In order to keep your tenants and avoid high vacancy rate, you need to keep your rental properties up to date. Things can escalate quickly if unreported when it comes to repairs and a small leak can become a major flood in several apartments.
Every time a tenant moves out, it increases costs to the landlord: you need to repaint the unit, clean it up and make some minor repairs, all of which adds up to the maintenance bill. Typically this includes inspection, repairs, and cleaning. Depending on how unhappy your tenants may have been, the repairs could become pretty costly. While tenants are responsible for the damages they cause and you may have collected a deposit for damages, it is better to avoid ending up in court over unhappy tenants and problems that a well-laid-out management plan could have prevented.
Having clear guidelines for the policies and procedures in place can avoid unnecessary conflict down the road, possibly causing you to lose good tenants and lower your occupancy levels. In the same way, understanding your responsibilities as a landlord and what your tenants will expect of you in this role can help you best approach your new duties with a plan for success. We will explore five of the routine tasks every McAllen landlord needs to stay on top of to keep tenants happy.
Empathy
Maintaining rental homes or even large building complexes depends on your ability to build good relationships with the residents, part of which is understanding their issues. The tenant-landlord relationship starts from the first interview. You will need to develop the ability to remain calm and be flexible when a tenant starts telling you about some issues they may be experiencing or a problem with other residents or their kids. Being responsive to their needs and keeping open communication channels can help you fulfill this duty by encouraging tenants to report issues immediately.
Pest control
Pests can quietly destroy property before your tenants may come to realize there is an issue and bring it to your attention. To avoid severe destruction, every McAllen landlord needs to stay on top of performing routine preventive treatment for the property and keep tenants happy. If this isn’t a job you’re willing to take on, you can always call a pest service control company to do it for you.
Landscaping
Landscaping makes your property more attractive, however, left out of control, plants can become a safety hazard for the residents and they can cause damage to the building. Landlords should be aware of problems with roots growing through sidewalks and even causing cracks in the foundation when reviewing the landscape design. Additionally, overgrown plants can become a security issue. Routine maintenance of the landscape can be a valuable asset to your tenants’ security, making this another essential task every McAllen landlord needs to stay on top of to keep tenants happy.
Routine Maintenance
McAllen landlord needs to keep tenants happy by treating them with respect, such as trying to give them a 24 hour notice of entry to the units. Tenants also have a reasonable expectation that you will be providing a habitable and safe environment, such as being sure there are well-lit entrances, and common areas are cared for, along with any other routine maintenance tasks. Your tenant may want to pay less rent if these tasks are substandard. If they cannot fully enjoy their residence, you could be responsible for other living arrangements until you resolve the issue.
Annual Inspections
Along with routine maintenance, it is wise to have annual checkups performed on the critical systems in the rental units, such as the A/C units, electrical and plumbing, and any other systems involved with amenities offered, such as pools or recreational clubhouses and the like. This annual checkup is also an excellent time to have the foundation, roof, and other structural systems reviewed for damage from storms or issues that can arise from the property aging. Taking these extra steps as a McAllen helps a great deal to keep tenants happy.
Let Dolfin RGV help. At Dolfin RGV, our professionals know the local market and laws governing compliance with federal guidelines about what you can ask potential tenants and if you may be responsible for special provisions. We can help you stay within your budget and take on as much or as little as you like of the responsibilities of being a landlord, Dolfin RGV makes it easy to be a good landlord. If you are tired of being a landlord and prefer to hand everything over to Dolfin RGV, we could make you a cash offer for your rental property. Contact Dolfin RGV at (956) 904 5234 to discuss your situation and check if we might help.