How to Attract Long-term Tenants in Maryland

Long-term tenants are the best thing for landlords. Having them means you don’t need to advertise rental vacancies, screen prospective tenants, or draft new leases. The result is being able to maximize your income, thanks to a steady income and less trouble.

Finding such tenants is, however, not the easiest task. It requires skills and experience to land long-term tenants for your rental property. But is it rocket science? Not at all!

In this article, we’ll take you through tried-and-tested tips on how to attract long-term tenants for your Maryland rental property.

1. Upgrade the Look of Your Rental Property

One way of attracting long-term tenants is ensuring you have a desirable property that stands out from the competition.

Usually, heaters, windows, furniture, and other items in the property will undergo degradation. When that happens, you may have a hard time attracting the right tenants into your home.

So, if you notice some things look all worn out and outdated, have them replaced with new and efficient ones.

You may also want to update the exterior look of your rental property. First impressions can either break or make your landlording efforts. So, if the curb appeal looks like it has had better days, have it updated.

2. Market Your Maryland Property

Once you have updated the look of your property, take the next step – look for a tenant. Every time your property is vacant means money down the drain.

When marketing your property, you want to reach as many prospective tenants as possible. Usually, the more prospective tenants that get to see your property, the more chance you have of landing the right tenant.

Before starting the marketing process, first have a visual image of the type of tenant you want. Next, draft a rental listing that targets that specific type of tenant. You’ll also want to make the description as detailed and concise as possible. Don’t forget to include quality photos highlighting what your Maryland property has to offer.

Finally, incorporate both traditional and digital marketing tactics in your marketing strategy.

If these tasks seem daunting, let a property management company like McKenna & Vane Property Management help you. We have the skills and experience to market your property effectively.

3. Meticulously Select Tenants

A tenant screening process is a must-have for any serious landlord. A good screening test should help you attract reliable and responsible tenants you can count on. Generally, a good tenant is one that possesses any of the following traits:

• Has a good history of employment
• Has no previous history of committing relevant criminal offences
• Earns a decent income that can help them afford rent
• Has a good credit rating, showing they are financially responsible
• Has no previous history of violating the lease agreement

Take note not to discriminate against a tenant based on protected characteristics during the process. Protected characteristics in Maryland include sexual orientation, sex, national origin, color and race.

At McKenna & Vane Property Management, we have the resources to thoroughly screen tenants and in accordance with the protected characteristics.

4. Offer New Tenants a Warm Welcome

Moving can be an exciting time during someone’s life. However, it can also turn out to be extremely stressful. In fact, according to the Employee Relocation Council, moving is considered the 3rd most stressful life event.

With that in mind, offering new tenants a warm welcome can be really helpful. So, try lessening their stress by:

• Providing them some snacks and drinks
• Cleaning the property for them
• Gifting them a map of the neighborhood
• Answering questions they may have concerning the area

Doing such things can help kick start a potentially good landlord-tenant relationship.

5. Quickly Respond to Maintenance Issues

When you don’t have the oversight of a professional property management company like McKenna & Vane, maintenance tasks can often fall through the cracks. Failing to keep up with maintenance issues is one contributor to high tenant turnover rates.

So, make sure you respond to maintenance issues as quickly as possible. Ideally, respond to urgent matters within a few hours, and a few days for non-urgent ones.

Did you know that your tenant can pursue legal action against you for failing to make repairs within a reasonable period of time? They can do so by filing a complaint through the local district court.

Also, besides taking legal action against you, your tenant can terminate their lease. That’s because your tenant is entitled to live in a habitable rental property. By not providing one, the tenant would be considered “constructively evicted.”

6. Respect Your Tenant’s Right to Privacy

Federal law gives every tenant in the country the right to live in quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their rented premises.

Different states have different rules in regards to the notice period landlords must give tenants. Maryland, however, is yet to pass a statute on how much notice a landlord must provide their tenant.

That being said, to avoid harassment suits, most landlords give their tenants a 24 hours’ notice prior to entry.

As a landlord, you may want to enter your tenant’s unit to:

• Make improvements to the property
• Make requested or needed repairs
• Enter under court orders
• Show the unit to prospective lenders, tenants or buyers
• Enter when the landlord has sufficient reasons to believe the unit has been abandoned

7. Seek Professional Help

Admittedly, attracting long-term tenants to your Maryland property isn’t an easy task – especially as a first-time landlord. It requires certain skills and experience.

It’s for this reason that many savvy property owners choose to use professional property management services like those offered by McKenna & Vane Property Management. An experienced property manager can help you draft a winning rental ad that targets the right tenant.

Besides marketing your property, an experienced property manager like us can help you in other regards as well. We can help you:

• Choose the best candidate by thoroughly screening prospective tenants
• Care for your rental unit by inspecting it and responding to tenants’ maintenance requests
• Collect rent consistently every month without fail
• Stay updated regarding the performance of your property

Bottom Line

Attracting long-term tenants in Maryland can be a daunting experience. If you are just starting out, it’s recommended you hire professional property management services.

McKenna & Vane Property Management is a proven property management company. We specialize in Howard, Carroll, Frederick & Montgomery Counties. Don’t hesitate to contact us to know more about our services!