Effective communication is key to establishing a healthy tenant-landlord relationship. Misunderstandings often happen in our personal and professional lives. When things aren’t clearly spelled out, they’re left up to interpretation, which can result in potential problems. As a landlord, it’s important you do everything you can to maintain good communication between you and the tenants.
This starts at the beginning. When you’re first showing the property to potential tenants, you have to be honest with them. You need to be quick to respond and be clear about what the property offers. Paint a true picture of what amenities are included. Don’t over embellish what they’ll get when they rent the property.
Be friendly throughout the exchange. Your personality, responses, and honesty will lay the groundwork for a great, working relationship. Tenants will trust you more from the start. This will help them feel more comfortable reaching out to you if an issue does come up.
Going forward, respond quickly when it comes to handling any questions or concerns. Let tenants know when and how they can easily reach you. It’s best if you provide them with multiple avenues for touching base. You will probably find that tenants prefer different methods of communication. Some people may want to call you while others might prefer text. Giving your tenants more than one option makes communication easier and more efficient.
Always give your tenants plenty of notice if there is anything they need to be aware of or if a person will be coming into their home. For example, if you’re planning on scheduling an annual inspection, let your tenants know a week or two prior. Be respectful of their time. Talk with them about their schedule and see what works best.
Remember when tenants are talking to you to pay close attention. Take notes as needed, so you don’t miss anything. Ask questions if you’re confused. Be clear in your communications with tenants. Use everyday words, be specific but to the point, and ensure your tenants have a clear understanding of the message being delivered. Never put off important items that tenants need to be aware of and handle all of your communications with a cool head, never reacting out of emotion. It’s also a good idea to keep track of all of your communications, in case of legal concerns.
If you’re looking for additional ways to improve communication between you and your tenants, please reach out to us at PMI. Effective communication is part of our brand promise. Please visit our website to learn more. PMI Virginia.
