Here’s a story about a beautiful Landlord / Tenant relationship; A few months back, a friend of mine moved into her new home. The Landlord met her outside the property to present her with the keys…and a TOILET BRUSH – a dazzling £15 one from John Lewis. You know why the Landlord had bought a toilet brush? Because she had thought that it might be something my friend would forget and thought it was an important thing not to miss.
OTT or just the right amount of awesome? You decide. But you know what it started? A great relationship, where the Landlord looked after my friend and in return my friend made sure she paid rent on time and really looked after the flat. Even to the end, when it came to my friend handing in her notice, the Landlord shared a glass of wine with her and got all excited about her buying her new flat, they really got on, mainly because the Landlord went out of her way to make sure their tenant LOVED the flat.
So here’s where I am going with it:
Imagine this
You open push open the door. A strong smell of damp and mould knocks you for six. The room is dark, the old blinds are pulled in a hap-hazard way across some grimy looking windows. It’s cold, the door slams shut behind you and then continues to rattle in the doorframe. The sofa looks…well sat on, it’s a strange hue of blue with some questionable looking stains on the covers. Behind you is something that used to resemble a cooker with rusting hobs and a small, cluttered surface next to it. The fridge door hangs open, wait…eurghh! Is that mould in there?? Do I need to go on to describe the manky looking bed and the ancient olive green relic of a bathroom suite? Probably not, you get it, right?
Now imagine this
The sun is shining as you pull up to your prospective house. The front garden has a simple, well mowed lawn. The door mat looks new and the front door is clean. You ring the doorbell, and out comes the cheerful Landlord. They eagerly shake your hand and welcome you in to start the tour. You first take in the smell, is that fresh linen? Crisp curtains hang across clean windows. The carpets are bright, fresh and un-marked. The bed looks so cosy you could curl up on it right now. The kitchen is spotless and wait…are they integrated appliances? Is that a breakfast bar?? Ohh my!
Which is best?
If anyone would prefer the impression the first scenario gives, then OUT…
OK, I’m not going to chuck you outside the digital door of my blog, but you need to be thinking about what you are offering, is your property amazing to live in?
To get super awesome tenants you need to offer equally super awesome accommodation. This doesn’t vary depending on size, location, price or the sort of tenants you are after. You are offering them a product and people pay for quality. Your property needs to be something you love, and something they can love.
Make Them Fall In Love
So how you going to do it? I don’t know why I am even saying this, but I hate it when I walk into a flat and it’s unclean – clean it. Simple as (that includes the carpets, too!).
If it’s broken – fix it. If it needs painting – paint it. If it needs repairing – repair it. Get it?
Take care and pride in your product. The property you are offering says something about you.
Now I’m not saying you need to offer a complimentary toilet brush to every new tenant through your doors, that would be weird, but you have to have the same good intentions. There has to be a strong relationship there and that has to be apparent the whole way through the tenancy. Think about what you can offer – For me I make sure my tenant is looked after, there’s always someone they can talk to and there is always a bottle of wine or some chocolates waiting for them when they first take the lease. If there are any other problems then I will always resolve them quickly – it’s pointless sitting on something, it just causes more agro then it’s really worth.
What can you do, or what do you do to make your tenants fall in love?
Here’s some ideas: Do you meet your tenants on arrival? Do you put scented wallpaper in your drawers (you know, to keep it fresh)? Do you make sure there is a stock of toilet paper? Have you already set up the bills and the telephone line? Do you hang curtain poles and curtains? The list is endless, but what is your toilet brush?
I’m always interested to know how other Landlords’ play it, so Tweet me, Facebook or email me or let me know what you have come up with after reading this blog.
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NC
