Good tenants, helped us out, give them $?

[HardDrive]

We have good tenants in our Seattle home. We are offsite landlords, and they have been great about taking care of little stuff themselves.

The washing machine broke, and (with our permission), they totally took care of it themselves, and paid the bill. My wife and I are crushed with work, and I really appreciate it.

So she pings me a copy of the bill, just to confirm that they will be taking that amount off from the next months rent. I was thinking of telling them to take off another $100 for being so helpful, and any inconvenience they experienced. They basically did property management for us.

But I figured it wouldn't hurt to check with you guys, any reason I should not do this? Again, good tenants, just signed on for a 3rd year, we have had zero problems with them.

[fastfredracing]

Aww man, I would hook them up, they probably saved you the $ Good tenants are really tough to come by.
We get calls to change light bulbs still. Basement flooded, and they have the drain to the washtub disconnected . ugh....

[CalPersFatCat]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

We have good tenants in our Seattle home. We are offsite landlords, and they have been great about taking care of little stuff themselves.

The washing machine broke, and (with our permission), they totally took care of it themselves, and paid the bill. My wife and I are crushed with work, and I really appreciate it.

So she pings me a copy of the bill, just to confirm that they will be taking that amount off from the next months rent. I was thinking of telling them to take off another $100 for being so helpful, and any inconvenience they experienced. They basically did property management for us.

But I figured it wouldn't hurt to check with you guys, any reason I should not do this? Again, good tenants, just signed on for a 3rd year, we have had zero problems with them.

No. It is very magnanimous of you to provide a washing machine for them. Allowing them to arrange for repair of the washing machine may have been a win for you (hands off and it just occurred) but it was also a win for them. The washer was back in service lickety split.

Unless you don't care about cash flow and the rental is just a capital appreciation play, it is a bad idea to train the tenant that maintenance issues are conducted with an open checkbook.

I am guilty of the same thing. I have a 40 ft shipping container that I keep stocked with extra glass top ranges and refrigerators. When a tenant has an issue, I have a replacement for them within a couple of hours. My reputation is that I get things handled immediately, therefore I have dozens and dozens of frivolous requests pending at all times.

Training tenants must be systematic and ongoing. YMMV.

DL

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

I would hook them up...Good tenants are really tough to come by.

Exactly. I was a landlord for over ten years and easy keeper renters are a blessing.

I wouldn't do cash or in kind rent deduction...gift card, worth $50, and a note of appreciation.

Nicely done for even thinking about this, HD. Little graces go a long way.

[mreid]

Cash gets lost, but becomes an expectation. Dinner (gift card) gets eaten, but becomes a memory.

Get them a gift card and good on you for the thought.

[Tidybuoy]

My suggestion would be to send them a Christmas card with a $100 gift cert in it. That way, you can thank them for being a great tennant and at the same time, not encourage maintenance requests.

I do agree that having a great tennant is fantastic. I was a great tennant for 13 years in a house I rented and the only time I ever spoke to the landlord was on move in and move out days. I fixed everything and I personally felt happy to have the freedom to do that.

[Tobra]

Yeah, give them a card for Cheesecake Factory or some steak house. Cut them a break on the rent and they will just spend the dough on the electric bill or something.

[look 171]

Yep, I agree with Seahawk and other guys that mentioned gift cards. My tenants never really fix anything big but little stuff, they just do without asking. Great people. I get then a 100 dollar card to a restaurant just to let them know how much I appreciate their doing above and beyond. I love it that they are not late with rent. One guy will always call if he know that he will be a week or 10 days out.

[KFC911]

Didn't read all of the respnses, but I'd do so without hesitation...absolutely!

Gift card a great idea too....

[Gogar]

+1

Thank you gift of some kind is great,
but leave the rent out of it.

[Crowbob]

Maybe they broke the machine so it could be a wash.




(Remember to tip the waitresses)

[McLovin]

I wouldn't do it. In the long run it causes more harm than good.

[Baz]

I would do it. In the long run it causes more good than harm.

[KFC911]

When it comes to maximizing the return I get on my properties....I might be the worst LL ever....but I don't care about that

[Hugh R]

Separate Rent from thanks, they are different.

[LWJ]

^^^ I agree with Hugh!

1) It is a business. Keep it that way
2) They are great tenants. Recognize this in a meaningful way. It doesn't have to be expensive. My worst tenants cost me over $30,000 in damage, lost rent and similar. Even though I prevailed in court, I never collected. Good tenants are to be celebrated!

Congrats. A great problem to have.

[john70t]

What Mreid Tobra Hugh said.

Tenants will pay $800 for an application fee, $2800/mo for rent, and be completely happy spending 90% of their paycheck on living expenses.
But if they get an extra $50bill they flip out.

I charge lower rent and divide up all the utility bills so it's about par for the area. Always open books.
If there is a potential water leak I hear about it pronto.

[fred cook]

I used to own and manage a commercial building with 4 tenants. On occasion, I would drop the hint that the fewer nit picky things I had to deal with helped keep their rent from going up. Usually worked like a charm! I also tended to keep tenants for a loooooong time. Some stayed for 20 years or more! And, because they were pretty meticulous about keeping their areas nice, I got top dollars for the building when I sold it!

[Superman]

Originally Posted by Baz

I would do it. In the long run it causes more good than harm.

This is my perspective.

The difference in cost between a good renter/good relationship and bad renter is significantly more than $100. Pick the right people and take good care of them.

[Superman]

...that said, I recently had a similar situation. Excellent renters. The washer gave up. Old. Smaller than today's appliances. I told them to find a new pair at Best Buy and take it off their next rent. I didn't throw extra money at them at that time. When they moved in, the husband did a bunch of drywall/mudding/painting work downstairs and charged me a fraction. We've got a good thing going.