Facebook, Communicating with Tenants, Setting Expectations

Back in 2010 I was renting a single family home out and it was my first time being a landlord.  I took a great deal of pride in managing repairs and taking care of the tenants' needs.  When they signed a second year lease I was pumped that I was on the right track.

Unfortunately when the second year lease was up, they decided to not renew.  They were rather cold, and when I asked their reason for moving on, they explained that I did not take care of the house and that I was unresponsive to requests. 

Whoa! Wait a minute here!  I had no idea what they were talking about.  I asked them to clarify, but they turned their shoulder.  So I moved on, and tried to not make matters worse by being thankful and cordial.

So get this, it is now six years later and I just happen to be checking my Facebook Messenger app on my iPhone and see messages from the tenant's boyfriend (not on the lease) asking for help to come fix things with the house.

OK. Lesson learned.  Set the expectation with the tenants in the lease - call out the method and line of communication that is suitable for service needed.