Tipping is a great way to show appreciation and build good relationships with apartment staff. Unfortunately, there's no Emily Post book that clearly outlines the dos and don'ts of tipping for apartment dwellers. With little guidance or definitive rules, it can be hard to know when and how much to tip an individual — whether you're a first-time renter or veteran apartment dweller.
To help you avoid awkward situations and put your mind at ease, we've come up with the complete renter's guide tipping etiquette.
How much you tip depends on a few things:
Knowing who to tip is likely the most challenging part. You don't want to leave a deserving person off the list or tip someone when it's not necessary. Use the list below help guide you.
Not all heroes wear capes, but maintenance staff members should. After all, who do you call when your toilet gets clogged or the air conditioner breaks? Despite coming to tenants' rescue, most renters don't tip their maintenance staff. According to a Rent.com survey, an overwhelming 78 percent of renter's don't tip maintenance.
It's not necessary to tip maintenance staff every time they tighten a bulb or unclog a drain. It is, however, appropriate to give a little extra ($10 to $25) when there's a challenging and/or messy repair or otherwise inconvenient house call, like when you lose your keys and need to get in late at night.
According to the same survey, doormen are the most tipped apartment employees — and it's no surprise. Doormen make your day-to-day life a little better by opening the door when your hands are full and giving you a friendly greeting after a tough day and so much more.
How much you tip depends on the size of the building, the quality of service and how long a staff member has been with the building. Generally speaking, a yearly tip of $25 to $175 during the holidays is enough to show your gratitude for a job well done.
Postal workers make life easy by ensuring all of your Amazon prime packages, bills and birthday cards make it to your front door or mailbox. To show thanks, it's customary to tip your mail carrier during the holidays.
According to law, postal carriers are not allowed to receive cash tips or gifts valued at more than $20. Therefore, if you want to show your appreciation, it's best to give them a small gift, like a $20 Starbucks gift certificate or a sweet holiday treat.
We know what you're thinking, “Why would I pay my landlord or leasing office more money?!" While it's true that your landlord may be making more than you, and only 18 percent of respondents from our recent survey believe giving a landlord a tip is appropriate, there are times in which it's considered standard to give a tip or small gift.
For example, if your landlord also acts as the building's management or your leasing office provided extra help with arranging moving services or other requests, a small gift of appreciation may be warranted. However, it's never required, so this is something you can judge for yourself.
Whether your food comes through Uber or straight from the restaurant, it's your job to tip. MoneyUnder30 says it's best to tip 10 percent, at least $1, and consider adding extra if the weather was bad.
To make it even easier, Uber Eats has now added a tipping feature, so you don't even need to have cash on hand.
Tipping is not a requirement. However, it's a nice way to say thanks for the great service you get from the people that help you day in and day out.
Use this guide to navigate the confusing world of tipping this holiday season and make sure the right people get their little holiday bonus.
Jessica Thiefels is founder and CEO of Jessica Thiefels Consulting and has been writing for more than 10 years. She's been featured in top publications like Forbes and has contributed to Lifehack, Reader's Digest, AARP and more.