Are you experiencing all the benefits that come with being a great tenant? Landlords love to rent to great tenants, and high-quality tenants rarely have trouble finding and qualifying for the perfect rental property. As part of our ongoing mission to deliver complete transparency in the landlord-tenant relationship, we are sharing the following tips for how to be a great tenant. Use these tips to ensure you have a great rental experience when you rent a home in Raleigh, Durham or Chapel Hill with Red Door Company.
Sign Only After Understanding
Always read your lease thoroughly and make sure you understand all the terms and conditions of that lease before signing it. If you are unsure of anything in your lease, ask for clarification. Great tenants make it a point to ask questions and never sign a lease without understanding what they are signing. Remember, the team at Red Door Company is here to help and welcomes any of your questions regarding your lease.
Responsibilities and Requirements
It is your responsibility to follow the requirements set out in your lease. These conditions range from reporting rental property maintenance issues promptly to making monthly rent payments. Because you made sure to read and understand your lease before signing it, and because Red Door Company always gives you access to a set of clear policies and procedures, there will never be any surprises when it comes to your responsibilities as a tenant.
On Time Payments
Want a tip for how to be a great tenant who will always be at the top of every landlord’s list of favorites? Pay your rent on time. The timing of rent payments is clearly laid out in your lease. Make sure you understand when your monthly rent is due and what the policies and procedures are for late rent payments and evictions.
Clear Communication
Red Door Company understands that “life happens” and that many circumstances are out of your control. For example, there may be a time when you have no choice but to make a late rent payment due to an illness, change in employment or other life events. If you want to be a great tenant, then always communicate with your property manager. Talk to your property managers and let them know about your situation as soon as possible. That way, you can see if there is a way to work things out before your tenancy issue spirals out of control.
Property Management Relationships
Understanding the relationships and who are the decision-makers in the landlord, tenant and property manager relationship triangle will help you become a better tenant. Remember, Red Door Company represents the landlord, so we don’t always get to say “yes” to tenant requests. However, we have no incentive to decline tenant requests, and we promise that your needs will be taken seriously. Every request is treated professionally and promptly, and every effort will be made to facilitate results that exceed your expectations. Remember, everything is a negotiation; we’re called “brokers” for a reason. Great tenants realize this and understand that it never hurts to ask, but the answer is not always going to be the one they hope to receive.
Proactive Problem Reporting
Reporting rental property problems promptly is not only required in many cases, but it is something great tenants do without hesitation. Great tenants not only report problems which affect their daily lives (e.g., air conditioner not cooling), but they are also proactive in helping to address other rental property issues that may lead to bigger problems (e.g. small leak in the roof). A true sign of a great tenant is when that individual treats a rental property like it’s their home.
Trust and Cooperation
Following the property management company’s processes and trusting that they are the best way to handle issues is another quality of a great tenant. Whether these processes relate to the tenant screening process, maintenance issues and repairs or negotiating a new lease, following policies and procedures and being cooperative is going to result in cooperation from your landlord.
Here at Red Door Company, our goal is to help you have the best rental experience. When you do your best to follow the tips mentioned about, your chances of having a great rental experience drastically improve. Remember, transparency in the landlord-tenant relationship is a top priority with Red Door Company. Contact us today with any questions and to discover how Red Door Company is The Right Way to Rent®.
