Topic: 3 Tips to Help You Find the Right Tenants

"How do I find the right tenants?"

We have heard this question from landlords and property management companies for quite some time now. Our team knows the answer. The truth is that finding the right tenants takes time and effort.

We think there are 3 things that every landlord should do if they are searching for the perfect tenants.

1) Properly market your property
- It seems simple right? Well, it's not. One of the reasons the student housing market has been so inefficient is because of the lack of a platform that gives landlords an opportunity to market their properties directly to their target market. Relying on word of mouth won't give you the exposure you need. Get creative!

2) Take the time needed to sort through applicants
- Have conversations with each applicant and be selective. We know a lot of landlords that don't do this and it normally comes back to haunt them during the school year. Learning a bit about each tenant (i.e. their major, involvement on campus, and hobbies) may give you the information needed to decide which applicants will ultimately become your tenants.

3) Have they lived off campus before?
- Although this question could fall under #2, it is so important that we wanted to give it the respect it deserves. We lived off campus for two years and always wondered why landlords didn't ask this question during the application process. It seems so simple, but maybe that is why it's often overlooked. Think of the information you could obtain just by asking this question. If someone has lived off campus before, why are they choosing to live somewhere else this? Did the landlord kick them out? Do they need more/less space? Do they want to live closer to campus? You get the point.

There are certainly more ways to help you find the right tenants, but we think this is a good starting point. We are happy to be a part of the Multifamily Insiders community and look forward to participating in future discussions with everyone. Feel free to comment and weigh in with your own thoughts on finding the right student tenants!

Our Best,
The HouzeMe Team
www.HouzeMe.com

We recently received this question from one of our HouzeMe Landlords.

"What can I do as the landlord, aside from the normal check-ins and legal (i.e. signed lease and contracts), to ensure my tenants take proper care of their rental?"

Do you have any tips from your own experience that may help out a fellow landlord in the off-campus housing space?