Do you connect with your tenants on Social Media?

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Steve L.
Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
14y

Why setup a unique email, gmail has a cool feature you can give out a unique email.

Say your email is [email protected]

[email protected] goes to your main email

So you could give them all a "unique" email without setting up tons of email boxes.

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  • Steve L.
    Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
    14y

    I don't. I am mostly known as just a property manager and want to keep it that way.

    1Reply
  • Greg B.
    Homeowner · Burleson, TX · Member since 2008 · 756 posts · 376 votes
    14y

    I had one on FB for a while, didn't like it, too familiar. Closest I get now is texting.

    0Reply
  • Jon Klaus
    OP
    Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    14y

    Speaking of texting, some of my tenants use it almost exclusively. I kind of like it.

    0Reply
  • Geoffrey Murphy
    Real Estate Investor · Hartford, CT · Member since 2011 · 222 posts · 17 votes
    14y

    Yes, i agree Steve. I just say that im the property manager and keep it like that. I found out that you really have to just keep it business at all times with MOST tenants....LOL

    Some may FB but i usually just dont accept or decline so i dont seem like a jerk, =)

    0Reply
  • Jon Klaus
    OP
    Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    14y

    Another slant on the question is are you marketing for tenants via social media?

    0Reply
  • Bienes Raices
    Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes
    14y

    No, but I do text with them. My FB privacy settings are friends and F of F so I'm not sure they could find me anyway.

    0Reply
  • Kyle Meyers
    Residential Landlord · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2010 · 592 posts · 138 votes
    14y

    I'll look them up on facebook, but I don't friend them. I have a business relationship with my tenants, not a personal one. I don't want them to see everything on my facebook and I assume they feel the same way. I check what is public, but everyone is entitled to their privacy.

    As for texting, I prefer to text tenants than to call, that way I can look back at what each of us said.

    2Reply
  • Jon Klaus
    OP
    Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    14y

    I agree on the business relationship. I'm not yet a Facebooker, but I do use LinkedIn completely for business.

    At the same time, I do have personal relationships with some of my tenants, just like I do with some of my business clients.

    0Reply
  • James Martin
    Property Management · Memphis, TN · Member since 2009 · 667 posts · 362 votes
    14y

    As of now we don't, but I would love to connect with my tenants thru a Facebook Rent Payment App!

    2Reply
  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    14y

    They know my property manager that lives on site.They know me the owner by my first name when I have been out there and that is it.

    Official notices are sent to my attorneys address.

    I like to keep things business and my other life personal. I do have clients that are friends but I do not connect with tenants that way.

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    0Reply
  • McKellar Newsom
    Real Estate Investor · Chattanooga, TN · Member since 2009 · 191 posts · 47 votes
    14y

    I prefer to let my property managers communicate with most of my tenants; however, I like to work with my local section 8 tenants to speed up the process.

    0Reply
  • Shanequa J.
    Realtor · Houston, TX · Member since 2011 · 916 posts · 296 votes
    14y

    I'm "friends" with my tenant, however, I think sometimes she uses that to her advantage. For my next rentals, I will tell them I'm the property manager not the owner. I also won't get so buddy-buddy. I don't connect with them through social media because I don't have any accounts.

    0Reply
  • Steve Delaney
    Real Estate Investor · Dedham, MA · Member since 2012 · 1 post · 2 votes
    14y

    I set up a free gmail account for each building, 123mainst@gmail for example. It works great for my building in Boston where the tenants are mostly 20 -30 year old young professionals.

    I collect their email when they move in and i find they are more comfortable communicating via email. I also find they let me know about issues a lot faster, washer not working, light bulbs out in the common area etc.. ( we manage the building ourselves).

    This is my first post. I really enjoy this site.

    2Reply
  • Tod R.
    Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    14y
    Originally posted by Steve Delaney:
    I set up a free gmail account for each building, 123mainst@gmail for example. It works great for my building in Boston where the tenants are mostly 20 -30 year old young professionals.

    I collect their email when they move in and i find they are more comfortable communicating via email. I also find they let me know about issues a lot faster, washer not working, light bulbs out in the common area etc.. ( we manage the building ourselves).

    This is my first post. I really enjoy this site.

    Steve, I like this approach. Especially if you are just starting out and you don't have too many properties to have to manage a separate email for each.

    Texting is the preferred method for both of my tenants. I prefer email unless it's urgent.

    Unfortunately, I've not jumped into Social Media...except for BP of course!

    BTW, Welcome to BP Steve

    0Reply
  • Tod R.
    Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    14y
    Originally posted by Shanequa J.:
    I'm "friends" with my tenant, however, I think sometimes she uses that to her advantage. For my next rentals, I will tell them I'm the property manager not the owner. I also won't get so buddy-buddy. I don't connect with them through social media because I don't have any accounts.

