How to avoid landlords' misfortunes?
We all know that landlords get misfortunes. However, some tenants have low expectations of landlords. Maybe because there are unsolved problems like;
- Having to wait long periods for repairs.
- Turbulent neighbors that aren’t delt with.
- Regular shortage of water.
- No maintenance.
That aside, being a landlord is not a simple job and tenants are often unenviable for the work you have done. In Trinidad and Tobago, there are many rental apartments that people choose to live in, since it’s well known for African and Indian cultures.
Suppose you are a new landlord and some issues arise from your tenants; what steps will you take to ensure that it is solved and delt with fairly?
Below are a few guidelines to follow:
Here's the plan
1
Problem definition
On occasions, solving a problem seems way too big to address. However, if you put your mind and concentration on that issue, you may find that the task will be dealt with more efficiently. Let’s say your estate is facing a problem with water shortage. One must first find the major cause of the problem and find out how soon it can be rectified. Given that the situation may take a while to be solved, one can also come up with secondary solutions to temporarily fix the situation. e.g., set up several water tanks. Remember, one must be calm and ready to listen to what your tenants have to say.
Keep these few terms in mind next time a situation arises;
• Problem identification.
• Problem analysis.
• Problem description.
• A solution
2
Looking for root causes
This is where the landlord asks questions to collect enough data. Who might have caused the problem? Or what might have conspired? One of the major aspects of a well-principled leader is to come up with solutions that people can still use in the future. Remember that a root cause takes time to fix and should not be put to the sidelines or use secondary solutions to fix them to avoid the hassle of the root cause, weigh all causes with care.
3
Brainstorming all solutions
This is the most critical and sensitive step you as a landlord can ever think of. Failure to be keen, you may end up solving these issues wrongly. Creativity and innovation are highly valued in this stage, as you need to exhaust all possible ideas that flaunt your brain and evaluate them accordingly. List any form of a solution that pops up without hesitation.
4
Developing alternate solutions by eliminating weak options
Stare at your list and evaluate it as you remove those that seem unrealistic. These alternate solutions help you as the landlord to bring this problem to an end. Creating consensus around maybe one to four solutions will be the best option for all involved. After you’ve known which solutions to put in place, rank them based on efficiency and. Having a good internalization will help you decide which is the best solution regarding the matter.
5Solution implementation
Before you implement the solution, plan. Exhausting all weaknesses in the idea is the best path to decide to go. Similarly, you must have a system put in place to check and detect the failure of the solution. Knowing whether the plan has worked as expected should be your next thought in mind. Therefore, any landlord must address any issues by tenants and come up with the best solution to solve them.
