Landlord 101

Los Angeles landlords are not like landlords in other cities. Before you begin your search for a new rental, it helps to understand some key things about landlords in L.A. In this post, we give you some quick tips on how to communicate with them.

When leaving a message. Try to leave as much information as possible while being brief at the same time.  Keep in mind a landlord may have several properties for lease, so please start with your name, the property address you are calling about, when you are looking to move, when you are available to see the home and repeat your call back number twice.

Remember, the message you are leaving is the first impression the landlord is going to have about you. You want to sound positive and point out the good points about yourself in your message.  The landlord may be bombarded with messages for the property and may only be returning calls from renters who have described themselves as ideal tenants in their message.

If you have great credit, looking to move right away, and other information you think stands out be sure to include it in the message.

Knocking on the Tenant’s Door or Landlord’s Door is a Big No No! If the landlord has not returned your call within a couple of hours of leaving a message, don’t go knocking on his door or the tenant’s door – especially if there is a sign on the property that says DO NOT DISTURB TENANT! There is a fine line between follow-up and pestering.  Definitely do not leave several messages in one day. Be positive and know your message will be returned once it’s heard.  If it has been more than 24 hours and you would like to follow up with the message you left, remember to be polite and try not to sound irritated because your call has not been returned.  Start your second message by saying how excited you are about the property. You may say that if the property has been rented you would appreciate a call back so you can take it off your list of prospects.

Investigate. Before you make that second call to the landlord you should do your own investigating. Drive by the neighborhood during the day and then go back in the evening.  If you rely on public transportation you will want to make sure its location is walkable to stops.

Be respectful. When the landlord does return your call, be respectful, even if it takes him 24 hours to get back to you. Be ready with your list of questions to ask so you can decide if you are still interested in making an appointment to see the property.  Be sure to have read the ad carefully so you are not asking questions that were clearly posted.