New Bedford, MA · Member since 2015 · 361 posts · 114 votes
Just getting into being a landlord, own 2 units currently. First time coming up on one of my tenant's birthday. What do you guys do (if anything) for them?
Card? Gift card? Text? Anything?
I am a hands on landlord (not a slum lord) so I want to do something simple, but effective, to let my tenants know I care about their well-being (major value of mine!)
Rental Property Investor · Phoenix AZ / Kendallville, IN · Member since 2016 · 293 posts · 149 votes
10y
Most owners or owners acting as PMs keep it professional with no emotional ties to tenants and keep it running as a business. Thats what I would recommend. I think this is a personal choice. With 14 units, I don't plan on remembering all of my renters birthdays. The next thing you know you will be Facebook friends with them. Not sure you want to go there.
Stay out of your tenants personal lives, they are not family or friends and they do not appreciate landlords that act like they care. You will only succeed in making them very uncomfortable. No cards, no gifts for any reason or ocassion.
Do not attend their funerals unless it is the only place you can collect their rent owed from their relatives.
New Bedford, MA · Member since 2015 · 361 posts · 114 votes
10y
Interesting that most say not to send even a card. With only 2 units, I think it's definitely manageable. I don't think I would do it if I eventually had 50 units. The way I see it is sort of like a business sending you an email on your birthday (automated), but still feels nice to be recognized!
I think I know what I am going to do, thanks for the input!
Oh yeah and @Max T. People come on here for advice, not to get belittled. Grow up...
New Bedford, MA · Member since 2015 · 361 posts · 114 votes
10y
@Christine Swaidan so you shouldn't be nice to people because you may evict them down the road? I'm a bit confused? Are you saying it will hurt you if you have to evict?
Software Developer · Vidor, TX · Member since 2015 · 922 posts · 639 votes
10y
Be nice to your tenants by providing a quality product and service for the money they pay you. Respond and fix repairs promptly, collect rent and stay out of their lives in between. That's what tenants want.
Real Estate Agent · Scottsdale, AZ · Member since 2016 · 53 posts · 10 votes
10y
@Robert P.
This is more of a personal choice. Some Landlords stay in touch with their tenants to build and maintain business relationships just to keep them at their units longer, if they are good tenants and always paying on time of course. This allows consistent positive cash flow for them.
Others stay out of their lives and only communicate with them if there are any problems with the unit, quality/product services, and/or negotiating lease agreements. Some even use a Property Management company to deal with this and not talk to them at all.
I'd check Landlord/Tenant laws first before doing anything like that, so that you don't run into illegal/unethical issues.
Investor · Ventura, CA · Member since 2016 · 264 posts · 70 votes
10y
@Robert P. I am definitely not saying that you should not be nice to your tenants! Do be nice to your tenants!!! I am looking at this from my perspective of having over 80 units. It sounds like these people are starting to be your friends but the landlord-tenant relationship is kind of a false friendship because you are not on equal footing. They don't get a say on whether I raise their rent. If they want new curtains they come to me for the okay. I hold the majority of the power when it comes to their housing at least. Say you decide to give a tenant a gift card for his birthday. Now he may feel that he has to reciprocate. It could just get messy. This is just my personal experience. You were asking for opinions I believe. @Justin Fox said it very well. That is how I try to conduct my business.
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
10y
Wish them happy birthday if it comes up when you are around but I don't send anything. It really is a personal choice but I am not a fan of getting into a tenants personal life in a major way because it is not something I would like. However everyone has a different view. For more uncommon events I might do something. I discovered one of my former tenants died recently and I had thought of sending a card to the survivor but opted not to given the time that had passed. Had it been a current or not long after their tenancy I would have sent a note. Keep in mind though when you set a precedent it is hard to step back from it later on.
Rental Property Investor · Brooklyn, NY · Member since 2015 · 16 posts · 14 votes
10y
I actually see both sides of the spectrum. I considered it but it definitely opens a can of worms when you show that you are human. You'll have one tenant so will never take advantage of your generosity and another that will use that as an excuse to pay late, to tell you their problems etc. The reason I state this is because it happened first hand. I give the incentive up front. You pay your rent before the due date, you'll receive a $50 certificate. That's what I've began doing over the years and it has helped my tenants paying on time. But it's definitely not a bad idea.
Maitland, FL · Member since 2016 · 45 posts · 17 votes
10y
I remember being a renter years ago and had PM contact my then wife and I our birthdays. While I now understand the intent, at the time I found it a bit invasive.
Investor · Marietta, GA · Member since 2015 · 382 posts · 258 votes
10y
I don't. It's like the creepy boss that wants to give back rubs. Its business not personal. In the past as a tenant, I've always considered landlord interactions awkward so now that I am on the other side, I avoid those "extra" efforts . I'm providing a professional products and services not friendships
Investor/Agent/Entrepreneur · Dallas, TX · Member since 2016 · 464 posts · 564 votes
10y
I haven't thought of doing something for each of my tenant's birthdays, but I did give a small baby shower present to one of my youngest tenants who was going to have a baby.
I think about it every year to give a simple box of chocolates or other gift to each tenant around the holiday season in December. However, even spending $10-20/unit adds up for each tenant as you increase your portfolio.
Doing a one-time purchase during the holidays for all your tenants, and mass mailing or driving to each location, is much easier than adding another task to our already busy days as landlords. It will also eliminate the privacy concerns some tenants may feel.
Architect · Papillion, NE · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 840 votes
10y
Once you miss one thing you are screwed! I have given a card and candy at xmas and a baby gift for there new born (high risk pregnancy) but I only have 1 rental. This minimal cost is the cost of doing business. Oh and their late fee paid for this.