have to go overboard with an expensive gift. You see, a welcome package is just a collection of all the gifts and items that every new tenant should have when they move in. This could include a host of practical items such as dish soap and toilet paper, or some other exciting items like snacks, candy, flowers, or a gift card.
If you’re offering luxurious and high-end properties to renters, you should consider a nicer welcome package. Consider offering them a spa treatment, toys for children, or a bottle of wine.
3. Provide Vital Information Yourself
Nothing can be more frustrating for a tenant than not finding all the right information to get settled. This point of friction can easily be avoided by offering a resource to tenants that provides all of the following information:
- You personal number
- Contact information of local utility providers
- Parking details
- Information about the local neighbourhood
- Some tips on running appliances (such as a finicky dishwasher or a smart TV)
Typically, all of this information can be printed onto a piece of paper or booklet and added to the welcome package we discussed above.
4. Be Available Yourself
To make a great first impression on renters, it is also important that you be available yourself during the first week of renters moving in. Your tenants are bound to have questions during their transition period and you should reassure them that you will be a phone call away, will text them back promptly, or will quickly reply to their emails.
Good communication has always been the basis of a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. You can easily set yourself for success in the long term if you ace these first couple of interactions.
5. Hire Professional Property Managers
Property managers can supervise day-to-day activities in rental units. These managers are typically experienced in handling every aspect of your investment, which range from handling tenant disputes to filing taxes during the tax season.
If you haven’t hired a property manager already, click here to learn more about our services and how an experienced property manager can share some of your burdens.
