Landlords: gift for your tenants?

[aspentosh]

Our tenants have been awesome (knock on wood). I am thinking about getting them a little Christmas gift to say "thanks". Would this be crazy?

If you have given something, care to share what it was?

[ECB]

Having BEEN a tenant - honestly, it would make me feel like I had to reciprocate and it would annoy me. I have a small list of people I get gifts for and I simply dont' want to expand it, much less for a landlord who I really have no personal relationship with.

[Deleted]

Our landlords gave us a box of Licorice Allsorts a few days after Christmas that were clearly a regift.

I hate Licorice Allsorts. So don't go that route. I don't think it's weird to give them a box of chocolates or a $10 bottle of wine to say thanks, and it wouldn't make me feel like I had to reciprocate.

[shortstax]

I'd send a card and put something in there about "thanks for being wonderful tenants."

Actually, one of my landlords sent us a bottle of champagne and a very nice "thank you" card after we moved out of his rental. We lived there 3 years and only saw him a handful of times, but it stuck with me.

He basically just said thanks for being amazing tenants and good luck on your future endeavors.

It was such a nice sentiment and I've actually referred people to his properties since then.

[soozy87]

Our landlord gave us a $25 giftcard to a local grocery store last year. We thought it was nice!

[Deleted]

I think a card and $25 off January's rent would be the best way to go.

[LoveTrains]

Yeah no. I do not give a gift to my tenant. My gift is I have not raised his rent in two years. His gift is that he pays on time.

win/win.

[aspentosh]

Dec 12, 2012 9:48:57 GMT -5 swizzlestx said:

I don't think you need to, but I also don't think it's weird.

As a self-proclaimed awesome tenant, I wouldn't feel like I needed to reciprocate and would appreciate the gesture and thus feel more compelled to keep being an awesome tenant.

This was my exact thought. I would never expect reciprocation but they have been great. So much so that the A/C went out in August and they dealt with 90 degree weather for a few days before contacting us to see if we had any "secrets".

Unfortunately I don't know if the bottle of wine is an option since they are both males in their low to mid 20s.

[Deleted]

Wow, that is really nice of you.

What about giving them a $25 (or however much you were going to spend) break on their January rent? They'd probably appreciate that just as much or more than a random gift, and you wouldn't have to worry about whether it was something they'll enjoy.

[mbcdefg]

I think that a card, with a note inside that mentions that you appreciate them being such good tenants, is plenty.

If you really want to give something, bake them some cookies.

[WOT?*]

My former landlord, that I loved to pieces, owned a candy distribution company and would give us a "Christmas tree" made of chocolate and filled with chocolate and candy.

[joenali]

I would never think that our landlords would give us a gift. Totally unnecessary.

[StJess80]

I live in a complex, and we get a card and a few little treats on our door. They also do that for birthdays, thanksgiving, easter, etc.

[mellymel]

No. 1) It's a business relationship, and I've learned my lesson about being overly friendly to tenants so I'm probably just jaded; 2) I already have too many people to buy for; 3) I already take a big loss each month on my rental property due to market conditions anyway and gifting tenants just feels like a bigger loss.

I'm kind of grinchy about this one.

[bugandbibs]

We always give our renters movie tickets.

[boiler717]

I had received advice from a good landlord to send a bottle of wine at move-in and Christmas. He runs a ton of businesses, including a big research organization. He randomized his tenants into ones he gave gifts to and those he didn't and received fewer complaints from those he gave gifts to so now everyone gets gifts.

Our tenants are a woman and her teenage daughter so I'm dropping off a box with a popcorn, movie candy, and a redbox GC

[hbomdiggity]

Dec 12, 2012 10:29:16 GMT -5 mellymel said:

No. 1) It's a business relationship

You know lots of businesses give gifts at Christmas right? It's not required, but it can definitely be good for business development.

[Deleted]

My landlord in law school used to give us a bottle of wine/ liquor at the holidays. Extra nice since it was right after finals :- )

[rubytue]

I was thinking about sending our tenants a small gift card. More as a "thanks for putting up with my scatterbrainedness when the lease renewal, Sandy, and my major medical issues all came up at the same time and I dropped the ball on the lease"

[audette]

As a tenant who has had a variety of landlords, I'd say no gift is neccessary (we've never received one). I think I'd be a bit confused if we were to get a gift, to be honest.

If you want to give them something, stick with something small, maybe a starbucks gift card or a six pack of nice beer (maybe a sampler pack of local brews, if that's an option). Something small shows appreciation without creating the need/desire to reciprocate...

[knitty]

It's crossing the line. Reciprocate for their good tenantship by being a good landlord.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I'm with Trains. I give nothing. I leave them alone & undercharge rent (which I don't mind because they don't bug me & take care of my property). It works so far.

[cosmowife]

When I moved in (so not a holiday, but whatever), my landlord got me a nice bottle of wine. It was much appreciated!

[countthestars]

Is there anything in the house that could use updating? So it would be for the property but will also benefit them (new air conditioner, microwave)?

I live in a big complex but there were some issues when we first moved in since it was new construction and we received a $100 grocery store GC for our patience. It was very much appreciated.

[mellymel]

Dec 12, 2012 11:06:06 GMT -5 hbomdiggity said:

Dec 12, 2012 10:29:16 GMT -5 mellymel said:

No. 1) It's a business relationship

You know lots of businesses give gifts at Christmas right? It's not required, but it can definitely be good for business development.

Of course I realize this. Way to take one phrase out of my post and refer to it slightly out of context.

[jewel]

I do, if they've been good tenants. I just dropped off a gift yesterday - a Starbucks gift basket from Costco (reusable cold cups, coffee, tea, etc) with a $25 Starbucks gift card attached.

I hope my tenants feel appreciated by us, and not that we're weirdos.

[isabel]

Our landlord got us this cute candy jar in the shape of an ornament last year, plus a bottle of wine. They gave us a similar small gift for Christmas the year before, and a present for our wedding. I've never felt like I needed to reciprocate, but I definitely appreciate the gesture. I know they love having us as tenants and want to express that.

[dapotato]

things we received from our last, awesome landlords for various occasions:
nice wine
tower o' ghirardelli stuff (obvs from a gift basket place, but it wasn't hickory farms!)
movie theatre GCs
target GCs

[CloudBee]

Do it! I like the suggestion of a card and X amount off of January's rent. Or gift cards.

[macmars45]

My senior year of college I live in a house with 11 other girls. Our landlord live OOS but came to check the property right before finals week fall and spring semesters. He always brought candy, chips, and fruit snacks for all of us. It was really nice.