The Landlord's Handbook28 Secrets To Attracting The Best Tenants

and Maximising Your Rental Returns

18 Tips For Attracting The Best Tenants .................................................................................... 3

How To Use Social Media to Market Your Property .................................................................. 4

How to make your property more attractive to tenants ........................................................... 5

Property Add-Ons That Attract Better Tenants ......................................................................... 6

DIY Jobs That Help You Present a Property That Tenants Want to Live in ................................ 7

Choosing a Location That Attracts Great Tenants ..................................................................... 8

Mistakes To Avoid When Trying to Attract Tenants .................................................................. 9

How To Keep The Best Tenants Happy..................................................................................... 10

7 Secrets for Screening New Tenants ....................................................................................... 11

Questions to Ask a Potential Tenant Before Handing Over the Keys ...................................... 12

2 Little Things That Landlords Often Overlook During Tenant Checks .................................... 13

Property Management Secrets ................................................................................................ 14

Using a Property Manager: The Pros and Cons........................................................................ 15

3 Red Flags That You’re Dealing With an Awful Property Manager ........................................ 17

About Yabonza ......................................................................................................................... 20

As you know, property vacancies lead to you losing money. That means you need the best

possible listing to attract top tenants.

Are you sure that your property manager creates great listings?

These three tips show you how to create a listing that gets results. If your property manager

isn’t following them, you may need to look at other options.

A lot of property listings only offer the bare minimum when it comes to photos. There’s a

picture of the property’s exterior and one each for every room in the house.

That’s not enough if you want to attract serious tenants. Your listing should provide as much

information as possible. This piques the interest of potential tenants and makes them more

likely to contact you.

Provide extra photos wherever possible. Show prospective tenants how rooms look from

different angles.

Top tenants want to know as much as possible about the property before arranging a viewing.

Your extra photos can provide that information.

Words like “amazing” or “beautiful” may sound nice. But they don’t give tenants much

information about what the property has to offer.

For example, your listing may tell someone that your property offers “beautiful” views.

However, that doesn’t say anything about what those views are.

A listing that says something like “You can see the nearby woodland from the master

bedroom” is a more concrete phrase.

Again, it comes down to providing the information that tenants need to make their decisions.

Tell the tenant about the little extras that your property has to offer. Things like built-in

kitchen appliances and security systems are the sorts of amenities that can tip the balance in

your favour.

It’s also worth mentioning local transport links, parks, and other amenities that the tenant

may find attractive.

These tips will help you to find a tenant. But you still need help to get the best return on your

investment.

Technology has started to cause a slow revolution in the property sector. Platforms like

Yabonza improve visibility and help landlords to take back control of their properties.

It’s about time too.

For too long, landlords have had to rely on property managers. If they choose poorly, that

property manager ends up costing them thousands of dollars.

But technology can do so much more than help you to manage a property. It also helps you to

find people to rent the property in the first place.

Social media is a technology that you may underestimate the potential of. Here are three ways

to use this technology to market your property.

Most social media platforms are as visual as they are text-based. Some rely solely on visuals

alone.

Take Instagram for example. It’s one of the most widely-used social media platforms and

barely a word gets spoken between its users.

You can take advantage of these visual mediums to showcase your property.

However, you have to use quality photos to do it. Poor photos with grainy qualities aren’t

going to inspire people. Make sure your photos actually showcase the best features of your

property.

You likely have an ideal tenant profile in mind.

But popping an ad in the paper or online means you’re not just catching those types of tenants.

Social media can change that. Platforms like Facebook offer marketing tools that allow you to

advertise directly to your target audience. You can build an ideal tenant profile and ensure

your ads only appear to those who match that profile.

It’s a great way to use technology to ensure you get better tenants. Better yet, targeting your

advertising means you don’t waste money on advertising to people who will never rent your

property.

What you do away from social media platforms is as important as what you do on them.

You’ll advertise your properties on your own website or other property websites too.

Make it easy for people to share them. Add social media buttons to your other online adverts.

This increases the chances of people sharing your property with their friends.

Social media is just one of the many technological platforms that have changed the property

industry. Use it to your advantage to attract great tenants.

You’re a landlord, which means you’re on the lookout for great tenants.

But you have to make your property attractive to get them. The best tenants look for much

more than the basics. They want to know that they’ll have a good relationship with you and

can turn your house into their home.

So, how can you make your property more attractive to tenants? Here are three tips that will

help.

We know what you’re thinking.

