Most landlords want nothing more than to have good, long-term tenants who pay their rent on time and take care of the property. While there’s no surefire way to guarantee that your tenants will be happy and stay for the long haul, there are some things you can do as a landlord to help increase the chances of tenant satisfaction.
Keep reading to learn about nine tips for keeping good tenants happy.
1. Be responsive to repair requests.
No one wants to live in a property that’s in disrepair. If your tenants have a maintenance request, do your best to address the issue as quickly as possible. The sooner you can take care of the problem, the happier your tenants will be.
2. Respect your tenants’ privacy.
Your tenants are entitled to privacy in their own home. Unless there’s an emergency, give your tenants advance notice before entering the property. In most cases, 24 hours notice is appropriate.
3. Be reasonable with rent.
Increases Rent increases are inevitable, but you should try to keep them reasonable. If you must raise the rent, give your tenants as much notice as possible so they can budget accordingly.
4. Be understanding of special circumstances.
Life happens, and sometimes your tenants may fall on hard times. If they need to miss a rent payment or are late with a payment, be understanding. Work with them to come up with a payment plan that works for both of you.
5. Offer renewals before leases end.
If you have a tenant who you’d like to keep, offer them a renewal before their lease is up. This gives them the peace of mind of knowing they can stay in the property if they want to, and it gives you the opportunity to lock in a good tenant for another term.
6. Give tenants a chance to provide feedback.
Your tenants are the ones who are living in the property day in and day out. They may have valuable feedback about the property, so give them an opportunity to provide it. You can do this by sending out periodic surveys or having an open-door policy for feedback.
7. Show appreciation.
A little appreciation can go a long way. If you have a tenant who’s been a model tenant, take the time to show your appreciation. This can be as simple as sending a thank-you note or offering a small gift.
8. Be available.
If your tenants need to reach you, make sure you’re available. Provide them with your contact information and let them know how best to reach you. return their calls and emails in a timely manner.
9. Hire an experienced Atlanta property management company.
A professional and reputable property management company will have tools, processes, and systems in place to make sure your tenants needs never slip through the cracks. At Specialized Property Management Atlanta, our mission is to be recognized as the industry-leading management experts on whom investors can rely for successful and predictable results and performance. We combine best-in-class management methodologies with ever-advancing technology to create a superior customer experience.