Judging someone’s character, whilst answering questions, asking questions and conducting a viewing – all in a 20 minute slot is no simple task.
So, what do you do when selecting the right tenants is so important? You work hard to get it right, because tenant selection (as we have said many times before) is part art and part science and, underpins every other part of the lettings process. Our Lettings Negotiator is very skilled at this and, it’s something we get asked about a lot, so we thought we’d take a look at the tenant selection side of things, to see whether there were some top tips that we could pass on that could be useful.
Trying to ascertain whether someone is polite and respectful within a short timeframe of, say, 20 minutes, when you have a 20-25 minute viewings slot, may seem like a challenging task.
However, there are several observable behaviours and cues that can provide valuable insights into someone’s character. While it’s essential to acknowledge that people may exhibit different traits depending on context and circumstances, there are still general indicators that can help us to gauge politeness and respectfulness.
It’s also a good idea to point your “spidey senses” in the right direction by asking yourself “…do I genuinely like them?…” “…do I have a good gut feeling about them?” and here’s the one that seems to really focus the mind “…would I like to share a house with them if I was asked to…?” Beyond these questions, here are a few pointers to look out for, which may help you make good quality decisions, when selecting tenants:
Initial Greeting:
Pay attention to how the person greets you. Polite individuals typically offer a warm smile, maintain eye contact, and extend a friendly greeting such as “Hello” or “Nice to meet you.”
Communication Style:
Observe their communication style during conversations. Polite individuals tend to listen actively, show genuine interest in what others have to say, and avoid interrupting or dominating the conversation.
Use of Please and Thank You:
Notice whether the person uses polite language such as “please” and “thank you” when making requests or receiving assistance. Polite individuals express gratitude and acknowledge others’ efforts.
Respect:
Pay attention to how the person respects personal boundaries. Polite individuals are mindful of personal space and avoid intrusive behaviour or invasive questions. It’s also important to gauge whether they will respect and look after the property – if you take your shoes off at the front door, will they follow suit, demonstrating that they will have respect for the property, in the same way that you clearly do.
Empathy and Consideration:
Look for signs of empathy and consideration towards others. Polite individuals show empathy by acknowledging others’ feelings, offering support when needed, and being considerate of different perspectives. Do they speak positively about their experiences of previous tenancies, landlords and/or housemates?
Patience and Tolerance:
Assess their level of patience and tolerance, especially in challenging situations. Polite individuals remain calm and composed, refrain from expressing frustration or anger hastily, and handle conflicts with diplomacy. How do they react if the viewing before them overran? How do they react when given an opportunity to express negativity?
Body Language:
Take note of their body language, including posture, facial expressions, and gestures. Polite individuals exhibit open and relaxed body language, maintain a pleasant facial expression, and avoid aggressive or confrontational gestures.
Helpfulness and Cooperation:
Notice whether the person offers assistance or support when needed. Polite individuals are willing to lend a helping hand, cooperate with others, and contribute positively to group activities. If you’re moving furniture or locating a stop cock, or struggling with a key, do they offer assistance?
Graciousness in Adversity:
Assess how they handle adversity or setbacks. Polite individuals maintain grace under pressure, refrain from blaming others, and focus on finding constructive solutions. Can you orchestrate a conversation about difficulties finding a property, previous landlords, agents or another scenario, where you can gauge how they behave when discussing negative issues?
While observing these behaviours can provide valuable insights into someone’s level of politeness and respectfulness, it’s important to remember that individuals may have different cultural norms, personality traits, and communication styles. Therefore, it’s essential to consider these factors and avoid making snap judgments based on limited interactions. It is also our experience that it is important to listen to your gut instinct, because there may be a piece of information that you have missed, but your gut instinct rarely will!
As Landlords and Investors ourselves, we can help and advise on all aspects of your portfolio. If you would like to find out more about our HMO management, student property management or portfolio asset management then give us a call on 0117 440 6789 or email us here together we can make being a landlord simple, passive and stress free!
