If anyone had told me a few years ago that a simple text message was the future of rent collection, I probably would have laughed my socks off. Not because I am a technophobe—I love gadgets and new phones just like lots of people—but because SMS seems such a crazy way of communicating with tenants. But the world is changing and in order to stay one step ahead of the game, we need to adapt.
So how can SMS revolutionise the life of a landlord?
Well according to one news report I read this morning, a large number of estate and letting agents are coming around to the idea of embracing modern technology as a way of making life easier. Instead of writing letters or emails to tenants who have fallen behind with the rent, SMS is a quick and convenient way of communicating with the tenant and reminding them that their rent is overdue.
Of course, when you think about it, using SMS is a no-brainer. Everyone and their dog owns a mobile phone these days, whereas not everyone checks email or bothers to open the post thanks to the volume of SPAM and junk mail we are bombarded with on a daily basis. However, sending a polite SMS can often elicit a quick response from the tenant and the landlord can manage payment problems far more quickly. SMS has other advantages, too: it can also be used to contact prospective tenant if you have a soon to be vacant property that matches their requirements.
