Blog Post

What Tenants Look for When Renting a Property

Dustin Edwards • December 14, 2022

Tenants Look For These Items When Searching For A Rental Property


Most landlords understand what makes a good tenant. Someone who pays rent on time is respectful and communicative and will live in their Long Beach rental property long term. Quality tenants are difficult to come by as there is heavy competition to retain them.


How do you attract tenants to your property, and what do they look for when exploring the market?


Below are a few tips and tricks you can do to make your rental property more appealing to potential tenants.


Quality Photos

For a tenant to be interested in your rental property, they need to be able to judge it. Professional images should help the tenant see as much as possible and visualize living there. Listing without pictures rarely interests tenants, while high-quality, well-lit photos can give tenants a virtual tour of the property. Focusing on strengths is ideal, but you don’t want to hide imperfections.


Maintenance

If a tenant has decided to schedule a viewing of the rental property, repairs and maintenance must be done. If the property is in poor condition, many tenants will assume that this is how it is treated, and they should treat it as such. Repairs or maintenance of a unit once a tenant has moved in can be disruptive and alienate good tenants. First impressions are essential; you don't want to give your potential tenants the wrong one.


Condition of the Property

Aside from general maintenance, the property's overall condition is important for tenants. An older home may feel cozy, but will often mean that repairs to the core systems may be common. Tenants tend to avoid older properties for this reason. If the core systems are new, you can attract quality tenants.


Communication and Cooperation

Landlords and tenants should be respectful and courteous in a perfect world. Unfortunately, many tenants see landlords or property management companies as “rent collectors.” To entice quality tenants, they need to feel that you or your property manager are easily reachable and easy to communicate with. Answer all their questions and set the expectation that you follow through with promises. A good tenant will expect mutual respect and hold their end of the bargain so long as you keep your word. They will likely be searching for a new home if you don't meet their expectations.


Reputation

One of the most valuable forms of marketing is word of mouth. The majority of consumers use reviews and recommendations to help make their decision. Promote positive renter testimonials on your website, listings, and even a few sentences. Tenants with recent positive experiences such as quick repairs, events, or receiving a tenant appreciation reward are best used for these testimonials. The better you and your property managers are, the more likely a tenant will be attracted. 


Referral programs are a great way to encourage current tenants to attract their friends or family to your rental property. A good tenant will likely refer to other good tenants, and rewarding them with discounts on rent, gift cards, or cash can set up a constant flow of quality referrals all year. 


Finding high-quality and respectful tenants doesn’t have to be complicated. Show them you and your home are as excellent as they are, and finding good, long-term tenants shouldn’t be an issue. If you need help setting up advertisements for your rental or would like more details about our services, consider calling us at (562) 888-0247, or feel free to fill out our
free rental analysis to see what your rental could yield today.

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Having clear communication with your tenant is essential for maintaining a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. By being transparent in all relevant interactions, landlords can prevent misunderstandings while resolving repairs and disputes efficiently while improving tenant satisfaction. Having good communication with your tenant is beneficial for landlords too. Effective communication also protects your investment property. Remember that while your tenant is living in the property, landlords need to take care of the repairs. Below are the three best things to do during tenant communications. Prompt Responses Addressing tenant concerns quickly is essential for building trust and maintaining a positive relationship. Tenants feel valued when landlords respond quickly, knowing that their needs are being prioritized. Building this trust not only enhances your tenant’s satisfaction it lowers the possibility of conflicts or misunderstandings to arise. This ultimately creates a healthy and successful rental experience for you and your tenant. Some of the most common inquiries will oftentimes include repair requests, among others. As an example; if your tenant reports a leak under their faucet and the repair is delayed, this can be damaging to your landlord-tenant relationship, as well as your property. If left ignored, that leak can result in hundreds of dollars in water damage and a vacancy . Which can further affect our bottom line negatively. For landlords with multiple properties, this can become difficult to keep track of. A property manager can help with scheduling repairs and communicating with your tenant on your behalf. Document Everything Keeping a detailed record of all interactions with your tenant is an important element when managing a property. There are many choices for documentation including email, text, or written notices. Although many property management companies and landlords have opted to use apps or dedicated tenant portals to log communications. A great example, for instance, a tenant may claim they’d reported a repair issue that was never addressed, if everything is to be documented, both you and the tenant would have a copy of the request. Maintaining transparency with tenants. Having thorough documentation ensures agreements and requests between all parties are clearly tracked. Documenting communications with your tenant provides landlords with a foundation for addressing misunderstandings, or disputes if and when they arise. Provide Regular Updates Regular updates show tenants that their landlord is organized and has an attentive approach to managing their property. Giving tenants ample time for maintenance, inspections or policy changes is a simple way to build trust with your tenants while showing your professionalism. Giving tenants advanced notices reassures them that you’re aware of how changes can affect them and you understand that time might be needed in order to adjust. Surprises are best kept for birthday parties. Proactively notifying tenants of changes helps clear the communication channels and minimizes disruptions which helps tenants feel valued and satisfied. These small yet consistent efforts can contribute to a positive tenant stay, which can encourage lease renewals and long-term tenancy. Additionally, having a good relationship with your tenants can give you a great reputation which can provide you with leads when looking to fill a vacancy . It cannot be understated the importance of communication for a healthy landlord-tenant relationship. Even if your tenant may not agree with some of the decisions a landlord needs to make, by giving your tenants ample time to process the change tenants generally are more accepting of said change. If you’re having trouble communicating with your tenants or if you need help managing Beach City rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or complete our Owner Application online .
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