### How Do I Find a Good Tenant?
One of the most common questions we get from landlords, whether they have had rental properties for a while or are switching property management companies, is, "How can I get better tenants?" Our answer might not be what you expect.
It all starts with the property itself.
If your property looks or smells like a typical rental, what kind of tenants do you think you will attract? If there are visible defects, overgrown trees, and an unkempt yard, you might attract tenants who are a gamble—some will be good, while others could be a nightmare. Therefore, making the house nice and not cutting corners is crucial. For more details, you can review another blog of ours, "Cutting Costs is Costing You."
When a tenant moves out or right when you get the property, make it nice. Yes, even if it is in a rougher part of town. This doesn't mean you need to tile every shower and install granite countertops—shower surrounds and laminate are fine (just don’t get the super cheap ones). By "nice," we mean avoiding shortcuts: install a garbage disposal, fit in a dishwasher if possible, ensure the paint job is neat without drips or overlaps, and install a ceiling fan in every bedroom. These touches make the property more appealing and enable you to charge higher rent, attracting better tenants.
Creating a high demand for your property means multiple qualified tenants will apply. These tenants will have good income, stable work history, and a solid rental history. From there, you or your property manager can speak with past landlords to ensure you select the best candidate. When a good tenant moves out, they typically leave the property in nearly the same condition as when they moved in. You might need a cleaner or some minor touch-ups, but overall, the property won’t require much work. This allows your property manager to start advertising the property for rent as soon as the current tenant gives notice. It's possible to rent the property within the week that the previous tenant moves out, minimizing income loss from vacancy.
If you are reading this, you might have had bad experiences renting to tenants who destroyed your place, resulting in months without rent and significant repair costs. This can be discouraging and make you want to give up before you realize the benefits of having rental properties.
If you are a landlord who has had too many bad experiences with tenants and is ready to give up, or if you are new to rental properties and want to ensure success, give us a call at 816-378-0007. We can discuss your needs and help prepare your property for rent. We look forward to talking with you.