Why I'm Not Getting My Tenants Holiday Gifts

I’m a do-it-yourself landlord. I know all twenty four of my tenants by name, I answer all their phone calls, I am usually the one onsite fixing their problems, and when I’m around at the apartments, they come out to chat. It’s a friendly, approachable vibe created by my father who loved and served all his tenants. While I appreciate all of them, especially as everyone has paid rent on time during the infamous year of twenty-twenty, I will not be getting them Christmas presents. There is no right or wrong side of the coin, but I feel like another gift card or holiday treat gets lost in the hoopla of the season.

I still want them to know that I see them and appreciate them. I like having the opportunity to display an out-of-ordinary generosity and show a little token of thanks just to let them know that it’s more than a business transaction and that we truly believe it’s all about the people.

February is the month of my dad’s birth and death day, so this is the month we celebrate him and celebrate all his tenants past and present, vendors and subcontractors. Last year we got the most delicious chocolate chip cookies and filled little bags that were customized with a little tribute to my dad. My dad loved cookies! But more than just the cookies itself, it was a day that my family and I went around and knocked on the door of all of our tenants, said hello, talked about the love of my dad, and just caught up. It was warm and genuine and it felt good. We carried around cookies all month, stopped at the title company and the hardware store, just to spread cheer, say thank you, and to slow down and reflect on all the wonderful people who are in our life. It is a meaningful way to say thank you, not a yearly gift giving tradition, separate from the holidays and more tied to the tenants and to the one who started this successful real estate business.