As a landlord, keeping tenants happy is your top priority because it helps avoid vacancies and keep your numbers in the black. Things can escalate quickly if unreported when it comes to housing repairs, such as what may be seemingly minor plumbing problems suddenly become a flood in one or several units.
If you have been a landlord for some time, you know that vacancies are costly. Taking time and money out of the profits from the expenses of turning over the unit for a new tenant. Typically this includes inspections, repairs, and cleaning. Depending on how unhappy your tenants may have been, the repairs could be astoundingly costly. While tenants are responsible for the damages they cause and you may have collected a deposit for damages, it is better to avoid ending up in court over unhappy tenants and problems that a well-laid-out management plan could have averted.
Having clear guidelines for the policies and procedures from the beginning can avoid unnecessary conflict down the road, and even possibly causing you to lose good tenants and have a high number of vacancies. In the same way, understanding your responsibilities as a landlord and what your tenants will expect of you in this role can help you best approach your new duties with a plan for success. We will explore five of the routine tasks every Reno area landlord needs to stay on top of to keep tenants happy.
Relationships
Maintaining rental homes or even large apartment complexes depends on your ability to build good relationships with the residents, much of which is understanding their issues. The tenant-landlord relationship starts from the first time you meet. You will need to develop the ability to remain calm and be flexible when someone does approach you about troubles they may be experiencing or a problem with other tenants or their children. Being responsive to their needs and keeping open communication channels can help you fulfill this duty by encouraging tenants to report issues immediately.
Pests
Pests can quietly destroy property before your tenants may come to realize there is an issue and bring it to your attention. To avoid severe destruction, every Reno, and surrounding area landlord needs to stay on top of performing monthly treatments as a preventative measure for the property and keep tenants happy. Also, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to ask for a pet deposit and even pet rent. If this isn’t a job you’re willing to take on, you can always call professional pest service providers.
Landscaping
Landscaping adds beauty to your property, however, left out of control, plants can begin to be damaging and cause safety hazards for the residents. Landlords should consider problems with roots growing through sidewalks and even causing cracks in the foundation or even trouble with the plumbing when reviewing your landscape design. Additionally, overgrown plants can allow places for those with ill intent to hide unseen problems. Routine maintenance of the landscape can be a valuable asset to your tenants’ security, making this another essential task every Reno landlord needs to stay on top of to keep tenants happy.
Routine Maintenance
Reno area landlords need to keep tenants happy by treating them with respect, such as carefully following the typical 24-hour notice for entry into units. Tenants also have a reasonable expectation that you will be providing a habitable and safe environment, such as being sure there are well-lit walkways, and common areas are cared for, along with any other routine maintenance tasks. Your tenant may want to pay less rent if these tasks are left undone. If they cannot fully enjoy their residence, you could be responsible for other living arrangements until you resolve the issue.
Annual Checkups
Along with routine maintenance, it is wise to have annual checkups performed on the critical systems in the rental units, such as the HVAC system, electrical and plumbing, and any other systems involved with amenities offered, such as pools or recreational clubhouses. This annual checkup is also an excellent time to have the foundation, roof, and other structural systems reviewed for damage from winter weather or issues that can arise from the property aging. Taking these extra steps as a Reno helps a great deal to keep tenants happy.
There you have it. Some simple tips to help keep your tenants happy or at least to keep your sanity when having tenants. Owning a rental property or several properties can be stressful and overwhelming. At Envy Property Solutions, LLC, we recommend hiring a property manager, especially if you have multiple rental properties. However, if you’d like to save some money, you can manage the rentals yourself, but just make sure you’re prepared to handle them and their needs. Contact Envy Property Solutions, LLC at (775) 391-5236 to discuss these and other tasks every Reno landlord needs to stay on top of to keep tenants happy.