Welcoming your new military tenants to their new home is a wonderful way to foster open communication and a great relationship while generating positive, word-of-mouth recommendations. The military community is tight-knit, and renting to military tenants is a great way to secure renters for years to come!
Renting to Military Tenants
The transient nature of military life means that your new tenants are constantly having to make a brand-new area feel like home. In addition, they are always on the lookout for new grocery stores, the best pizza delivery joint and a great park to take their children.
Help make their lives just a little bit easier as they transition to your town by sharing your knowledge and going the extra mile to make them feel at home!
More Like This: Want to know more about how military tenants stand out from others? Learn more with our 5 Reasons Landlords Should Rent to Military Tenants.
1. Become a More Digital Landlord
Impress potential military tenants from their first contact with you by offering a digital welcome packet that includes general information about the home. Fun activities for kids, great local restaurants and practical information about how utilities work in your area are a great place to start!
Establish yourself from the get-go as a helpful (and convenient) resource. By becoming a digital landlord, you will attract more tenants who enjoy paying online and emailing or texting instead of receiving personal visits for every request. We live in a day and age where technology is king, and more and more military members are opting for convenient digital options.
2. Check with the Chamber
In many counties, the local Chamber of Commerce prepares a package for new residents with coupons and advertisements geared to them. Since you are likely your tenant’s first local contact, check in with your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they offer these packets.
How nice would it be to include a packet of helpful coupons in their welcome package?
3. Help With Local Schools
Do your military tenants have children? Understandably, military kids face both academic and social challenges when they switch schools. Creating a transition that’s as easy as possible is a priority for parents.
To help out, you can provide information about school registration (who to contact) and any district-wide policies for your properties that house children. If you want to take it even further, you could even provide school handbooks for parents who are new to the area and bound to be looking for them online.
4. Anticipate Their Needs
What types of businesses will your military tenants be looking for when they first move to town? Compile a list of recommended businesses for basic services that most people would use, such as highly-rated stylists, mechanics and similar service providers that you typically discover after living in an area for a while.
5. Make It Move-In-Ready
By renting to military tenants, you can expect your renters to expect a move-in-ready home. So, ensuring they don’t have to clean up after the former tenant will go a long way with your new tenants. When your new tenants arrive, they are likely traveling separately from their belongings and many essentials.
Department of Defense (DoD) contracted movers do not transport any liquids, so your tenants will arrive without even the most basic necessities. Welcome them to their new home with the little things they need for the first night or two!
Welcome Basket Ideas:
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Plasticware (forks, spoons, plates)
- Snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.)
- Bottled water
These necessities will be much appreciated as your military tenants wait for their essentials to be delivered. Spending $20 on a welcome basket, complete with a coupon book from the Chamber of Commerce and any helpful local information, will be the cherry on top of a clean and tidy living space.
Hot Tip: Attract quality military tenants with great images of your property! Check out How to Take Great Real Estate Photos with An iPhone.
List Your Property on AHRN
Interested in becoming a military landlord?
List your property on AHRN to get in front of thousands of military members going through a permanent change of station (PCS) and moving to your area. Here at AHRN, we are renowned for efficiently connecting military landlords with reliable military tenants.