PropertyManagementMaven: Resident contact information is ALWAYS helpful * GET Cel #s ASAP

http://www.newsmax.com/science/us_cell_phones_only/2009/05/06/211510.html

This AP article acknowledges something that I have been experiencing for several years.  My residents are no longer using land telephone lines.  They use their cel #s and local cable for DSL/internet access.  In rural areas with no DSL, they are using HughesNet for internet and DirectTV for tv reception and may still have no land line if they already have a cel phone since they can get faster internet through HughesNet than telephone dial up.

For this reason, I changed my rental applications several years ago and removed the blanks asking for business and home telephone numbers for applicants and I now ask for their CEL and E-MAIL addresses.  Since their application form follows their application process through the lease preparation to entering their resident information in my PM software when their lease is signed and check for their move-in monies is deposited, I have the only contact information I need at the first contact. 

After entering their lease term information in my PROMAS pm software, I enter their contact information in my PALM software which syncs with my Sprint Centro cel phone....I do not enter their full lease information in my pm software since I use the contact management feature of my cel phone.

When residents call me from their KNOWN cel phone, my cel phone displays their name and calling #; likewise, I have the same information for client/property owners so that I can answer the phone with their name which always seems to surprise them or I can let their call go to voicemail and respond to any message with an e-mail if appropriate or via phone if it is an emergency.

By having this information in my Palm software, I can copy and paste information including their name and address if an envelope is needed!!!

John TENANT

E-Mail johnTENANT@hotmail.com
Mobile 409-1234

Address
Mr. and Mrs. John J. TENANT
My NICEST rental home
Charlottesville, VA 22901

Monthly Rent:: 2495.00
Lease Start: August 1, 2008
Lease End: December 31, 2008
Renewal Date: NONE