You don’t want to allow pets into your property because they might damage things. They can

also be a nuisance that disrupts other residents.

But lots of landlords think that way, which creates a niche. There are plenty of pet-owning

tenants out there who will pay a little more to find a place that accepts their furry friend.

Of course, you should still run checks. Make sure the animal receives regular vet check-ups.

It’s also worth asking if the owner has any training certificates that show the animal behaves

well.

You’re looking for tenants that want to make your house their home. People who just want a

place to stay for a while don’t offer consistency.

Your rent prices may be the problem.

It’s tempting to just offer the same price as everybody else on the market. But that doesn’t

separate you from the pack. Quality tenants will just lump your property in with everything

else that they see.

Dropping your rent by a percent or two below market value helps. You don’t have a major

impact on your income. Plus, you attract quality tenants who’ll appreciate your efforts to cater

to them.

Sometimes it’s the little things (and those extra features) that attract the best tenants.

Here are 3 that you should consider investing in.

Getting a property hooked up to the web is a hassle that a lot of tenants don’t want to deal

with. The process can lead to them spending hours on the phone and having to wait around

for days before they get on the web.

That’s not acceptable to many tenants given how important the internet is to modern life.

If you can offer a property that has an existing internet connection, you instantly make your

offering more attractive.

Security is a key concern for tenants so anything that you can offer in this regard is

advantageous.

A home alarm system shows that you’re serious about tenant security. You may also equip

the property’s entry points with security cameras.

Security features offer you a cost-effective way to draw more attention to your property.

Your property’s kitchen is one of its biggest selling points. However, many tenants don’t want

to have to invest thousands of dollars into their own appliances.

That’s where having built-in appliances can help. Examples include built-in cookers and

refrigeration units. These save tenants money and hassle, which means you attract more

interest.

How do you attract the best tenants to a vacant property?

You can’t always rely on your property manager. In fact, your manager may be the reason why

the property has sat vacant for so long.

You may have to take things into your own hands.

Often, carrying out a few small DIY tasks is enough to make your property more presentable.

This, in turn, makes the property more attractive to potential tenants.

Here are three to consider.

Paint ages over time. Chips and cracks start to appear, which makes your property look older

than it really is.

Sometimes, all your property needs is a fresh coat. New paint can freshen up your rooms, with

light colours being especially useful when it comes to taking advantage of natural light.

You should also check the doors and window frames to see if they need a touch-up.

A day spent painting could lead to a lot more interest from tenants.

Muck collects all over your property over time. Dirt gets ground into the carpets and all

manner of sediment collects in kitchens and bathrooms.

A good clean may be all the property needs to look fresh again.

We don’t mean pushing the vacuum around and wiping a few surfaces though. You need to

invest time into your cleaning efforts to get the best results. For example, you could steam

clean your carpets and furniture to get rid of deep-seated grime. And you may have to spend

a day or two on the kitchen and bathroom to get them up to spec.

The end result is a fresher property that’s more appealing to tenants.

This is an easy one.

Storage space is one of the key concerns for many tenants. The addition of a few shelves offers

that space without taking up too much room.

Add shelving in several rooms. It may be best to go for custom options for more awkward

spaces.

These are just a few of the small DIY jobs that can help you attract better tenants. However,

you can use technology to provide more concrete advice on the home improvements that help

you to make more money.

You want great tenants.

For that, you’re going to need a property that’s in an attractive location. The best tenants

know what they want and will walk away if you can’t give it to them.

That leaves us with a question.

How do you choose the right location for your investment property?

Let’s cover some of the basic tips here.

Tenants want to live in thriving areas. Such locations have good economies, which means

there are plenty of jobs available. They’re also exciting places to live in as tenants can see

constant improvements getting made.

There are plenty of stats that you can check to see how a location’s doing. However, it’s the

planned infrastructural improvements that prove most revealing.

If a local council has a lot of planned improvements, that means they’re confident in the

continued success of the location. These improvements also benefit tenants, which makes the

location much more attractive.

Good transport links are essential, especially when buying in the outer suburbs. Many great

tenants want to avoid city life, but they also work in a city’s CBD. They need ways to get to

work easily.

Check for access to freeways and major roads. Make sure that the location’s public transport

network is up to scratch.

You need to check that it’s easy for people to get to work or get the kids to school.

You want quality tenants for your property.

Great tenants help you to maintain a stable cash flow because they pay on time. They maintain

your property well and stay longer.

The problems come when trying to find these tenants.

