Bonus Landlord Tips – For After You Filled That Vacancy

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I told you I had made some upgrades, so here is a new option, if you want to listen to this bonus tip, it’s available just above, so click on the arrow above (or triangle whatever you think it is) to get hear the new audio version!

I like to throw in a couple bonuses in these tips and that includes bonuses for the tenants. You have gone through the work, you have screened the tenants and you finally have your new tenant picked out. It would be nice if your work is done, but there are a few more steps you can take do to make you a memorable landlord.

Many landlords I know provide gift baskets to the tenants that include everything they might need to get started. A few snacks, some of the small sample size laundry detergents and other household items. It can make a wonderful first impression. Our little trick is to leave a couple of nice bath towels in the closet with a note welcoming them to their new home. You can pick up on the towels months in advance and stock up when they are on sale!

How about tenant handbooks? These can be presented to the tenants when they move in and you do the walk through checklist with them. Then you can leave their copy of the checklist in the front sleeve of the binder. Inside the binder, you can include all the house and area information that you already prepared for the info sheets, but in more detail.

We include location of water shut off valves, furnace filter size for units with furnaces, manuals for all appliances and any specialty items like digital thermostats. Of course, make sure you have copies of most of this info for your own records! We also like to grab some of the menus that come in the junk mail and throw them in the binder as well. It’s always a challenge when you first move to an area to find some of the local delivery places and this can really help new tenants.

Of course, we have our contact information in the book, but it’s also good practice to have the information somewhere where they can quickly access it in an emergency. We have a small piece of paper that has emergency numbers on it, along with some of our most trusted contractors so they can call them directly if need be, that we laminate and Velcro into their cupboard door close to the kitchen phone jack.

It’s also important that you put the emergency numbers in the correct order on this sheet. 911 goes on the top, police numbers and fire numbers and then other emergency numbers with yours at the very bottom. If there is a true emergency such as a fire, the idea is they call 911 first and tell you later.

Hopefully this is another batch of enjoyable information for everyone, if you have suggestions you would like to add or comments please feel free to add them.[podcast]https://www.investors.housez.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Bonus-Landlord-Tips.mp3[/podcast][podcast]https://www.investors.housez.ca/feed/podcast/Bonus Landlord Tips.mp3[/podcast]