Rewarding Tenants with Points

[Bruce L.]

Hi BP!

I was wondering if anyone here has tried creative ways to get your tenants to maintain your property well and to also retain good tenants.

I was thinking about setting up a point system similar to how the credit card companies do it. After so many points, you can opt to use your points for an item or cash back.

So, I would give points throughout the year for the following:
1) Prompt rental payment.
2) Property Inspection (3-4 times a year).
3) No Complains from neighbors.
4) Lease renewal.
5) And so on, can't think of anymore, please feel free to add to this.

Items would include things like a
- $50 Gift Card (Home Depot, lol jk)
- House Cleaning service
- Coffee Machine
- 42" Flat Screen TV
- and Ca$h.

The only way to get the good items would be to be an outstanding tenant with at least 2-3 year stay.

What do you guys think?

[Aaron Mazzrillo]

I've read so many posts on here regarding 'bribing' tenants to be good or rewarding them for their good behavior. I have the exact opposite philosophy. I never reward or bribe my tenants. I actually do my best to never speak to them again after I rent to them. Trust me, your tenants don't want to be bothered by you.

Here is how I reward/bribe them; I charge $100 late fee. Pay the rent on time or I get rewarded with a nice big bonus. I charge a high security deposit. Leave the unit just as nice or better than when you moved in, or I pay a fully licensed & insured general contractor (not cheap!) to go in and fix the things you broke and then I pay a cleaning company to clean up your mess out of your deposit. You're never going to find me spackling a wall or cleaning up a former tenants pubes in the bathroom. And I know those two incentive programs are sufficient to keep your tenants in line.

I just don't see the point in sending them Christmas cards, movie passes, gift cards, etc. for doing what they agreed to do; pay the rent and keep the place in decent shape. When you start crossing the line of tenant-landlord relationship, you start setting yourself up for trouble. That's when the "My rent is going to be a little bit late" calls start coming in. Hard to tell your new 'friend' not to forget to add the late fee when they pay and don't mind the notice posted on the front door, we just do that to protect our rights.

This "tenants deserve rewards" way of thinking must be coming from the "every one who shows up deserves an award" generation.