Effective communication with your tenants is needed if you want to be a successful Katy rental property owner. But with all the choices you have, how do you determine the best method of communication? Landlords can now text, email, and call their tenants but which of these are appropriate for a given situation? You have to tackle this question since it is not only about making your tenants comfortable and up to date. The more important issues to consider are financial and legal.
Texting
Many tenants and property owners love the ease and convenience of texting. For just checking in and keeping the lines of communication open with your tenant, texting is the way to go. Moreover, different messaging platforms offer services beyond the text. Tenants can send photos to help you schedule repairs. This is very convenient for both parties.
But texting has its limitations. Number one of this is how to save or track or save your conversations. As a property owner, be wary of disagreements or legal issues, so be on the safe side and document your conversations with your tenant. Never delete even one message since the time you started texting.
Along with saving messages, tenants could abuse this privilege and just text you anytime they like. If you use a personal or business cellphone, some tenants expect to be able to text you anytime they want and get upset when you don’t reply to them right away. Weigh these things properly before you decide to use texting to get in touch with tenants.
Phone Calls
Communicating with tenants over the phone is very pleasant and more personal. Verbal conversation in real-time is still the best. By consistently talking to your tenants over the phone, you build a good working relationship with them and thus will be able to communicate your concern for their well-being effectively. This would translate to a longer stay for your tenants on your rental.
But just like texting, it is difficult to document your conversations with your tenants through phone calls. Most likely, when disputes arise regarding liability issues or sensitive information, documenting these is a must. It would also be a hassle since tenants would expect you to answer the phone every time they call. If you do decide to get away with it and tenants find themselves in their landlord’s voicemail, they will be discouraged to call you in the future.
Email seems to be the best between texting and phone calls. It is a relatively convenient method of communication, as most people use and are comfortable with email. One of the advantages of using email is that you will no longer have problems with documentation as conversations with your tenants are all saved. Another advantage of email is that it gives you time to think carefully before you write and respond to a tenant’s question or complaint. You can send documents and other attachments through email, plus they are date-and-time stamped. All this information is very important for record purposes.
The downside of email however is that it’s not as fast or convenient as texting and some tenants prefer not to write everything through email. Most people, don’t check their emails, so your messages just pile up in their inboxes leaving you waiting for a reply that does not come. Email also lacks the personal touch and it can be difficult to convey your message in a warm and friendly way.
Regardless of the method you use, your correspondence with your tenant must be frequent, friendly, secure, and properly documented. Finally, it is best to discuss with your tenants which communication methods you both like and will use frequently.
Tenant communication can be a challenging aspect of owning rental properties in Katy. But Real Property Management West can help! We can contact tenants for you and you can be assured that your tenants are well taken care of. You can then free up your schedule and rest easy to get that good night’s sleep. For more information, contact us online or call us at 832-532-9800.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
