Desirable Traits Military Families Want in Their Landlord

There are all types of landlords with varying personality traits and habits. But did you know some of those can make or break your rental deal? Here are the qualities military family renters look for in a potential landlord.

Landlord Trait #1: Regular Communication

If you’re a landlord who doesn’t live near your rental property, this especially applies to you. As a landlord, it’s your responsibility to let the military family know what maintenance and upkeep the house needs. We recommend drafting a seasonal email to send to the military renters when the weather starts to get warmer or colder and the tasks that go along with it. This is important to the renters and your property if you want to keep it in good shape as renters might not know what to do to maintain the house when the seasons change. 

Landlord Trait #2: Proactive

As a landlord renting out a property, and especially to military families who could only stay for a short time, it’s essential to be honest about any problems with the house, like leaky pipes or faulty appliances. You want to make sure you’re both in agreement about the state of the property before a lease is signed. This will make life easier for both parties later down the road. This is a topic worth covering in your rental binder [INSERT LINK TO PREVIOUS BLOG]. Also, providing that honesty at the beginning gives your military family renters trust in you as their landlord. 

Landlord Trait #3: Preparedness 

If you read our last blog [LINK TO LAST BLOG], you understand the importance of providing that renter binder with key information like manuals, repair companies, who to call for emergencies, maintenance schedules, and so on. In this case, more is more! Every home has unique features that require some further explanation. So, make it easy on yourself and the military family by providing that information up front. This will also help minimize communication if the military family has questions about the property or appliances. You can go above and beyond here by including your personal touch of your favorite local restaurants and places for entertainment. 

Landlord Trait #4: Financially Sound

While some people think the landlord stereotype is someone rolling around in piles of money, it’s usually not true. It might not be completely accurate, but it’s still important to be financially sound and have money saved up for emergencies or essential repairs. Your tenants don’t want to hear about how much it will cost to replace the AC if the unit dies or how much a new dishwasher will cost. They want to know their home, short-lived or not, will be taken care of, and they will continue to have a place to call home. Don’t be the landlord that lets inconveniences slide and pile up until there’s a significant repair and a hefty bill to follow. That’s why maintenance is so crucial! 

Landlord Trait #5: Acceptance

Military families move often and see a wide variety of houses with varying needs, so don’t assume they will know where everything is and how it works when they move in. Again, why that rental binder is so important! Part of being a landlord is knowing what responsibility is yours to accept, like significant repairs, and what is up to the military renters, such as small chores around the property. Ask yourself, “Would my own family be happy and comfortable in this rental property?” 

If you need help improving your short-term rental geared for military families or if you need help listing your property, email us today at concierge@milhousingnetwork.com.

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