Handling interactions with a renter in Washington
One of the primary services that any property management expert in Washington performs is providing a level of separation between the renter and the owner. The best practice is for the rental investor to avoid any direct contact with the renter. Important tip for owners: never share your contact information with the renter.
Renters in Washington often ask to change lease provisions, or make other special requests. The property manager knows the lease and knows why the lease provisions exist. A renter can catch an uniformed landlord at a moment of ignorance causing the landlord to grant a request that is counter to the property owner's own interests.
The consequence of acceding to a seemingly simple favor can be a disaster in the long run. Furthermore, once the renter believes there is a higher authority to appeal to, the renter will appeal all matters to the property owner, which cost the property owner time and effort.
Tenants will use contact with the rental investor to build a personal relationship with the rental investor. Personal feelings can make it much harder for the property owner to make objective business decisions in a impersonal manner. Additionally, the renter can hound or harass a property owner at strange hours or with unreasonable requests.
We're paid to be your protect the rental investor's interests. It's more difficult to do that job when the tenant is going to ask the property owner to overrule our work.
Landlord Reference
a useful archive for landlords in Washington
- Before you lease out your property in Washington
- Collections and evictions
- Communications with the tenant
- During tenancy
- End of lease term and what happens when a renter breaks the lease
- How does the owner get paid?
- How your property manager handles the association and your community
- How your management company handles utilities
- How Nesbitt Management finds renters
- Insurance matters for landlords using our rental management
- How Nesbitt Management handles keys
- Washington rental investor responsibilities
- Maintenance, repairs & inspections for your rental property in Washington
- The move-in inspection
- Property management information form
- Selling a 1031 tax exchange & more
- Starting our management of your rental investment
- When landlords don't yet know their new address
- Vetting renters in Washington