It is two months to the end of your tenant’s lease and you get the notice – they will not renew.
The ball is now in your court to bring in a new tenant and keep the cash-flow coming. With some thanks to lady luck, you can get a potential tenant within a few weeks of advertising. But your existing tenant hasn’t moved out yet and even if you were to use current photos of your property, prospective tenants would still insist on viewing it before beginning the leasing process.
Additionally, if you were to arrange viewings after your tenants left, you as the landlord will incur some cost in terms of utilities. So, you ask yourself, how do you show your property without disrupting your tenants and keep your property filled?
With over 40 years of experience in the property industry, T-Square Properties is here to help you answer that question. We are the leading property management company in King and Snohomish County, managing hundreds of properties in the area. So, we would like to offer you some tips on showing a property with existing tenants.
Communicate with Your Tenant
There is a level of unpredictability when you show an occupied property. You are not in control of the cleanliness and the condition of some of the spaces. You also can’t control the actions of your current tenant is which can offer some challenges.
In the same way, your tenant has discussed their plans with you, you need to do the same. This doesn’t need to be anything formal, just a call or email to explain your intentions and set their expectations on notice and availability. This will go a long way to building trust and getting your unit filled.
If you still have questions about what to say, you can always contact us and we would be more than happy to help.
Coordinate with Your Tenant and Give Them Ample Notice
You will need to coordinate the timings of the showings with your tenant’s schedule. Even after that, you need to give them ample notice of the showing, preferably 24 to 48 hours.
Doing this is courteous, professional, and in compliance with Washington State’s Landlord-Tenant laws. As the lease term has not yet expired, the provisions of the law still apply to the current tenant.
Ask Them Politely to Tidy Up
One of the benefits of communicating and coordinating with your existing tenant is that you have built up social capital. Capital that you may need to spend to get them to clean their space and secure any pets for the viewing. A well-informed and listened-to tenant will be much happier to comply than one who has been left in the dark. Remember to give them 24 to 48 hours’ notice too!
Reward a Good Relationship
In a normal property advertising and marketing scenario, you may receive several requests for showings at a time. Each showing would require your tenant to tidy up their space and consequently disrupt their life.
If you think about it that way, you are depending on your tenant to have multiple successful showings. So, consider rewarding them for their compliance and cooperation. It would go a long way to both ensuring a good relationship with your tenant and moving forward with the leasing process.
Use Appropriate Signs
As a landlord, you have every right to erect signage to lease your property. Such signage increases the number of unannounced visitors and raises awareness for the leasing. But tenants may not want signs disrupting their homes. After all, while you’re building the relationship with them, you don’t want to take a step back.
The good news is, there are better ways to advertise the vacancy of your property. If you insist on having the sign, you can add in “Appointments only”, “Don’t Disturb tenants” or “Call Landlord at…” This will go a long way to keep your existing tenants both happy and compliant.
For King & Snohomish County Property Management Services
Do you have the time to implement the tips detailed above? The success of your rental property depends on the quality and personalized treatment that you offer your tenants. It is only then that they will feel valued, appreciated and consider renting your space out for the long-term.
So, for quality, tailor-made property management services, rely on T-Square Properties Services. We are a licensed real estate brokerage and full-service property management company, located in King County and Snohomish County. T-Square Properties is represented by a dedicated and professional team, willing and ready to meet our client’s needs.
Disclaimer: This blog article is for informational purposes. The information contained in this blog article may not be the official policies of T-Square Properties.