By Mary Girsch-Bock
In a recent post, we talked about some of the things that managers can inadvertently do to drive their good tenants away. Remember, as property managers, your focus should be on providing your residents with a safe, secure place to live. However, it’s also important to provide your tenants with a sense of community and their importance to that community. We’ll talk about some of the things that property managers can do to help ensure that their tenants feel like an integral part of the community. Like the issues addressed in my previous post, most of these require little in the way of time or money, and instead focus on how to place your residents first, even in the little things.
Here are some things that managers can do to keep their tenants happy and content:
- Learn your tenants’ names and use them regularly. While some folks may appreciate anonymity, no one likes to think that they’re just another number. Taking the simple step of learning the names of your tenants can go a long way towards building a community, ensuring that your residents feel as important as they really are.
- Appreciate your loyal tenants. If you’re lucky enough to have a community of good tenants, take a little time and show them how much you appreciate them. Do you have tenants that have never been late paying their rent? Take a moment and surprise them with a gift card or flowers that simply say thank you.
- Give your tenants an unexpected upgrade. This can be particularly beneficial in older communities. When you upgrade appliances or install new ceiling fans, not only are you adding value to the unit for the future, you’re also thanking your long-term, loyal residents as well.
- Track tenant birthdays and send them a birthday card. While the expense is minimal, the return can pay a tremendous amount of dividends, with the end result being a lot of tenants that feel appreciated.
And while there is no guarantee that implementing any of the issues above will help to retain tenants come renewal time, not addressing pressing issues will likely drive your good tenants to seek out a community where they do feel valued. Make sure that community is yours.
From:: Property Management
