The best landlords I work with have earned the local inspector's cell #, as have I, which understandably is a great way to cut through red tape.

I didn't have late payments after that, except very rarely, and usually it would be a couple times a year with students waiting on their next financial aid payment.So, if you get rid of deadbeats, and go ahead and send some type of reminder, it will really cut down the late payments, in my experience.I really resisted reminding people to pay their rent at first, thinking I shouldn't have to be their mommy. 

I tried to reach through text and left a message on his cell phone with no response. 

And people wanted to believe it.BUT, if they quit paying their mortgage and they also aren't paying their cable bill or their cell phone bill, I'd never rent to them.I'd also want stable job history.  

Its not worth the risk to me, tenants that require eviction often have Legal Aid on speed dial.

@Taylor Comer I second the advice about Google voice - free and super useful - you can forward it to your cell, have it be just on answering machine, customize greetings, etc. when the number gets called both my phone and my wife's phone ring and when a message is left I get a text and an email transcript.

I thought about getting headphones but if they cancel out sound, they may prevent me from hearing a sound that I need to hear in the middle of the night or in an emergency like my bell, a smoke alarm or my cell phone etc.

You can also Google that supervisor number they gave you, to see if it's just some guy's cell phone.

I also created one that showed what his income would be for each apartment if they were at market rent, date they moved in, amount of their security deposit, and notes which would include any issues or their expected move-out date, if they had a balance due - when payment was expected (some students relied on financial aid and it would be late occasionally). 

Or at least an acceptance letter or their financial aid award, etc.I'd rather have her money in my account, rather than her attorney's account or some other escrow account I did not have control over.