A stitch in time, saves 9 - keeping a happy tennant

Introduction

It's your job to ensure that your tenants are happy and satisfied. While this can be a difficult task, it doesn't have to be! Here are some tips for keeping your tenants content:

Repairs

Your tenant may be less than thrilled at the idea of having to wait for a repair, so it's important that you're able to respond quickly. After all, there's nothing worse than spending your weekend waiting on a landlord who isn't going to show up for hours. If you want to keep your tenants happy, you should make sure that any problems are fixed as soon as possible -- preferably within 24 hours.

In addition to being proactive about repairs, it's also important that you inform your tenant about progress on the repair itself. Tenants can get impatient if they don't know what's happening with their request or if they've been waiting longer than expected; keeping them informed allows them know that their concerns have been heard and understood (and may even result in fewer calls!).

Fix it when they say to fix it.

It is important for you to fix things when your tenants ask you to. The reason for this is that if you don't, they might think that you don't care about them or the property, and are only interested in charging them more money every month. A good relationship with your tenant is essential if they are going to be happy living in your rental property.

Keep in mind that repairs are unpaid overtime for tenants.

As a landlord, you're responsible for keeping your property in good shape. If your tenant complains about something that needs fixing, your first move should be to fix it. If you don't fix the problem right away, they may feel like they're being ignored or dealing with an unresponsive landlord—and that's not an ideal situation.

When a tenant has a maintenance issue, they're essentially telling you that they want their home to stay in good condition and that they'd appreciate it if repairs were made promptly. While some tenants may be less understanding of these facts than others (after all, this is unpaid overtime for them), most will appreciate the effort and recognize what's at stake: their quality of life as tenants!

It's important to keep records of all maintenance requests from tenants so you can easily identify trends and patterns over time. Regular communication with your tenants is also key; whether it's through phone calls or email updates about upcoming projects on the schedule (like replacing an air conditioning unit), staying in touch keeps everyone informed and allows both sides to plan ahead when possible problems arise unexpectedly later down the line

Communication

When a tenant contacts you with a problem or request, the first step is to make sure you understand them. Sometimes tenants think they are asking for something that isn't actually needed and it's your job to help them clarify what they want from you. If you don't understand a tenant's request, ask for more information by saying something like "I'm sorry I didn't quite catch what was going on there." This lets the tenant know that their communication wasn't clear and gives them an opportunity to explain themselves better.

After clarifying what the tenant needs from you, be sure to ask for contact information so that you can get back in touch quickly once your investigation into their issue is complete. Try emailing or texting—the latter option may mean fewer emails getting lost under piles of papers at home! Whatever method works best for both parties should be used consistently over time so as not to confuse anyone regarding how they should reach out when problems arise or requests need answering (or both). Finally: Provide a timeline within which tenants should expect an answer from management regarding any concerns brought forward before moving onto other tasks/emails/etceteras so as not leave anyone hanging indefinitely without knowing when exactly his question will finally get answered!

Set expectations early.

First, set expectations early. Before you even rent to your new tenant, it's important to have a clear idea of what's expected of them.

It's a good idea to communicate these expectations clearly in the lease agreement itself so that there are no surprises later down the road. Your lease can also contain language that informs tenants of what will happen in case of an emergency or if repairs need to be made on their unit.

In addition, make sure your lease has language about when repairs will be done and when communication with you is expected from the tenant (i.e., if there's an issue with maintenance).

Make sure you know what your tenant means by "a couple days."

Tenants often use the phrase "a couple of days" to refer to the period between one day and another. However, it's up to you as a landlord to determine what kind of timeframe this means for each tenant. For example, if your tenant told you that he'll be out of town for a week and will need his rent money transferred into his account by Friday at noon, then "a couple days" might mean anything from Monday through Wednesday. You might want to ask him what he meant by "a couple days," especially if he's going out of town on Thursday or Friday.

Assume they're in a rush unless they say otherwise.

Assume they're in a rush unless they say otherwise.

This is applicable to any situation where you're meeting someone for the first time, but it's especially true when dealing with new tenants. People are always in a rush, regardless of how much free time they might have on their hands. So don't assume that because your tenant seems uninterested or distracted by something else that they don't want to be informed about the particulars of their lease or move-in process; if you think something is important enough for them to know about, tell them!

People may forget that they've asked you to do something. Ask once a week until it's done.

Asking your tenants to do something is a good idea. However, you can't assume that they'll do anything on their own just because you've asked them to do it. You have to keep asking until the task is complete!

For example, if your tenant asks you to take out their trash and you agree, then they might forget or get busy with other things in life or at work—and then nothing gets done.

It's also possible that when they ask for something like taking out the trash every week or two weeks (which isn't uncommon), there may be some miscommunication about when these tasks will happen. So don't be afraid of asking again if someone says "okay" but doesn't follow through after a few days pass by without progress being made.

Tenants will be happier when matters are handled promptly and respectfully

• Respect their time.

• Don't take advantage of the tenant's good will or patience.

• Don't be dismissive, especially if they bring up a serious problem that you didn't notice before.

Conclusion

In the end, keeping a happy tenant is about treating them with respect and empathy. It's about trusting that they'll take care of you if you treat them well and make their lives easier. People like to feel taken care of, and when you put in that effort it shows in their work ethic and loyalty. If you can get these things right, then even the most demanding tenant will be happy to rent from you for years to come!