On tenants<\/h3>\n
Most of the time, the media likes to portray the landlord as the cranky older person knocking rudely at the tenant\u2019s door, asking for rent. But it doesn\u2019t have to be that way. Although you must keep your relationship with your tenant<\/a> strictly professional, there\u2019s no harm in trying to communicate with them better, especially regarding concerns about their stay in your unit.<\/p>\n Here are some ways you can improve that communication this new year.<\/p>\n It all starts in how you pick your tenant.<\/a> Although generally, you should not be discriminatory in choosing who gets to live in your unit; doing a thorough background check should be imperative. This includes their health, finances, and emergency contacts.<\/p>\n This resolution also includes you explaining in the best way possible the terms of your agreement. Make sure that they understand the policies of the whole condominium and the rules you set yourself for the unit. Ensure that they know what they\u2019re signing up for and that you are open for clarifications at any point of their stay.<\/p>\n This can help you when they are exhibiting unusual behavior, or when they frequently miss paying rent.<\/p>\n With the rising prices of commodities, it\u2019s going to be hard to pay the bills. You should give a little more leeway to tenants who seem like they struggle at times to make ends meet.<\/p>\n You can talk to them about their situation and try to understand it from their perspective. Should it be too much of a financial setback on your part, try and assist them as much as you can before setting your foot down and having them vacate the unit.<\/p>\n You should also try to foster an open and approachable relationship. Give them your contact details, and make sure you are always ready to talk regarding issues with the unit. Tenants should feel that they can be honest with you about the problems at home.<\/p>\n However, if you find yourself being depended on by the tenant for matters outside your scope of responsibility, you can gently nudge them in the right direction and help them find more qualified people to assist them.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re having trouble with retaining your tenants, you should do an assessment. You can do this by having an exit interview. Whether it be the expensive cost of living in the condo or rowdy neighbors, you should take note.<\/p>\n Not only will it be the right way for you to reflect on your management skills, but you can also speak with the overall property manager or other landlords to address what could be a trend within the whole community.<\/p>\n One last resolution you can make is to encourage green living in your units. If you can, orient your tenants on how to cut down on energy use and waste. It\u2019s an excellent way to get everyone to chip in for the environment, even in small ways.<\/p>\n Just because someone else is living inside your unit, doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re scrubbed free of the responsibility of its upkeep. Since it\u2019s your property, you should tend to its maintenance.<\/p>\n As a landlord, your new year\u2019s resolution should include being swift and decisive regarding issues with your unit. When a tenant calls about a leaking pipe or flickering lights, you should be the first on the scene to assess the damage if you can.<\/p>\n If this is not possible, assign an emergency task force that could help your tenants should you find it difficult to attend to every issue. This task force can include contractors or maintenance staff that could help with quick repairs and assessment of the damage.<\/p>\n To largely avoid the issues mentioned above, you should regularly schedule an inspection of your unit. Have an expert check the utilities and safety hazards to prevent future problems for you and your tenants.<\/p>\n You should also hand the residents emergency numbers of maintenance personnel should there be urgent matters that you cannot address on your own.<\/p>\n Aside from taking care of the unit and ensuring good communication with your tenants, you should also assess your property management, especially if you have other people working for you or if you\u2019re handling multiple units at once.<\/p>\n If you have extra hands working with you, be more considerate. They are your teammates, not just employees you pay to do jobs you can\u2019t handle on your own.<\/p>\n If you can, be understanding when they make mistakes; and instead of responding with impatience, try to educate them about the right practices. You can learn a thing or two about being a landlord from the people that work for you.<\/p>\n Speaking of learning, a landlord should always be willing to learn new things about the business. Knowing how to keep deadlines and handling your finances are not the only things that you should focus on.<\/p>\n Real estate is a dynamic profession to get into, and that\u2019s why you should always be on the lookout for new trends and practices you can apply to your business. Read up on landlord hacks and tips<\/a> and review new laws that could affect your business.<\/p>\n The rental market is not something you master overnight. So if you\u2019re hesitant about decisions and you think you need to be informed more, you should never be afraid to ask for help.<\/p>\n If this is your first time managing properties<\/a>, or even if you\u2019re starting to assess your practices, friendly or professional advice is always welcome.<\/p>\n To accurately and efficiently run your business, you should use the latest apps for landlords<\/a> in encoding and storing data. It will make your job easier, and your files will be organized well for future reference. You can also use online platforms like online property listings, and social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to promote your properties. Everything is digital nowadays. As landlords, you need to reach your audience in the places they frequent. When they see you\u2019re online and active, it will inquire.<\/p>\n1. Improve tenant screening<\/h3>\n
![\"improve-tenant-screening\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/improve-tenant-screening-1024x768.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of <\/em>energepic.com<\/a> via Pexels<\/em><\/p>\n2. Be more understanding of tenants<\/h3>\n
3. Communicate with tenants often and better<\/h3>\n
![\"communicate-with-tenants-often-better\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/communicate-with-tenants-often-better-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of <\/em>Nappy<\/a> via Pexels<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a04.\u00a0Assess resident retainment issues<\/h3>\n
5. Encourage green living<\/h3>\n
![\"advice-advise-advisor-business\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/advice-advise-advisor-business-1024x678.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of Startup Stock Photos<\/a> via Pexels<\/em><\/p>\nOn unit maintenance<\/h3>\n
6. Address problems ASAP<\/h3>\n
7. Schedule an inspection regularly<\/h3>\n
![\"schedule-an-inspection-regularly\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/schedule-an-inspection-regularly-1024x682.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of <\/em>edubosh<\/a> via Pixabay<\/em><\/p>\nOn management<\/h3>\n
8. Take care of your employees<\/h3>\n
![\"take-care-of-your-employees\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/take-care-of-your-employees-1024x640.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of Pixabay<\/a> via Pexels<\/em><\/p>\n9. Be a student<\/h3>\n
10. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help<\/h3>\n
![\"dont-be-afraid-to-ask-help\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/dont-be-afraid-to-ask-help-1024x678.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of <\/em>Breakingpic<\/a> via Pexels<\/em><\/p>\n11. Go digital<\/h3>\n
12. Have a secure lease agreement<\/h3>\n
![\"have-secure-lease-agreement\"](\"https:\/\/leasing.dmcihomes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/have-secure-lease-agreement-1024x681.jpg\")
Photo courtesy of