Developer · Boise, ID · Member since 2009 · 168 posts · 112 votes
How do you guys deal with after hour phone calls? While I want to be reachable if the building is burning down, flooding or other major problem, I want to avoid the calls that can wait a bit or wait until the "office" opens.
Wholesaler · Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2009 · 286 posts · 255 votes
15y
I give my tenants a property info sheet with emergency contact numbers. I also walk through the property with them to show them where the fire extinguishers are, where the breaker panel is, and where the water main shutoff is. There are many repair companies that have people on call 24/7, the utility companies usually do as well.
And unless you have a firetruck you can't do anything productive if you get a 3 am "the house is burning down" phone call.
Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
15y
Once you have enough units you will get them. I have trouble sleeping because of it and it has become a quality of life issue. I am going to look into an answering service.
What do you call urgent? If you charge them, they will be hisitant to call and it might be a call that could save you a lot of money.
Investor · Aurora, CO · Member since 2009 · 200 posts · 74 votes
15y
Two ways to help reduce these phone calls. One is to make sure you let tenants know the difference between emergency and minor issues. Let them know minor issues will be resolved the following day. Print a list for them if you have to. This will help keep them from guessing or using selective memory.
2nd, If you do get "that tenant" that likes to call at 3 am for a minor issue, be sure to call them back at 7am during normal business hours. Chances are they are asleep. While this won't prevent all midnight calls, it does help train your tenants. Just some food for thought.
Developer · Boise, ID · Member since 2009 · 168 posts · 112 votes
15y
Great help! I have 8 units now. One of the buildings is in transition from a sub-prime tenant to a more moderate income tenant. I wish I could have booted most of them when I took over the building but that's not the way it works. So far they've been decent and I've not had late calls but it's something that keeps me awake
Investor · Tewksbury, MA · Member since 2010 · 59 posts · 17 votes
15y
I provide all of my tenants with my Google Voice number. Google Voice allows you to setup business hours and any calls out side of that time frame can either be forwarded to another number or go directly to VM.
San Antonio, TX · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
15y
I find that many experienced property managers train their tenants to call a separate number for emergencies (either contacting them directly, maintenance team, or answering service). Though, they do instruct tenants on exactly what types of scenarios constitute emergency type situations. It seems to be more of a training exercise. Hope that helps!