Communicate, communicate, communicate! Whether by email or by phone, by carrier pigeon or in person, staying in contact with your tenants makes everything else associated with managing your rental units easier. Here are 7 communication tips from the leader in property management in the Framingham area.
- Take the emotion out of it–
You may have great residents or more challenging tenants. Either way, look at the owner-tenant relationship as a business venture. Treat the renters professionally, and don’t get attached or too involved with them personally. Communication should be honest and clear.
- Do more. Lots more–
Whether it’s property management in Framingham, Milford, or Natick, Massachusetts, your tenants deserve to hear from you often. Communication can be in the form of email, calls, snail mail, or in person—it doesn’t matter, just make sure you’re staying in touch. Just like you, your tenants need to know what’s going on with that rental space. Regular inspections and maintenance are the activities that bring this together.
- Work Locally–
When you hire a property management team, make sure they have Framingham property management experience. Each market location is different. Find someone who is experienced with property management in the Framingham area and you’re on your way.
- Be clear about expectations–
Be clear from the outset with your expectations. At the signing of the lease agreement, spell out what you can be counted on for, and also what you expect of the tenants . This way there are no surprises. The rules are in place for both sides of the relationship. Nothing sours a relationship faster than unmet expectations. You and your tenants will have a much better experience. Clear communication up front clears up potential fuzzy interpretation of expectations.
- Don’t hover–
Your tenants do not want or need your advice on how to set up their household. They will want to figure out how they want to live in the house for themselves. You must keep your focus on making the experience as streamlined and as easy as possible. Just be sure they know how they can expect to reach you should they have questions.
- Hard Copies–
Exercise deep respect for hard copies of official documents. “Nail and mail” has been around for a long time for good reason, especially when you face legal issues or financial matters. It’s best to give your tenants hard copies of official paperwork and documents. Word of mouth and cyberspace aren’t always the most reliable documentation options for official communications, though keeping a computer file is always smart for back-up.
- Certify your mail–
Many Framingham property management firms certify every piece of mail that goes out to the client. That way, they can ensure the communication was received or refused. Either way, a record is kept, and you can prove what has or hasn’t been done. This is a practice you should check on when you go to hire a property management company.
Tenant communication when managing your own property can be an overwhelming experience. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be that way. When you partner with RPMMetroBoston.com, many of these issues will be taken care of for you.