Improve Tenant Experience with Property Management Software

Posted by Anuj Singh on May 15, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Property Management Software

As every landlord knows, the last thing you want to have are tenants leaving because they have some gripe about their living accommodations or experience with you as a property manager. Finding a replacement tenant is not only time consuming, but also expensive. It’s not just lost rental income that’s at stake, but the hassle of repainting the apartment and spending money on advertising to find a new tenant.

The best way to avoid this– not surprisingly –is to keep your tenants happy by, as the marketing folks say, improving their “customer experience."

On the market today, there’s an array of products to choose from to help you do this. Some property management software is even free to use, so you don’t need to break the bank to offer a modern experience. The features you need are likely covered by a platform, but there are a handful that always make the running of an apartment building both easy and, more importantly, pretty much guarantee to make your renters happy.

 

The Changing Demographics of Renters

Today’s tenant is a very different person than those of just a decade ago. Many are millennials who grew up when tablets replaced baby rattlers, and when smartphones were considered one of life’s indisputable necessities.

These tech-savvy tenants expect things to be done digitally. That means everything, including their interaction with landlords. If you still only accept rent with a check and accept call-in maintenance requests, you might as well install a dial telephone and coal burning stove in their apartment because, to them, it's about as dated.

Property Management Software Makes for Happy Tenants

Here are some of the features offered by most property management software providers. They help streamline many routine tasks, organize them for easy access and help tenants interface with management in a simple and convenient way.

 

Rent payment online

Almost all financial transactions today can be done online, including paying rents. Virtually all of these software programs offer an easy means for tenants to pay their rent the way they want to: digitally.

Landlords no longer have to sift through the mail for checks or run to the bank every few days. Online rent payment is a “win-win” for everyone.

 

Automatic payments online

Better yet, you can offer your tenants an even easier way of paying rent by automatically deducting it from their bank accounts. This is the way many people pay their bills, particularly younger folks, so automatic rent deductions will align with the way they do things already.

 

Automatic online reminders

If a tenant needs a little nudge about paying their rent, automatic reminders kick-in and send them an email or text saying their payment is late. While this feature may not make tenants happy, it will certainly please landlords. And its better than pinning a note on the tenant’s door.

Automatic remainders are also used for more routine communications such as telling tenants that garbage is collected on Tuesday, that large packages shouldn’t be left blocking the mailboxes or that drum lessons must stop at 10:00 pm.

 

Pay rent with a debit or credit card

Our society is fast becoming a paper-money-less one. Many stores have already stopped taking cash. If you really want to make your tenant happy, let them pay their rent with plastic.

These are just a few of the features that property management software products offer that are sure to make your tenants happy campers. Remember: a happy tenant is much less likely to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

 

Anuj-Singh

Anuj has been in real estate for 4 years. He works in marketing at Innago, a rental management platform for small to mid-size landlords and often writes about various aspects of the industry. He loves learning and talking about real estate with other passionate individuals!

 

Topics: Property Management

Learn About Our Loan Programs

Most Popular

Disclaimers: Please note that our blog contains affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, Visio Lending will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please understand that we have experience with all of the companies we recommend, and choose to refer our borrowers and partners because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

 

The information in this blog has been prepared solely for informational purposes. The contents are based upon or derived form information generally believed to be reliable although Visio accepts no liability with regard to the user's reliance on it. For legal advice, please contact your counsel.