As a Winston-Salem landlord, you know really well that a standard tenant can be difficult to find – and sometimes, even tougher to keep. To support good relations with your tenants, one trouble-free thing you can do is to give them a small appreciation gift for the holidays. Keeping your tenants happy can take effort, but a happy tenant is one who is quite possibly able to take good care of your property, pay their rent on time, and stay in the rental home for a long period. Even something as small as a simple holiday gift could let them perceive that you appreciate them – and would like them to stay.
A thoughtful tenant gift is one that your renters can use, but that is appropriate for their particular status and situation. A few of the best tenant gifts are indeed housewarming gifts because they tend to be welcome things for almost everyone. A box of gourmet cookies or a bottle of wine may be just the thing to show your care and consideration and to build rapport with your tenants. A small houseplant, a thank-you card, or a set of monogrammed coasters are also perfect ideas and would likely be both utilized and well-liked by your tenants.
If you think that giving your tenants a traditional housewarming gift isn’t quite your style of doing things, other alternative courses of action may make more sense. A number of tenants may appreciate a free property upgrade in lieu of a gift. One relatively inexpensive upgrade that will make your rental property better (and more fascinating to future tenants) is installing USB ports or one or more smart devices. Even a basic video doorbell or smart thermostat could mean a lot to your tenant while also increasing the value of your property. It’s an investment that would likely be able to pay off in several ways.
Well, other tenant gift ideas are less than tangible, but really, no less appreciated. As an example, if you have multiple tenants in the same town, consider hosting a fun event for your tenants, like a free movie night or gathering. Another alternative would be to gift them a helpful service, such as water or furnace filter delivery. If financially viable, you may additionally take into account providing them a break on any upcoming rent increases, probably delaying their increase for a few months. Send them a gracious card stating your intentions, and most likely, they will be very pleased with the gift of reducing rent for a few months longer than they actually expected.
At the very least, you should be sending your tenants a card or other acknowledgment for the holidays. Not only is this a good habit to get into generally, although it could be just as effective as a gift in encouraging goodwill. But remember, if you decide to send a card to your tenants, it’s imperative to be mindful of different religions and cultures. Not all people celebrate Christmas, so unless you are definite that your tenants do, it’s well and good to wish them instead “Happy Holidays.” Accordingly, you can show respect for your tenants while sending good wishes their way.
While doing research on every potential income property is a lot of work, Real Property Management of the Triad can help lighten your load. We offer free rental property analyses for investors, which can help you more easily identify whether the income property you want to buy is a profitable option. Contact us online or call us at 336-355-6677 or 336-777-7444 to learn more!
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
