Having to evict a tenant for any reason can be a very stressful situation for a landlord. Emotions can run high for both landlord and tenant in such a tense scenario. However, an eviction should not be avoided simply because the landlord does not want to deal with the stress that comes along with it. This can lead to even more damaging situations in which a tenant takes advantage of a landlord by escalating poor behavior or continually breaching the lease agreement without fear of consequences. Here are some tips to help landlords navigate the emotional stress of an eviction.
Accept That You Will Have Feelings Regarding the Eviction
Regardless of your relationship with a tenant, the reasons for needing to evict that person will inevitably lead to tension and heightened emotions. However, having to go through with an eviction is part of your responsibility as a landlord. Just know that it’s natural to feel certain emotions such as guilt, anger, frustration, or sympathy when going through the eviction process.
In certain cases when your tenant has not been able to pay rent but has otherwise been an ideal tenant, or maybe you have known the tenant for a long time, it can be especially difficult to carry through with an eviction. The best approach is to communicate with your tenant using the facts that are cause for an eviction, rather than getting tied up with addressing emotions. Keep contact to a minimum and remember you are only doing your job. At the end of the day, you are running a business and you should not let it feel personal or like an attack on the tenant.
Maintain Your Professionalism
Some tenants can be very difficult during the eviction process, even when they know they have violated terms in the lease agreement or have failed to pay rent on time. They may respond with anger, or possibly try to bully or guilt trip the landlord into allowing them to stay. Although this can be an incredibly frustrating thing to have to deal with, it never ends well if the landlord resorts to anger, or even illegal methods of trying to get the tenant to leave sooner.
The best thing to do is to always maintain your professionalism as a landlord. Reacting to your tenant’s bad behavior could result in doing something that will prolong the eviction process, or even end the possibility of an eviction altogether. No matter how your tenant is acting, always stick to the plan, follow the proper order of procedures, and be as respectful as possible. You will save yourself the stress of a long, drawn out process, or regretting something you said or did in retaliation.
Take the Eviction Process One Step at a Time
If you are already dreading having to evict one of your tenants, it doesn’t do you any good to keep postponing the inevitable because you feel overwhelmed. It’s true, the eviction process is not always easy. However, if you take it one step at a time, you can avoid the feelings of being overwhelmed and flushed with anxiety when you think of all the things you have to do as a whole.
Take the time to familiarize yourself with the eviction process before you dive in. Knowing the exact steps you have to take and preparing a timeline for those things to happen can also help you stay organized and calm throughout the process. It could be as simple as creating a checklist and sticking to the order as strictly as possible. As mentioned earlier, don’t allow your tenant’s behavior to influence your process or timeline. Simply focus on getting through the list and completing each step thoroughly, that way you know you have done everything right the first time around.
Hire a Professional Eviction Services Company
For busy landlords that already have a lot on their plates, evictions can be particularly stressful because it takes time and focus away from other responsibilities. This is especially true when dealing with the often complicated eviction process for Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, & Henderson. One way to avoid the extra workload and anxiety is by enlisting the help of reputable Las Vegas eviction services experts and hiring a professional eviction services company to assist with the eviction. Las Vegas eviction services companies who have licensed process servers can handle serving all of the proper notices, minimize your communication with the tenant, follow up on the status of your eviction, and make sure everything is done quickly, efficiently, and legally.
Once you have professional help on your side, you can go back to focusing on providing quality service to your other tenants and properties. As long as you do your homework and hire a local eviction services company that has a strong track record of success, you can let go of the stress and trust that the professionals have your back. It also takes the pressure off of you as the landlord to have to make sure you are following all of the correct steps throughout the eviction process.
Evicting a tenant is never easy, but following these tips may help you get through a potentially stressful situation without too much anxiety. You will also be more prepared the next time you encounter a similar situation. In any case, an eviction should not be avoided simply because it may seem overwhelming for you as a landlord. It’s important to act quickly, efficiently, and preferably with the help of an experienced eviction services professional.