The bottom line is that I'm giving up $20-$30 per month in rent during a renewal of lease, but in return, I'm keeping better tenants, plus my marketing/advertising costs are less due to the referrals, my vacancy costs (lost rent when trying to find a new tenant, which could be 1-2 month of no rental income) are less, my turnover costs when tenants move out (painting, cleaning, advertising, showing of apts, utility bills) are less .... so when you factor in everything, I actually net more money per unit than a landlord that raises their rent on their good tenants....if you want to be a good landlord, figure out ways to differentiate yourself, just don't follow the pack because everyone else does it.  

Get yourself established with him.Because the day you really do have an emergency and need someone at the property 10 minutes ago, these are the people you rely on and it what differentiates yourself from a slumlord to a real landlord who actually gives a crap.

What is the temperature differential between the cold air return, and the vents?

It gets more difficult in closer quarters, but can be a way to differentiate yourself.  

Plus, everyone prefers to use something different.

I didn't say I do it just to be different, I do what makes commercial sense to me.Account Closed My properties are professionally managed.

She gave you notice that she moved You have to store her stuff for 30 days but you can charge reasonable fees Save the text as her communication   to vacateSome states are different I am not a lawyer 

When we find them, we want to keep them.If we were renting luxury apartments and homes in the A market to A tenants, as @Elizabeth Colegrove is doing, the market response would be different.  

Unless the numbers they give you are wildly different I would give the smaller raise with the expectation that raises will get the rent closer to market rate.  

Successful short-term rentals are about exactly the opposite: high demand, limited supply and being able to differentiate with a condo different from competition.You bought and I'll hope you do well and enjoy your condo too!