In your attempts to find good tenants, you may make a lot of mistakes. At worst, these can

result in taking on tenants that actually cost you money.

Here are two big mistakes that you must avoid.

There’s a long-held tradition of popping an advert into the newspaper when you have a

property to rent.

But that’s not where the vast majority of potential tenants look anymore.

Over 90% of tenants will look online when searching for a rental property. Even if they do see

your traditional ads, they’ll still head online to check the property out.

Technology has changed the way that you market your rental properties. Moreover, tenants

see a good online presence as a badge of trust for the property.

If you’re not advertising online, you’re missing a huge portion of the audience. You’re also

missing the people who put time into research. That’s a major issue because these people

know what they’re looking for and often make the best tenants.

We all know the system that’s been in place for years.

You invest in a property and then you hand it over to a property manager. That manager

should then look after all of your interests.

But they don’t. Too often, property managers fail to communicate vital information to you. At

worst, they seem more on the tenant’s side than yours.

That’s a problem because it means they’re not putting enough care into finding good tenants.

It’s an ancient system that has to go. And it’s a mistake to rely solely on your property

manager.

Every landlord wants great tenants.

If you attract the right people, you get your rents paid on time and don’t have to worry about

damage to the property.

The trick lies in keeping your great tenants happy so they rent from you for as long as possible.

There are several things you can do to keep your tenants happy. Here are two tips to get you

started.

A neglected maintenance issue can derail your relationship with your tenant. No tenant wants

to live in a property that’s falling apart.

This means it’s crucial that you handle maintenance issues quickly.

Respond to tenant communications promptly. Make sure that you have a list of trusted

contractors who you can send out to deal with the issue.

Most importantly, communicate regularly throughout the process. Keep your tenants in the

loop about what you’re doing and they’re more likely to stay happy.

Every landlord has a list of preferred contractors.

Unfortunately, you can’t always guarantee that they’ll be available. That’s an issue if you have

an emergency maintenance issue to deal with.

That’s why you should always have a list of back-up contractors to call on if your preferred

choices aren’t available. This ensures you can always respond to emergency requests quickly,

thus keeping tenants happier.

It may be your property, but it’s your tenant’s home. They expect to have a certain level of

privacy. If you make unscheduled visits, you disrupt that privacy. Worse yet, you may give your

tenant the impression that you don’t trust them.

Give proper notice if you need to access the property at any point. And remember that your

tenants don’t need to hear from you unless there’s an issue that needs dealing with.

What’s the secret to finding great tenants?

It all starts with the checks.

Good tenant checks ensure you don’t end up with tenants who fail to pay rent on time or

cause damage to your property.

But you can’t always rely on your property manager to conduct them.

A bad property manager may be so concerned with getting someone in that they fail to

conduct the proper checks.

With these tips, you’ll know what to look out for.

You want to know as much as you can about your tenant before letting them into your

property. That means you need to gather information.

Create a standard form that covers the basics. However, it’s also crucial that you carry out

credit and background checks.

A credit check shows you if the tenant’s able to cover the costs of renting the property. The

background check shows if they have a criminal past that you need to worry about.

There are also technological tools at your disposal for this. For example, the TenantAssured

platform lets you scan the tenant’s social media profiles, with the tenant’s permission. This

helps you to confirm the details that the tenant sends across.

If you do decide to use a property manager, make sure they know what you’re looking for in

a tenant. Provide clear instructions and check in to ensure they’re followed.

Often, you’ll end up with bad tenants because your manager hasn’t conducted the right

checks.

Of course, tenant checks don’t end once you have a tenant in place. You still need to conduct

property inspections and create condition reports.

How can you guarantee you’ve found a great tenant?

A lot of landlords trust their property managers to handle all of this for them. Unfortunately,

if your manager isn’t asking the right questions, you could end up with bad tenants.

Bad tenants don’t pay their rent on time and may even cause damage to your property.

You need to know what questions to ask to ensure you get a good tenant. Here are three that

need to be part of every tenant interview.

This is an important question to ask, especially if you’re looking for a long-term tenant.

This gives your tenant the chance to talk about their personal situation. You’ll hear all sorts of

answers. The tenant may want to save up for their own property or they may need a short-

term solution after leaving home.

Sometimes, the answer will reveal that the tenant doesn’t intend to stay with you for long.

This may be an issue if you don’t want to go through the process of marketing your property

again.

You also need to beware of the red flag answers. These include moving due to a disagreement

with a previous landlord or because their last landlord evicted them.