    Another approach is to let the tenants know that you are ONE of the owners, and you have to answer to the other(s). This will let them know that you are someone to be taken seriously. Also, it allows you to put any "uncomfortable" issues on your partners, good cop/bad cop. Even an individual owner of real estate has to answer to someone, or some group (bank, spouse, heirs, etc).

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Real Estate Investor · Little Elm, TX · Member since 2012 · 8 posts · 1 vote
    14y
    Originally posted by Tod Radford:
    Even an individual owner of real estate has to answer to someone, or some group (bank, spouse, heirs, etc).

    I learn something new every time I'm here. :) I'll let my wife be the "other owner".

    As for social media... I'm only on LinkedIn with my current career in I.T. I feel that connecting with tenants through social media would be counter-productive to maintaining a business relationship. I can see it now...the tenant posts pictures of that wild party...ya know... the one that put those holes in the walls and busted out the patio door.

    I would be ok with email, but only in the form of reporting issues, not for spreading the latest virus alert and joke of the day.

    1Reply
  • Steve L.
    Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
    14y

    Why setup a unique email, gmail has a cool feature you can give out a unique email.

    Say your email is [email protected]

    [email protected] goes to your main email

    So you could give them all a "unique" email without setting up tons of email boxes.

    3Reply
  • Ryan Pyle
    Multifamily Investor · Toledo, OH · Member since 2008 · 296 posts · 308 votes
    14y

    I am not friends with my tenants on FB. However if a tenant becomes late on rent the first thing I do is check their FB page. Most of them do not have their privacy settings set up, so you can see whatever they put out there even if you aren't friends with them. One time a tenant told me he was having financial problems and would be late with rent. I checked his FB page only to find that he was on vacation in Florida. He was promptly evicted.

    As for texting, I prefer it. It gives me a chance to be more thoughtful with my responses.

    2Reply
  • Tod R.
    Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    14y
    Originally posted by Steve L.:
    Why setup a unique email, gmail has a cool feature you can give out a unique email.

    Say your email is [email protected]

    [email protected] goes to your main email

    So you could give them all a "unique" email without setting up tons of email boxes.

    Hey Steve L., can you tell me where to do this in google?

    0Reply
  • Mark UpdegraffBusiness Member
    Real Estate Broker · Rochester, NY · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 688 votes
    14y

    I don't use FaceBook that much personally, and a tenant has never "friended" me there. I set up a dedicated business account that ideally would (if I cared) handle any tenant interactions.

    Yes on Linked in, because it is built to be a professional network. I run my business openly and ethically, so I'm not worried about anything. If they want to connect, great! Hopefully I'll end up giving them a good reference as tenants, and visa versa.

    I use Yelp. Not afraid there either. Not many review yet though. Tenants just can't be bothered... even when you go way above and beyond for them.

    Yes on Twitter (business account) but sometimes my political views get me in trouble on that front. I don't believe I should have to mask my opinions for fear of tenant dissatisfaction... but the customer is always right? Anyway, maybe I'll use an alter ego on twitter for the 2012 commentary... but for now, whatevs!

    Tenant communication is important. I like to keep it light, and let them know what I've been up to. See how things are going with them, etc. I feel an open dialog is key. Otherwise tenants will mistake niceness with weakness. We all know where that ends! The courthouse!!

    Mark

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    1Reply
  • Cheryl C.
    Investor · Reston, VA · Member since 2011 · 683 posts · 191 votes
    14y

    This bit one of my tenants in the rear. I'm not that into facebook, etc. A couple years ago I discovered it and was "on" for a short time. My tenant, who was not to have any pets, posted a number of pic's of her "rescue dog". Needless to say, the ceiling came down on her.

    1Reply
  • Steve L.
    Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
    14y

    Tod Radford no setup required Google handles it automatically.

    0Reply
  • Tod R.
    Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    14y

    Thanks Steve L. I just tried this and it worked perfectly. I emailed myself from another address and literally typed "radyakllc+test.gmail.com". However, I didn't see that it included "test". Is there any way to see that so I would know the which property the email came from?

    0Reply
  • George P.
    Property Manager · Livonia, MI · Member since 2011 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    14y

    99% texting. no social media with them.

    0Reply
  • Greg D.
    Investor · Tewksbury, MA · Member since 2010 · 59 posts · 17 votes
    14y

    Text with a Google Voice #, it emails you all the texts and creates a great paper trail.

    I created a new FB account (First_Middle name) that I "friend" all my tenants with. It's nice to have a heads up on parties, employment, and occasional pictures of the apartment.

    0Reply
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