Year end letter or gifts to tenants

[Ryan Bird]

Just curious if anyone here writes holiday greetings and or provide gift cards to tenant during year end/ new year. Debating if I should give a gift card to the tenants who have been super nice.

[Linda S.]

@Ryan Bird,

100% no, do NOT give gift cards IMO.  You are NOT a friend/buddy, you are their landlord, and trust me-- make no mistake about it, they don't like you as a person, they like you for charging them X rent only.   People think tenants like their landlord, no they don't-- remember you are the greedy MOFO taking 1/3 of their hard earned income each month, that's how they see you.   Imagine if your mortgage company sent you a $25 gift card, I personally wouldn't care-- I'd just think "thanks, you're obviously overcharging me if you need to redistribute $$ to customers."

If you want to "Thank" them-- ask them how you can upgrade their house?! Put a new security light in, or powerwash it to make it look better-- do something that will show them you appreciate them by reinvesting and LISTENING to what they want in their house.   I do this with all of my tenants, at the annual inspection, I ask "how can I upgrade your house and make it even better for YOU?" --- a lot of times it's something small and overlooked, like maybe add stepping stones so their feet don't get muddy when it rains.   The key is listening to what your tenants want.    This is 100% tax deductible, upgrades your house long-term, and improves the relationship.