It’s common for renters to run into difficulties when trying to find properties that allow pets.

It’s also likely that you don’t want pets in your property.

Asking this question gets the potential tenant’s pet situation out in the open. Beware of any

who say they have a pet but they’re going to get rid of the animal before moving. Those bonds

don’t break so easily and the tenant may want to find a way to move their pet into your

property.

Remember that this is a two-way relationship. As a landlord, you want to keep your tenant

happy.

Asking if a potential tenant has any questions gives them a chance to raise any concerns. It

also gives you a chance to discuss how you’ll manage the property during their tenancy.

These three questions offer a good starting point. But once you’ve found your tenant, you

need to maintain a strong line of communication with them.

These are the key mistakes that could land you with a bad tenant.

In the rush to find someone who can pay, you may overlook the background check. Once the

credit check clears, you think you’re home free.

The background check reveals a lot about a potential tenant. In particular, you’ll find out if the

tenant has a criminal history. That’s important because someone with a chequered past may

put your property at risk.

Here’s the important thing to remember.

Even someone with a criminal record can have a good credit history.

Don’t overlook the background check. And if someone has severe crimes on their record, it’s

best to continue your search for a tenant.

The likelihood is that most tenants that show an interest in your property have rented before.

You need to know how they treated their previous property. Were they respectful tenants?

Did they cause any damage?

The applicant’s previous landlords can provide the answers. Ask your tenants to provide a list

of references. Most importantly, check all of those references. They may provide you with info

that reveals the tenant isn’t for you.

Are you a landlord who’s considering hiring a property manager?

It seems like the right thing to do. In fact, landlords have used agents and managers for

decades.

But it’s not a perfect system. There are plenty of horror stories of landlords not receiving their

rents or having to deal with all sorts of issues because of their property managers.

So, is it worth getting one at all?

To answer that question, you need to look at the pros and cons of hiring a property manager.

It’s important to note that these pros only apply if you find a good property manager:

● A property manager will take a lot of the hard work out of your hands. They’ll find new

tenants and maintain the property. They’ll also provide you with regular reports so

that you can keep on top of things.

● Property managers should handle all communication with tenants. That means you

can rely on them to fix issues and deal with unruly tenants.

● A property manager may have expertise that you don’t possess. This means they’re

good for those who want to invest in a location that they’re not familiar with.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of cons to hiring a property manager:

● No matter how good the manager is, they’re going to take a large chunk of your rental

income. Most work on a percentage basis, which means you’re paying regular fees.

● You can run into communication issues, especially if you have a bad property manager.

Even good managers aren’t always available when you need to discuss an issue.

● Your property isn’t their property. There’s always a risk that they won’t treat it as well

as they should because they’re not personally invested.

● A lack of transparency is a major issue in property management. Many don’t use

modern technologies and some will actively hide important information from you.

What’s the right choice?

In the end, it’s up to you. But it’s worth investing in modern technology to help you keep tabs

on your properties yourself.

A bad property manager can cost you thousands of dollars.

They don’t offer the transparency that you need to operate your property effectively. They

may even take the side of tenants when disputes arise.

That assumes they communicate properly with you and your tenants at all.

Of course, you want to avoid these types of property managers. And you’ll do just that if you

look out for these three red flags.

This is a problem that many landlords face.

You need to know something about the property as soon as possible. Until you have that

information, you can’t move forward with whatever task you need to complete.

You call the property manager and don’t get an answer. You send an email and nothing comes

back.

In the end, you wait for several days before finally getting a response.

That’s a major red flag that you’re dealing with a bad property manager. They’ve either taken

on so much work that they’re struggling or they just don’t care enough to communicate.

Either way, you need to look for someone else.

Your property manager is also responsible for filling the property when you have a vacancy.

That means they need to understand modern marketing techniques. In particular, they need

to have a plan that incorporates the use of modern technologies for marketing.

Ask the manager how they intend to advertise your property. If they don’t tell you how they’ll

use the web and social media, they’re not the manager for you.

The property management sector has a major issue with a lack of evolution.

Some managers still do things the same way that they did decades ago. That results in a lack

of visibility and you having less control over your property.

Ask about the technological platforms that the manager uses to keep track of information.

You’re looking for them to tell you that they use a platform like Yabonza to aid in their decision

making.

If they’re not evolving with the industry, you need to look elsewhere.

If you watch out for these red flags, you’ll avoid property managers that could cost you

thousands of dollars.

Consider this story of Linda P…

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