In a previous post I mentioned there were three stages of a tenancy. Stage one is the beginning of a tenancy. All three stages are important for different reasons. Stage one is where landlords have the greatest influence on creating a positive tenancy. Tenant placement is time consuming and should not be rushed. A Landlord’s goal in tenant placement, should be finding a renter who will respect the property and treat it like their home.    

Searching for a tenant begins with advertising the property and this should be done in an accurate and effective manner. You want tenants to be able to view the property and say I want to live there. Landlords should always use the most current photos. Every time a tenant moves out it is good practice to update photos of the interior and exterior, as the unit may have changed since the last photos were taken. 

Showing a property is an opportunity to “interview” potential tenants in many different ways. Selecting a quality tenant is more than checking if they can afford the rent and will pay on time. A showing gives Landlord’s a chance to see if they will respect you and your property. Nothing is perfect, but I have found the following helps me find quality tenants.  

Do they show up on time to the scheduled showing? 

If they were late did they contact you to advise they were going to be late? 

How are they dressed and does that match their profession of work? 

When entering do they take off their shoes or ask if you want them to take them off? 

If you can see their vehicle is it clean inside and out? 

These are some subtle actions that can show if a tenant will respect your property. If they show respect for your time and effort, their work, their own property and your property before entering I have found this often leads to a better tenancy. These are not the only things you should look for in stage one but they are a few small things that can make a big difference.