Happy Landlord = Peaceful Living
Great tenants know landlords want to retain them. This means that when lease renewals come around, they are more likely to be able to negotiate favorable terms.
As a renter, by making an effort to get your landlord to appreciate you, you not only set yourself up to save money on the next lease but you also develop a peaceful and stress-free relationship with your landlord.
Here are 7 ways to make your landlord appreciate you:
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Make a Good First Impression
Be on time for your appointment and have all documents (application, checkbook, reference letters, etc.) on hand. This shows the landlord that you are organized and professional which are indicators that you will be paying rent on time.
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Read Your Entire Lease
Read and make sure you understand the entire lease before you sign it. If there is anything in the lease that you are unclear on, now is the time to ask. Landlords get annoyed when they receive calls later on about questions that are already answered in the lease.
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Treat it Like it’s Your Own
Take care of the rental unit like it is your own property. Your landlord will appreciate not having to do a bunch of repairs when you leave before he can rent the unit out again. While normal wear and tear is typical, avoid causing any major damage. Damages may prevent you from getting your security deposit back and cause unnecessary rifts with your landlord.
Bonus Points: Keep your rental property clean. You do not want your landlord walking into a messy and stinky apartment. If the landlord sees that you are treating his property with respect and care, he will trust you more.
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Pay Your Rent on Time
Do everything in your power to pay your rent on time. In the rare instance when you know you are unable to, inform your landlord immediately. Many landlords tell us the most stressful part about their job is when the rent is late and their tenants didn’t inform them. They are left wondering when or if they will receive the payment and are forced to chase the tenants down.
Bonus Points: Remember you don’t always have to wait until the last day to pay your rent. Paying a few days early earns you goodwill with your landlord who may then be more forgiving if you are late in the future. Either way, make sure you have the check in the mailbox several days before it’s due to avoid the delays that comes with using snail mail. Better yet, pay rent using Properly’s online payment portal. It’s free, secure, and you can even set up recurring payments!
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Be Friends With Your Neighbors
There are several benefits to knowing your neighbors. When you are traveling, they can keep an eye out on your property and help you with small favors such as signing for packages. Of course, you should always strive to be a respectful neighbor but there may be nights when you have friends over and it gets a bit noisy. Your neighbors may be more understanding and you increase the chances that they will come to you first before reporting it to your landlord.
Better yet, perhaps you and your neighbor will become best friends! You never know unless you make an effort.
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Don’t Break the Lease
Breaking a lease is not limited to only the most obvious things such as not paying rent, leaving before the lease is over, or subletting your apartment. A landlord can technically evict a tenant for breaching any terms of the lease. Other common provisions in leases include no pets, no running a business from your home, limits on guest stays, no noise after a certain hour, and no smoking. Be aware of all conditions you agreed to. Your landlord probably has reasons for including such terms and by keeping to his wishes, you foster a courteous relationship with your landlord.
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Ask Before Making a Renovation
Before you make any renovations to the rental unit, no matter how minor you think it is, always ask. It doesn’t take much time to call or text your landlord but it takes a lot of time (and money) to reverse a renovation that wasn’t allowed in the first place.
Minor renovations that most landlords don’t typically mind include painting walls, installing blinds/curtains around your windows, adding extra light fixtures, and hanging removable wall posters/art.
Major renovations include permanent damage such as knocking down a wall to expand a room or installing something that creates large holes in the walls.
Whether the renovation is minor or major, your landlord will appreciate if you ask first!
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