It's easy to find tenant horror stories on the internet.
The tenant who trashed a property, the one who refused to leave, or the one who stayed for years without paying rent. Yet we hear less about the flip side: the fantastic tenants who make property management a breeze.
If you have a tenant like this, you're in luck. However, you also need to think about your leasing management approach so you can keep them for the long term. Here's how to do that for your Atlanta, GA, rental.
Focus on Maintaining the Property
Tenants want to live in a rental that's in good condition, and they don't want broken appliances. The best way to handle property maintenance is to be proactive.
Conduct regular inspections and services to ensure you catch and fix problems early. If your tenant comes to you with an issue, promptly remedy it and communicate with them throughout.
You should also invest in minor upgrades to make the property more pleasant and modern, such as replacing old floors or retiling a bathroom.
Provide Incentives in Lease Agreements
If your tenant's lease is up for renewal, you should focus on finding an incentive to keep them at your property. If you can, offer a small discount on the rent as a thank you and a way to make your property more competitive than similar ones in your area.
If you can't afford to offer a rent discount, consider another incentive, such as a more flexible lease term.
Improve Landlord Communication Efforts
Good communication is at the heart of any strong relationship, so work on ways to improve your communications with your tenant. Be approachable and make yourself available by phone.
When tenants contact you with questions or complaints, be responsive and tell them you'll take action immediately. Making tenants feel heard goes a long way toward building a lasting and loyal relationship.
Streamline Rent Payments
Offering convenience is a great way to improve tenant retention. Invest in an online portal that will allow you to manage everything in one place and give tenants instant access to everything they need, like updates on property repairs and copies of their lease.
It's also a better way to manage rent payments, allowing the tenant to review past payments and get notified when the next one is due.
Respect Your Tenants' Privacy
Tenants want to feel safe in their homes. That also means they are entitled to privacy.
Respecting this will help create a better long-term relationship. Give the tenant lots of notice about an inspection or repair, and work with them to negotiate a convenient time and date.
If you need to access the property because of an emergency, be as professional and swift as possible to minimize disruption.
Leasing Management: Securing the Best Tenants
Good tenants look after your property and pay on time, so if you have found someone like that, it's worth keeping hold of them. Use these leasing management tips to help.
Rent Appeal is committed to managing well-maintained properties for our landlords, helping to retain excellent tenants, and protecting the rental's value. Discover more about our Atlanta, GA, property management services here.
