Whether you are
a landlord with residential or commercial tenants, building a positive
relationship with them can be a profitable and rewarding experience for you.
The following
tips may help you improve your relationships with your tenants.
·
Know your
stuff: Knowing the ins and outs of the landlord/tenant regulations in your
area can go a long way toward building a positive tenant relationship. However,
it’s not enough to simply spout the rules; the way you deliver your message is
also important.
·
Communicate:
Lecturing your tenant will not get you very far. Many boards that deal with
landlord/tenant disputes report that the majority of situations they
investigate could have been easily resolved if the landlord and tenant had communicated
with each other. With today’s technology there are many ways to communicate;
choose the method that works for both of you.
·
Make it
personal: Show your tenant that you care about building a positive
relationship. Be approachable and encourage your tenant to ask questions before
things are blown out of proportion.
·
Respond accordingly:
Responding to every tenant’s requests can be daunting. While to you not all
tenant issues require a four-alarm response, the tenant may not see it this
way. If, for example, you are dealing with a flooded unit and another tenant
contacts you with a noise complaint, acknowledging the issue (or at least
acknowledging you’ve received the message) can go a long way toward diffusing
the situation while you deal with the more pressing matter.
