What a Landlord Wants (Besides Being Paid on Time).
Here are the top 3 things landlords want (besides being paid on time):
1. Real Time Honesty
Honesty kept coming up as the most desirable quality in a renter. This can encompass a large scope within the renting relationship, but just remember to be upfront with your landlord because he/she is a person too. “If you plan on moving out, just let me know in advance, it saves us both the headache,” says Sandy Kirchner who owns four rental properties in Illinois and Wisconsin. “Too often renters procrastinate until the last minute to tell me they want to move out because they’re avoiding a conversation they don’t want to have. In the end, it leaves me in a bad place. Some of my contracts state that failure to update on a move-out date may result in an additional month’s rent but, believe it or not, we don’t like being the bad guy. I feel bad about enforcing my own rule—one that could have been avoided if my renter just fessed up as soon as they knew they were moving.”
Jack Connors, who rents several condo spaces in Chicagoland adds, “I want to know if there’s something about the place that’s bothering you so I can actually do something about it. As soon as you have a gripe it’s better to tell me so I can try to fix the problem rather than to let the annoyance build up and get my renter to a point where he’s really angry and takes it out on me, or wants to move.”
Moral of this story – speak your mind and don’t wait to do it!
2. Cleanliness
This one comes as no surprise – landlords want a clean renter. “A renter can pay seven days in advance every month but if on the occasion I have to enter the space for whatever reason, I see that it’s become a garbage dump, my mind only sees dollar signs in the red.” Says Mike Lewandowski who rents spaces in Chicagoland. “Believe it or not, we can lose more money than we make due to unclean renters and I think more landlords should write clauses in their contracts protecting themselves from these situations.”
Moral of this story – if you’re so dirty that your landlord wants you out, you should call a cleaning service pronto. (Not to mention you should reevaluate your habits).
3. Respect
Such a simple word but so often overlooked when we’re thinking of ourselves, of paying high prices for rent, of getting angry that our washing machine broke, etc. Don’t take your anger and frustration out on your landlord. Calm yourself down and make the call, yelling won’t get you farther. “Sometimes gratitude is the thing I feel is missing the most from renting to others.” Says Connors. “I wake up at all hours to take calls and complaints, I risk my own money, and some days I feel like all I get for it are complaints. I do what I can to keep my tenants happy like offering deals or going above and beyond in areas such as landscape or amenities and I hate to sound petty but when no one thanks you for these things, you start to question why you’re doing it.”
Moral of this story: say thanks! Give a lil’ respect. Again, landlords are people too and ultimately you’ll get the most out of your place if you treat your landlord with respect than with demands.
From: Apartments.com
