Christies Beach 
So obviously no one is perfect but if you want to be that desirable tenant who always gets a good reference and makes renting look like a breeze then this guide might have some tips for you.
PAY ON TIME
I’m sure most of you know that rent and water need to be paid on time but some people don’t realise how much it can affect them. If you are applying for another property often agents will request a copy of your rent ledger. If your ledger shows that you are always in arrears then that is going to hinder your application.
If you are paying online and it takes a few days then pay a few days earlier so that it is not late. Make sure the rent is in your landlord or agents account on or before the day it is due. This includes allowing for weekends and public holidays. As a tenant, it is your responsibility to make sure the rent is paid on time. Then when it comes time to move and another agent asks for your rent ledger you can feel confident that it will not show any late payments.
KEEP IT CLEAN
We all have different standards of what we think is clean. When a Property Manager conducts a routine inspection they are looking at the owners house, rather than the general tidiness of the home. Although, it helps with the overall presentation when tenants make the bed and straighten the cushions on the couch, the property manager isn’t concerned if those things are not done because they are the tenants personal items and do not affect the house. However, in saying that, if a tenant left personal items, such as clothes or toys on the floor and this prevented the Property Manager from seeing the floor then that is where tidiness can become an issue.
The Property Manager will check every room of the house as well as the outside of the house. Walls, carpets, ovens, bathrooms and toilets will all be checked but areas some tenants may not realise get checked are ceiling fans, window sills and tracks, exhaust fans and weeds in the garden. If you want a perfect, 10 out of 10 inspection report then don’t forget to ensure all areas of the house are clean.
EASY TO GET ALONG WITH
Being difficult to get along with is generally not something you will be evicted for (although there are extremes in any circumstance). However, if you want to get a good reference and just in general be a nice person then being pleasant will make your life a lot easier in the long run.
Some people pay their rent and keep the house clean but will still have trouble getting a rental property because they are hard to deal with. If you were a property manager and you and two identical applications, same income, both perfect inspection reports and impeccable payment history but the only difference was that one of them was nice and the other one was rude, knowing that you’re the one who will have to deal with them if any maintenance arises, who would you recommend to the owner?
EASY TO GET HOLD OF
Now we understand that not everyone can answer their phone or respond to an SMS or an e-mail straight away. We all have busy lives and some people have poor reception. It is important, however, to advise your Property Manager how to get in touch with you if they need you.
We don’t expect every tenant to answer or call us back immediately, sometimes you might not be able to get in touch with us for a couple of day but don’t let yourself be that person who is known for being difficult to get hold of or never returns forms.
Occasionally we are presented with a situation where a tenant doesn’t want to answer our calls because they are feeling stressed about rent arrears or a bad inspection report. Not answering unfortunately doesn’t make the problem go away. Your Property Manager might be able to offer some helpful suggestions or be able to provide you with a list of financial institutions that are able to assist but if you don’t call them back then you will never find out.
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How to be the perfect tenant?
21/05/2018
Author: Melissa Chaplin
