Getting Info From Your Tenant

So, it's here. The day has finally come where you are in charge of the building. You are the landlord. And, your first task is to collect your tenant's information. You need to be able to contact them.

Every single time you talk to your tenants, smile. Never, ever forget to smile.

Collecting information is usually a painless procedure, so there is little to worry about. Keep yourself under control. Know that you are in charge, but don't be a jerk about it. You need to be sure to be firm, but fair and friendly as well.

Stand erect, and speak with confidence. If you lack confidence or are easily intimidated, you will get trampled upon in this business; tenants will they can walk all over you, and, rest assured, they will. So, even if you are a coward, make sure you do not come off as one.

Tenants like, respect, and desire a landlord that knows what he is doing; they desire a landlord who is in control of the situation. Be sure that you are coming off like this. Also, don't forget to smile.

Asking them for their information is easy. Just ask them. That is all there is to it. Sometimes, you will have a tenant who seems very suspicious, as if he thinks you have some ulterior motive for getting his information. For these paranoid types, gently explain the reasons why you need their information. They should understand.

When you ask for their cell phone number, explain kindly that you may need to contact them in the event of an emergency, such as a burglar or a fire.

Let them know that their social security numbers are needed so that you can report their excellent, on-time payments. This information you will need, too, in case you want to check your credit (you should). Also, be sure you are smiling.

If you encounter any resistance, let them know that it is for their own benefit. If they do not want to give out their phone numbers for fear of receiving harassing or telemarketing phone calls, assure them that you will take every precaution you can to keep their number from getting out. And, be sure to smile.

If you simply cannot get the information out of the tenant, then stop. Do not worry about it. There are some battles in life you should pick to fight, and this is not one of them.

Get their information from elsewhere; ask the previous landlord, check with the city, etc. You will be able to gather the rest of their information without much effort from other sources.

After you get their information, put it away in a safe place. Congratulations! That was not too bad, was it?

Cody Scholberg, an expert on landlording, writes for the Commercial Property Management Guide, an excellent source of landlording information. Check out this checklist for choosing good tenants.

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