How to Build a Good Relationship with Your Tenants –
Creating policies to deal with tenant requests creates a positive landlord-tenant relationship and protects your long-term property investment. Policies need to include time frames for dealing with complaints, tenant-landlord responsibilities, a list of qualified professionals, the various types of common requests that may be encountered and the maximum allowable costing for requests.
Time frames are best when established prior to the tenancy period. During the negotiation process there will be tenant requests negotiated into the Agreement to Lease. Tenant and landlord improvements will be established along with time frames and responsibilities. Responding to requests is something that isn’t covered in the negotiation process but contact should be made within 24 to 48 hours of the initial request being received.
Finding qualified professionals to deal with any possibility can be difficult. The property manager should have a list of trusted professionals to deal with any eventuality. This will help when dealing with tenant requests as well as potential emergencies.
Common requests deal with a wide range of items such as electrical and plumbing improvements and changes to the existing fixtures and signage. Having a plan to deal with issues will allow you to handle requests in a timely and cost-effective manner.
Setting guidelines for costs will establish a reasonable approach to dealing with the expense of improvements. Setting a maximum cost for signage and electrical and plumbing improvements will create guidelines for negotiating for improvements and dealing with requests.
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