Landlord-to-tenant relationships can be challenging, to say the least. On either side of the equation, the dynamics can be hard to gauge. What does a landlord do to keep the relationship with the tenants professional but not be domineering? And what can a tenant (or prospective tenant) do to charm the landlord into renting out his or her space?
Each situation has to be worked out by the people involved, but there are a few things you can do if you’re a tenant looking for a new place to settle, which just might charm the landlord into selecting you over the handful, or sometimes a very long line, of applicants that are hoping to get into the property.
If you’re looking for a place to live and need to convince your potential landlord, here are six ways to do it:
In a nation with millions of apartments and homes to rent, it would seem like a natural idea for a person to go into the situation as if one were applying for a job, and therefore prepare for it. Oddly enough, people don’t do this as often as you might think.
In truth, most people tend to be fairly lazy and not put any advance effort into the things that they do. They might luck out in a lot of areas of life, but if the competition is stiff and you have no “in” to get yourself noticed ahead of the crowd, it becomes imperative to take initiative, and in the case of hunting for a place to live, make sure you walk into an interview with a landlord well prepared.
One strategy for being prepared for an interview with a possible landlord is to bring a rental resume to the meeting. There are many different formats you can work from, but the basics remain the same.
You should include: the name(s) of the hopeful tenant(s), contact information, current address, current employment, references, and so on. It really is basically a job interview; the difference is that your prospective landlord might actually be pickier in selecting to fill a rental than an employer would be.
Not only will a landlord want to see your rental resume, he or she will also want to see other paperwork. You’ll likely need written letters of recommendation, for example. If, during the first interview, you walk in with those letters already in hand, printed out and ready to be handed over, you’ll show the landlord that you’re a go-getter, and you are responsible and smart enough to figure out the things that need to be done ahead of time.
You’ll also want to pull your own credit report prior to your interview. Property owners may well do this on their own, but if you pull yours and check it over, you’ll already be aware of what’s on it and better prepared to answer any questions that refer to details in the report.
You’ve probably heard this from a young age with regard to nearly everything in life. If you want to impress, you have to dress to impress. Sure, you’re unique and dressing in a way that may be different from what you’re accustomed to because you want a job or a place to live might go against whatever convictions you have about being true to yourself, but sometimes it’s useful to exercise good judgment.
If you’re normally wild and have piercings and tattoos everywhere, think about taming and covering them a bit for the interview. Wear nice clothes. You can still show personality and individuality, but make sure you fit within the context of the professional environment you’re placing yourself in for your interview.
Much of what we’re saying here is common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people have issues with following common protocols of society. If you want to charm a landlord, show up early. Some people say five minutes is good, but honestly … that’s pushing it.
You never know what might happen, from heavy traffic to getting lost, so give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the interview. So what if you’re there 20 minutes early? That gives you time to collect yourself and your things, and time to assess your surroundings and pull out that charisma and charm you have stuffed away in your back pocket for such an occasion as this.
In an interview it can be so easy to let the interviewer do most of the talking. You speak when spoken to and you hope that the other person likes the answers you’re giving and the vibe you’re putting off.
Near the end of the process, when things are wrapping up, interviewer may ask if you have any questions. Again it’s easy to say no, but it’s a better idea to go in ahead of time with some questions you might need answered.
The last thing you want is to walk into a rental agreement after pets were never discussed, and you have five dogs and have no idea whether they’re allowed. When you ask questions, it gives you and the landlord a better idea of what is really on the table, and if you are a good match for each other.
Contact Green Residential!
The rental process is a game, like so much else in life. You have to learn the rules, and you have to play by them most of the time to get the outcome you seek. If you have more questions as a tenant with regard to landlords and properties, don’t hesitate to call Green Residential for answers.
We specialize in all things having to do with property management, and if you just don’t want to play the game or don’t know how to to get yourself into a home you can be happy in, a middleman through Green Residential might be the perfect answer for your needs as a tenant.
Do the work that needs to be done on your side of the process and allow professionals to take care of the rest. Home is the place where you deserve to relax, reboot, and enjoy your life. Don’t complicate it by settling for less than the perfect situation.
Happy hunting, and here’s to a long and healthy relationship with your next landlord.
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