House hunting can be a tedious task, particularly if you want to rent. You have to factor in numerous parameters to ensure that the apartment, flat, or condo you end up in perfectly fits your needs and preferences.
In most cases people begin by conducting searches on the internet to see if there are any available slots in the areas they are interested in. This is followed by a pre-visit which in most cases acts as the final determinant of whether a potential tenant will take the place or not.
While the activities involved in this process are pretty standard, most people fail to pay attention to the critical need to get to know your landlord or property manager. Yes, the place looks spacious, the balcony has a nice view of the city, and the rent is affordable, but what about the character of the person who will be responsible for ensuring that your stay is smooth and comfortable?
Having a good landlord or property manager can benefit you as a potential tenant. To begin with, you will be able to communicate with them frequently and effectively, which will make it easy for your needs to be addressed promptly. Secondly, good property managers are understanding, so if you fall back on your rent by a few weeks, they won't come raging at you.
At GM Holdings, we have capitalized on our long years of experience in offering rental services in Philadelphia to provide you with a list of the traits that define a good landlord or property manager.
The first trait that defines a dependable and professional landlord is the ability to be organized. You don't want to rent a property whose owner wakes up one morning and tells you that they displaced your contract or that they can't remember if you paid the rent. An organized property owner will have an effective system for maintaining records of rent payments by every tenant. This is critical for avoiding misunderstandings.
Furthermore, it is the duty of your landlord or property manager to stay on top of important documentation, taxes, and routine home maintenance. An organized landlord is key to having a stress-free living experience.
There are numerous cases of tenants complaining about their landlords or property managers being either nosy or intrusive and simply too hard to reach. A good landlord makes themselves available when their tenants need them and makes sure not to be all up in their business. After all, whether you are living in a fully paid home or a rental property it is still your life and you don't want anyone making it hard for you when you can find a better place with a better landlord.
One thing about nosy landlords is that they feel an emotional attachment to the property because it is a huge and sometimes a lifelong investment. Anyone would! This explains why landlords can sometimes be extra picky about how a tenant treats a home.
It would be best if you were very careful not to end up with an overbearing landlord who does not understand their boundaries. As a tenant, you should take your privacy and space seriously because these are key to leading a comfortable life.
Before you can rent a property in Philadelphia, landlords or property managers will subject you through a thorough screening procedure to make sure that you can be trusted. With this in mind it is only fair that a potential tenant also follows the same path to ensure that their property owners are honest and trustworthy.
Transparency is key. Every landlord should be completely forthcoming with their tenants. If the house has an issue that cannot be fixed due to certain complications, the landlord must let the tenant know. At GM Holdings, we have a reputation for upholding and executing ethical practices in our service offering. We ensure that tenants and landlords collaborate with integrity and honesty.
The relationship between a tenant and a landlord is professional. It is based on mutual trust and agreement. This reflects on the need for the establishment of boundaries and clear expectations.
Life doesn't always go according to plan. Your employer might have suffered a loss-making it impossible to pay employees their dues. A good landlord should be flexible and compassionate enough to understand such circumstances. Landlords that give their tenants a hard time when they fall back on their monthly payments despite obvious circumstances are the cultivators of vacancies in their homes.
The need for effective communication cannot be stressed enough in maintaining a meaningful tenant/landlord relationship. Failing to connect and relate with tenants will lead to misunderstandings and frustrations.
A professional and dependable landlord should not be judgmental or condescending and should promptly respond to emails, calls, or texts. It is the professional duty of a landlord to follow up on an issue that has been reported by a tenant and make sure that it is ultimately and quickly addressed.
If you are looking for property management services in Philadelphia, we'd love to chat with you. We have a large team of highly skilled and experienced professionals committed to making Philadelphia a beautiful place to live.
