Welcome Basket ideas? @$25 range...

[Matt M.]

Would love your ideas on new tenant welcome baskets! And ideally in the $25 range or so to not break the bank. These are $800/mo range rents.

[Anna Laud]

@Matt M.

Hi Matt! This is a great idea and overall could be used in a way to your benefit as well. I want to suggest a few things used at open houses that could serve as helpful information to your tenants, but come off as 'nice' and 'welcoming'- could save you time/money too in some cases maybe! 

Making sure your tenants feel welcome to the property and the community is always a great idea- things that we've used at open houses that get kept (and keep tenants from hoarding in some cases- the win for you!)

1. Community recycle days/locations

2. Electronic recycle days/locations

3. 'Shred it' days/locations

Putting these in a simple sheet outlined "each third Thursday of the month between the hours of blank and blank' at xyz location you can take these items here and drop off for free" - this can keep a stockpile of unwanted goods/items from accumulating - which in the long run can prevent pests and other bills

Another thing to do is include some freebies or discounts - most of the time, everyone likes free stuff! By getting in touch with local coffee shops for 'first coffee in the neighborhood is on us!' types of coupons to pass along in your baskets- it's multi- serving. 

Your tenants do get a little gift at no extra cost to you, and they get more familiar/connected with a local place (a great time to add to above mentioned sheet for things like 'open poetry reading night at xyz coffee house' as well)

The other self serving portion to this being in your conversations and connections made at local places, you're bound to meet folks that know of someone who want/need to rent and you've got an in to having another source for your future tenant pool.

Another thing to add on you growing sheet here of helpful (yet self serving in a way) items would be contact information of either yourself (if acting as PM), PM, or people you've approved of for emergency repairs. This could be the difference between a leak causing hundreds in damage vs thousands in my tenant(s) have multiple ways to et help ASAP.

It's always nice to include menus from local restaurants as well, especially those that do take out/deliver (when picking up menus they may have coupons to add too!). If your tenants are newbies to the area, you can even include locations/phone numbers of urgent care facilities, then add a few amenities on there as well like local parks (basically things that would be helpful and of interest)

If your area (or HOA {may or may not apply}) has Facebook pages for events like block parties or free concerts, you can add that info too.

By doing these things you're giving your tenants some very helpful resources (emergency and otherwise), as well as welcoming them to the community. I would ALWAYS suggest including the local police non emergency line, that comes in handy often and prevents unnecessary 911 calls.

Even if utilities are paid by you, it's not a bad idea to include the numbers of your eclectic, gas, and water providers- even if their names aren't on accounts, they can find out when power will be restored quickly (saving you or PM a three am call maybe)

As far as gifts go and actual items, things that would apply to most everyone in being useful seem like a good idea (an not offensive in any way like scented candles - those items are not across the board items) but things like nice dish towels, simple kitchen tools/gadgets, a welcome mat, fridge notepads and nice pens, etc. 

If many of your tenants have pets, even including coupons for 'doggy wash/day care' places would be nice, as well as potty pick up baggies (a self serve there as well, creating good habits for tenants), local dog parks, local vets info. 

If they have children- just by going to the local school sites you should be able to print off free school year calendars too for events, school breaks, etc. 

Basically keeping it as user friendly for the most people as possible and avoiding things like could be seen or taken as offensive to some (wine, wine openers, scented candles/soaps etc.) 

Even having a few baskets ready for tenants to grab quickly - they have pets so they get the pet welcome basket, they have children- they get the children friendly welcome basket- you get the idea. Just keeping in mind they should feel (ideally)  instantly more connected with the community, which can be very helpful for both you and your tenants

Hope this helps!