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5 Ways to Attract Quality Tenants

Tammy Cohen, PHR, SHRM-CP

November 18 2019

The perfect tenant does, in fact, exist. They’re quiet, take care of their unit, their neighbors love them, and they always pay rent on time. There are millions of renters who match this description to a tee. But the question is: how do you attract them to your property, rather than your competitor’s? Whether you’re a landlord looking for just a single renter or a property manager searching for dozens of tenants, consider following these tips to attract high-quality tenants, including tenant screening.

1. Be upfront with tenants

Before you list your rental, determine what criteria is important to you in a tenant. Will you allow pets? Smoking? What will your income requirements be? Decide these before listing your property, then be upfront with potential tenants about what you expect from them. This will help weed out applicants who don’t meet your criteria.

2. Make a good first impression

First impressions are everything, especially to prospective tenants. If you want to attract quality residents, your property needs to look like quality real estate. What they see at the beginning of their visit will set the tone for the whole tour. To make a good first impression, ensure the property is clean, landscaped, and well-maintained. Year-round maintenance of the building(s) and the grounds shows both potential and current tenants that you care about their leasing experience.

3. Verify tenants’ income and credit

The perfect tenant is, of course, one that pays rent on time every month—which is why you can’t simply take an applicants’ word about their income or credit history. A tenant background check should be part of your leasing strategy. An income verification will confirm that your candidate meets your income qualifications. A credit history report is another crucial step, as it gives you an overview of your potential tenant’s current financial condition and habits. If an applicant has a history of paying their bills on time, chances are they’ll pay the rent on time as well, and tenant screening can help you uncover that history.

4. Boost property value

Amenities and add-ons bring value to your property. Larger properties should highlight all the things they offer to their residents: tennis courts, swimming pools, laundry facilities, fitness centers, playgrounds, and dog parks are all bonuses that residents enjoy. Owners with smaller properties can enhance them with new appliances, lighting, and a fresh coat of paint. Highlight your property’s best features, whether it’s the lively area in which you’re located, an updated interior, or a suite of amenities.

5. Advertise and Incentivize

Having a beautiful, well-maintained property is worthless if there are no applicants coming to see it. List your rental on websites like Zillow and HotPads to increase visibility. If you own multiple properties, it might be worth the investment to make your own website. But don’t forget the value of word-of-mouth recommendations. Encourage your best tenants to refer friends and family by creating an incentivized referral program. Many property managers find that quality tenants attract more quality tenants—making your life easier.

 

Partner with InfoMart

InfoMart does more than just pre-employment background screening. We have a tenant screening program that’s perfect to help property managers of all sizes screen their potential tenants. Reach out to one of our background check experts today.

About Tammy Cohen

Tammy Cohen, an industry pioneer and expert in identity and employment screening, founded InfoMart 30 years ago. Deemed the “Queen of Screen,” she’s been a force behind industry-leading innovations. She was most recently the first-to-market with a fully compliant sanctions search, as well as a suite of identity services that modernizes talent onboarding. Tammy revolutionized the screening industry when she stepped into the field, developing the first client-facing application and a due diligence criminal search that has since become standard for all background screening companies. Cohen has received national awards and honors for her business and civic involvement, including Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top 25 Women-Owned Firms in Atlanta, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s Kathryn Woods Racial Justice Award, and a commendation in the 152nd Congressional Record.

About InfoMart

InfoMart has been revolutionizing the global background and identity screening industry for 30 years, providing businesses the information they need to make informed hiring decisions. They develop innovative technology that modernizes talent onboarding, including a first-to-market biometric identity authentication application and a verified sanctions search. The WBENC-certified company is a founding member of the Professional Background Screening Association, and they have achieved PBSA accreditation in recognition of their consistent business practices and commitment to compliance with the FCRA. The company is dedicated to customer service, speed, and accuracy, and it has been recognized for its success, workplace culture, and corporate citizenship with over 45 industry awards. To Get the Whole Story on InfoMart, please visit www.InfoMart-USA.com, follow @InfoMartUSA, or call (770) 984-2727.

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