One thing that truly sets a great Reno landlord apart from the remainder is going the extra mile to make move-in as straightforward as possible for your tenant. To that end, it’s essential to welcome your tenant to their new rental home and provide them with the essential information they’ll need to make a smooth transition. By offering move-in tips for your tenants, you can begin to build constructive relations and good communication from day one, as well as demonstrate that you care about your tenant’s comfort and well-being. When a tenant feels that their landlord genuinely cares about them, they are much more likely to put more effort into keeping their rental home clean and in good condition. It’s a win-win!
Send a Welcome Letter
When tenants move into a new rental home, there are several things that they need to know to settle in quickly. But sometimes, little things get lost in the hustle and bustle of the move. For this reason, it is a good idea to prepare a welcome letter for your tenant with the vital information they will need.
For example, many tenants need to set up utilities in their name when they move into a new rental home. This is information that could take them some time and frustration to track down on their own. Instead, include a list of the local utility providers and their contact information in your welcome letter. You could also list which day garbage pick-up falls on and any other pertinent details. Providing this information to your tenant is a small gesture that they will appreciate very much.
It’s also a good idea to include a move-in checklist where the tenant can document the property’s current condition. This is helpful to refer to at the end of the lease when you’re preparing the home for the next tenant, and it will make your tenants feel safe that their deposit won’t be charged for damage that they didn’t impose.
It’s In the Mail
One more important detail a tenant will need to know is how to get a mailbox key, if one is not provided to them, and where the mailbox is located. While some properties have mailboxes installed in the yard, others may have locked mailboxes that are down the road or even at a distance from the rental property itself. To avoid has a view of this useful information, go forward and put it in your welcome letter so that your tenant won’t need to spend time tracking down information about the mail delivery service at their new address. Even better, consider listing the website for the US Postal Service’s address change tool. While your tenant can probably find this information themselves, why not show them that you are thinking about their needs even before the questions arise?
Getting In Touch
Ultimately, if your lease documents don’t already do so, be sure to explain in detail how your tenant can get ahold of you, what the expected response time is, and how they should pay rent and report maintenance issues. Even if you do have these instructions in your lease, it doesn’t hurt to copy them into your welcome letter, too. Lease documents can be overwhelming for some tenants, who may not know where to look or how to read them. In fact, it is best to have information tenants will use most often in more than one place for easy reference. Tenants are far more likely to adhere to your communication preferences and pay their rent on time when they know what to do and clearly understand the expectations.
Because move-in day can be chaotic, try to send your welcome letter and information at least a week before the day arrives. That will give your tenant time to read the information carefully and get set up in their new rental home more quickly.
Good tenant relations are an integral part of effective property management. But it can also be a time-consuming task, taking time away from other activities. Why not let the Reno property management professionals do it for you? At Real Property Management Corazon, we make tenant relations a top priority. To learn more about this and the other great services we offer, contact us online today!
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.
