As a landlord in Tampa, it’s better to have long-term than short-term tenants. You get to have a source of steady income and you don’t have to spend time and money filling vacancies.
1. Straighten up the property
Nothing is less attractive than a messy and non-maintained property. Ensure your tenant has a clean and habitable place to live in. Here are a few ways you can straighten up your property:
- Make the property neat and spacious by removing clutter.
- Consider updating or replacing your old and worn-out furniture and appliances
- Scrub your floors and vacuum the carpets.
- Repair any damages to the walls and reapply a fresh coat of paint.
- Replace broken knobs, faucets, and other fixtures.
- Maintain landscaping.
- Consider the requests of the tenant to spruce up the place.
Tenants are more likely to rent long-term if they feel “at home”. Try having flexible terms on how tenants can make minor changes to the property.
2. Give a warm welcome
Often times, when tenants move in, going out of your way to make them feel comfortable will go a long way. This will help both of you start off on the right foot.
You can provide a simple welcome basket and include a list of recommendations for shopping and restaurants. Not only will your tenant feel appreciated and welcome, but you’re also cementing a better landlord-tenant relationship.
A welcome package is a very kind gesture that shows you care about them. Here are some items you might want to include in them:
- Coffee beans
- Cupcakes
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Map of the area and recommendations
- Coupon or gift card for a local favorite restaurant or coffee shop
- Your contact info on a notecard
Doing this opens a line of communication early on and will encourage your tenant to be honest.
3. Make use of technology
There’s a large selection of modern technology to choose from, which include among other things, cameras and locks.
Smart homes offer benefits to both landlords and tenants. Aside from improving the number of features the home has, by making sure that your tenants are safe and secure contributes to their decision to renew their lease.
4. Build a positive landlord-tenant relationship
Some tips on how you can achieve this balance include:
- Treating all tenants equally,
- Being polite and greeting them,
- Sending cards or tokens on special occasions,
- Listening to their requests,
- Respect their privacy.
It goes without saying that balancing your role as a landlord with your tenants’ needs and expectations can be tricky. Your tenants may have numerous demands and they can sometimes be difficult to keep track of. However, the more boundaries and rules you establish from the start, the more pleasant your relationship can be.
5. Stay on top of maintenance and repair issues
It has always been the landlord’s responsibility to keep the rental property in good shape.
This involves making the necessary repairs and ensuring all heating, water, and electrical systems work properly.
When tenants raise concerns about their heating or plumbing or other things in the unit, it’s important to act swiftly and get them fixed as soon as possible.
It also pays to be proactive and not only act when a problem gets reported by the tenant. When making your routine inspections
, note the areas that may need repairs. If you fix things in a quick manner, tenants tend to stay longer and treat your property with better care.
When tenants are happy and satisfied that their needs are being addressed, it shows that you care about their well-being. This increases the likelihood of them calling your place “home”. This is one of the reasons that many tenants stay long-term.
Staying on top of repairs and maintenance is the best thing for you, your property, and your tenants.
6. Consider compromises
In order for tenants to feel comfortable at your property, they often want to personalize it as best they can.
Take some time to listen to some of their requests and figure out a compromise. Whether it’s changing the paint color or allowing pets, it can greatly increase your chances of having long-term tenants.
7. Constant communication
It’s important to be clear with your tenants about lines of communication. No tenant wants an unresponsive landlord.
Be reachable and let them know how they can get in touch with you whether through mobile or email and be clear about your response times.
Additionally, be available to tenants who want to view your property. It will only take one missed call or message to lose a prospective tenant to another landlord.
As a landlord in Tampa, it’s in your best interest to find a tenant that will rent your property long-term. This list of 7 ideas can help you in accomplishing just that. It’s important to remember to find ways to better your tenant’s experience while staying professional and not getting too friendly. This way, you can enforce strict rules and better your landlord-tenant relationship.
