Good communication is a key component of the tenant-landlord relationship. Rental property management is developed on a foundation of trust and great relationships with others. When conducted correctly, effective communication can help you grow your bottom line and help you minimize your liability. However, tenant relations and communication skills do not usually occur automatically. For some Georgetown rental property owners, to master these skills, they commonly must be practiced over time. To reduce liability and promote tenant relations, here are a few simple approaches that work with any manner to managing rental properties.
1. Make Yourself Available
Maybe the ideal strategy to encourage effective communication between you and your tenants is to advise them that you can answer their calls and questions. It’s necessary to demonstrate a willingness to respond to them when they reach out, encouraging them to communicate more honestly and more often. By having regular conversations with your tenants, you are bound to acquire information about developing maintenance and repair issues early on, together with any other potential risks. This way, you can minimize liability proactively and avoid unnecessary confrontations in the end.
2. Offer Multiple Ways to Communicate
Today’s communications landscape contains a wide variety of methods to encourage frequent, effective communication between a landlord and your tenant. Due to this, it’s vital to become familiar with your tenant and give them more than one way to communicate with you. For other tenants, a single phone call or email may probably be sufficient. Others may be more capable of communicating with you via text or another messaging platform. Despite which method you choose, don’t forget to document your communications and follow any applicable laws when your communications involve the lease or legal issues.
3. Keep It Positive
One of the numerous reasons why tenants avoid talking to their landlord is that such conversations are often negative. Various landlords only converse with their tenants when there is a problem, which causes the tenant to develop negative associations with their landlord, justified or not. To avoid this situation and encourage effective communication with your tenant, strive to communicate positive information to them as often as possible. Give them updates on property renovations or repairs, or send them information about fun local events. This way, when you do need to discuss more serious matters, your tenants will be more willing to listen and respond.
4. Build Trust
In the tenant-landlord relationship, it’s important to remember that building trust takes two to tango. It would be best if you did not only trust your tenant, but they also need to trust you to communicate effectively with you. You can build trust with your tenant by keeping to your word, doing what you say you will do, and delivering promised repairs promptly. You can also encourage their confidence by treating them and their schedule with respect. Take small, respectful gestures such as sending lots of advance notice for maintenance visits and inspections and being honest with your tenant when they ask questions. In that way, you also encourage them to help you keep close tabs on your valuable investment.
As a Georgetown property owner and landlord, minimizing liability is always a challenge. However, with effective communication with your tenants, you can easily manage the risks and build a positive professional relationship with those renting your home. Surely, communicating with tenants needs time, patience, and a desire to be reachable around the clock. If you have other priorities, you might consider hiring a property management company such as Real Property Management Diamond to arrange the tenant relations for you. We make communications simple and effective, something your tenants are sure to appreciate. Besides, you’ll free up your time for your other important tasks. Contact us online today or give us a call at 302-313-7700.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
