Want Quality Tenants? Then Make Sure You’re a Quality Landlord. Here’s How.

Being a landlord is a specific type of responsibility that is not for the faint of heart. It takes commitment, diligence, and flexibility – because if you want good tenants, then you need to be a good landlord. Here are some tips to make sure you’re living up to your potential as a Brooklyn landlord.

Before the Move-In

Create a clean and ready to move in space

They always say that first impressions are very important. And in the case of a new tenant moving in, that is especially true. This will be the start of – at least – a one year relationship, so you want to make sure you have your ducks lined up before the move-in mayhem begins. Here’s a few nice – and maybe a little over the top – things you can do to set the tone:

Drop off the forms they need to change their address after moving in
Provide a move in / move out checklist
List of your favorite neighborhood venders/ shops
Leave a emergency contact list
Provide other neighbors/residents info (with their permission of course)
Your preferred cleaning person
Your preferred communication platform (call, text, email, etc.)

All of these suggestions can provide a nice, personal touch and make your tenants feel welcome. And the more they feel like “this is home,” the better chance there is that they’ll take good care of the space.

During the Lease

Keep Calm in the Storms

As a landlord, things are bound to go at least a little bit wrong at one point or another. Maybe it’ll be as simple as an appliance needing replacement, or maybe you’ll discover water damage that the tenant could have prevented. Remember to stay calm & gather the facts before you react. Your tenants will greatly appreciate the patience you provide.

Stay Professional

No matter how well you know your tenants, keep the relationship professional. You don’t want friendships that lead to lost money when rent isn’t paid down the line.

Be Accessible

In good times and bad, your tenants will need to contact you. Whether it’s about a repair request or something else, they need to know they can count on you to respond when they reach out. Communication is always key to a positive working relationship.

When the Rental Agreement Ends

Make it Easy to Part Ways

Ending a lease can be hard on a renter, whether it’s because they need to leave your unit and find another at the very same time or because their lives change at times they couldn’t have seen coming. By providing support and flexibility at move-out time, you’re much more likely to end on a positive note – plus, then you can expect the same from them, too.

Being a great BK landlord does take time, patience, and forethought – but in the end, if you can retain good, quality tenants, then you’ll be saving yourself headaches & money, too. Remember, it costs more to quickly turnover tenants, so putting in a little extra effort can go a long way.

Of course, working with a broker like us gives you an additional resource to work with – even after the lease signing. Get in touch anytime.