| Its important from the start to create a friendly | | | | 1. Go over the lease and have each paragraph |
| but professional relationship with all tenants. Too | | | | initialed by the new tenant and yourself |
| many owners rent to people they like and | | | | 2. Be clear that all house rules are to be |
| assume if they are nice and they are friendly that | | | | respected |
| all will go well. | | | | 3. Offer any reasonable help you can by using a |
| Wrong. This is your business and although you | | | | tenant welcome pack. Your Property Path has a |
| want a pleasant exchange, you are not a friend, | | | | good article on the Ezine web site. |
| you are a landlord. If you create a friend rather | | | | Discuss any procedural expectations now. |
| than a friendly tenancy you will have a tough time | | | | 1. Have all maintenance request be in writing |
| enforcing the house rules. | | | | 2. Be sure that you have done a pre-inspection of |
| Create a Professional relationship at the Tenant | | | | the unit before the move in and document the |
| Screening Interview | | | | apartments condition. |
| You establish your authority first and the initial | | | | 3. Make the tenant aware that they have |
| meetings. Let potential tenants know that you | | | | obligations to keep the apartment in good |
| expect clear and honest answers and all | | | | condition and that they have obligations to warn |
| documentation in a timely manner. Be friendly but | | | | you immediately of leaks and backups, of |
| firm. Prospective tenants will get that you mean | | | | gathering moisture, of defective smoke alarms |
| business and if they cant perform they will go | | | | 4. Establish a visitors policy and enforce it or you |
| away rather than try to stall you or cause you to | | | | may end up with roommates you never |
| change your rules just for them. Establish a set of | | | | screened. |
| business rules regarding what you need as a | | | | 5. Enforce all late payments with 3 day notices |
| financial requirement, and a good credit policy. Its | | | | 6. Be firm without forgetting this is a two way |
| a good idea to hand your tenant screening rules | | | | relationship |
| to everyone interested in renting from you. Stick | | | | We all like to have clear parameters. If we know |
| to it. You will get their respect and they will | | | | what is expected of us then we know how to |
| perform, but you must be clear and not waffle. | | | | act in a way that creates a positive relationship. |
| Control of the relationship begins with the lease | | | | Its your job as the landlord to explain in a clear |
| signing | | | | and business like way exactly how you expect |
| During the lease signing you should carry yourself | | | | your tenants to act and to express clearly what |
| in a friendly and professional manner. Be friendly | | | | they can expect from you. Its a relationship of |
| and look to establish a positive and helpful | | | | rules and obligations. |
| business relationship. | | | | |