Safety is a high priority for renters, according to a new survey conducted by two major apartment and home listing services.
Homes.com® and sister site, ForRent.com® found that tenants looking for a new rental home placed security very high on the priority list, second only to location.
Your rental property undoubtedly is equipped with a number of safety features. What this survey proves is that it pays to show off those features when advertising vacancies.
Here are some security features that are worth mentioning to prospective tenants:
1. Outdoor lighting around units, common areas, and parking.
2. Peepholes with covers.
3. Deadbolts are a given, but assure your tenants that you have a key security policy so that the key to their unit is not available to just anyone.
4. Tout that you screen your workers and vendors so strangers won’t have access to units.
5. Tenant’s privacy is respected and no one will enter the unit without prior notice, except in an emergency.
6. The property is smoke-free, dramatically reducing the risk of fire.
7. Carbon monoxide detectors have been installed per local building codes and are checked regularly. Tenants are prohibited from tampering with detectors.
8. All residents are screened, including criminal background checks. Long-term guests are required to undergo a tenant background check for the safety of others in the community.
9. Tenants are encouraged to report suspicious behavior or signs of crime on or around the property.
10. The landlord or property manager participate in local neighborhood watch or crime-free housing programs to keep up with any trends in the area.
When tenants feel that you have their bests interests in mind, it is much easier to fill vacancies, manage day-to-day concerns, and keep the rental property operating profitably.
Let tenants know that you’ve thought about their security, so they can relax and feel at home in your rental properties.
This post is provided by Tenant Verification Service, Inc., helping landlords reduce the risks of renting with fraud prevention tools that include Tenant Screening, Tenant Background Checks, (U.S. and Canada), as well as Criminal Background Checks, and Eviction Reports (U.S. only).
Click Here to Receive Landlord Credit Reports.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this post in not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be considered a substitute for obtaining individual legal counsel or consulting your local, state, federal or provincial tenancy laws.
