A little talking never hurts

[John Roesler]

I just wanted to share a small moment that resulted in a more empowered and happy tenant.

I have a rental property in Saint Paul MN and I use a property manager for it. However, I like to stop by and check on the property and do minor yard/tree/brush clean up or repair projects that are less expensive for me to do than for the PM to hire out. The other day I stopped by and while cleaning up some brush growing in the fences and trimming a tree - got to talking with the upstairs tenant in my duplex. The tenant was in another property managed by the same PM for the last 5 years and after their aged mother passed away (she was living with the tenant), the tenant was looking to downsize and moved into my upper 2BR/1BA unit. The tenant takes a lot pride in the place they live, even though they rent and mentioned interest in the lower unit when it comes available. The lower unit is slightly larger and has higher rent and so it's even better to have a great long term tenant in it. Long story short, the upstairs tenant is moving downstairs and the PM is going to find a new tenant for the upstairs unit instead.

End result. I have happy tenant in the higher rent unit - and I expect they will be with me for a while now! I strongly believe it pays to have the little conversations here and there and just treat people like people. Keep up the good work fellow BP'ers! You all inspire me every day on here - so I am hoping my story gives someone a boost!