Sometimes one of the best things you can do in life is just say no. People know that if they don't ask, they will never get. So they ask! And ask they do.
Tenants will ask you for ridiculous favors sometimes. "Can you come down and change my light bulb? I can't reach it." It happens to be 6:00 in the morning, they need to get ready for work, and can't because it's dark. You need to come right away. If you're feeling parental at the moment, your impulse might be to say "OK, I'll be right there."
If you do this, what are the chances you'll get called in for another not-so-emergency favor? A favor that any tenant should be responsible enough to figure out for themselves? The old adage "give an inch, take a mile" has stood the test of time for good reason.
Maybe you don't have it in your conscience to say no in such a desperate situation as above. How can you leave a tenant hanging like that? The answer is in your systems. You have a system of forms that documents expectations. One of your forms is a very effective lease agreement. Your lease agreement simply defines what the tenant is responsible for and what you are responsible for as the landlord. Once everyone has reviewed and signed the lease agreement, your job becomes much easier.
You've already let your tenants know it is their responsibility to change light bulbs. You've already let them know that if you agree to a favor such as this you are charging a handsome trip charge. There are no surprises because the lease agreement has been read and signed.
Now only one of a few things could possibly happen:
- The tenant doesn't ask for these favors - If they do ask, you can remind them of the lease agreement they signed and you can say no without any guilt - If you want to do the favor, you will smile as you collect the trip charge on your way out
One of the key sources of conflict in a landlord tenant relationship, or any relationship for that matter, is a difference in expectations. One person thinks and expects one thing, and the other person thinks and expects something different. When one is expected to do something unexpected, they may do it and resent it later. Feelings of resentment can lead to actions or inactions that are not beneficial to your bottom line!
The answer is in prevention. Use a lease agreement that is specific, is written in plain English, and that outlines consequences. Be careful of lease agreements that are very legal in nature and are difficult to interpret. Tenants may blindly sign them without realizing what they have agreed to. One way to test the "understandable quotient" of your lease agreement is to have a college-age person read it and explain it back to you. If they can, you have a winner. The best lease agreement is one that specifies what will happen if someone does not keep up their end of the bargain. This allows your tenant to make an informed choice should they elect to break their lease agreement, and it makes saying no that much easier!
About the Author Anesia is a real estate investor and entrepreneur involved in multi-unit apartment buildings that generate monthly cash flow. After 10 years of corporate America, she finally bought her first 10 unit appartment building, which lead to the creation of her highly successful Landlord System training course. Today she finds herself looking for great deals while teaching others to systemize their rental properties. Visit her blog TheLandlordBlog.com.
