Give a tenant a shovel.

[Roger Heiser]

A few weeks ago when I was cleaning snow off of the sidewalk at our apartments. One of the long term tenants told me if I bought him a shovel he would shovel in front of his building just for something to do. I told him he could have the one I was using. No, he had a particular shovel in mind. I bought one for him the other day and set it next to his door without saying any thing.

My wife just told me she met him coming out of the bank and he gave her a hug he was so happy to get get a shovel.

I tell this story because we interviewed a property manager and it was evident to us that he viewed the tenants as the enemy not as customers who we are selling a service too. Yes there are times when they are not good customers and we have to handle those times appropriately. But If you do a good job vetting potential tenants and treat them well, everyone will be happier and you might even get some free snow shoveling out of it.