It’s been over a decade since Apple released the iPhone in 2007. Before that point, this type of technology was relegated to nerdy computer wizards and blackberry balling CEO’s. Fast forward to 2020, and 81% of all adult Americans own a smartphone. The world and how we live in it has changed a lot since then, with business being no exception. With all the capability of a computer, and sometimes more, entire businesses are being run on smartphones, and to great success.

Read on to learn how you can revolutionize your own property management business through the power of smartphone technology.

Keep Tabs on the Fly

Imagine yourself, out in the field, paying a visit to one of your rental properties. You run into a tenant from a different unit, just down the hall. She mentions that the toilet has been leaking and is wondering if you can come check it out. You apologize, letting her know that you don’t have time today but you’ll make a note of it. And you do. A mental note. Fast forward several hours and you are back at home, enjoying dinner with your family, blissfully unaware that you’ve completely lost that info to the bustle of your brain, likely for forever.

It’s happened to all of us – and with the human brain processing over 6,000 thoughts per day – who can blame us? No one can be expected to keep something so small top of mind all day long. And with the technology available today, we don’t have to.

The best thing about using your smartphone for your business is that it’s with you at all times. Meaning you can make updates, notations, and set reminders for yourself in real time as things happen. There are several ways of achieving this, from simply using notes, to downloading a cloud storage app like Microsoft OneDrive or Google Docs, to investing in actual property management software. Whatever you decide, making sure it is available in the palm of your hand at a moment’s notice is key to taking control of your business.

Stay in the Know

In the age of technology, notification culture already has an established place in our daily lives. All day we are prompted to action in the form of little red dots or icons, signaling us that something is new. It’s time to harness that power for your own business.

In most property management software you will have the option to activate notifications for anything from when you receive payment to a new maintenance request and much more. These real time updates allow you to stay 100% informed and current on your business activity.

And landlords aren’t the only ones who benefit from this tech. Tenants will also appreciate notifications like “rent due in 2 days” or even “rent past due”. Not only can this practice greatly reduce the number of late payments you receive, but could also be perceived as a kind and honest gesture, further strengthening your client relationship and ultimately reducing turnover in your properties.

Activate the Power of Automation

While notifications, especially those signaling your tenants to pay rent, can be great – the purpose is nearly defeated if you still have to remember to send them. By taking the time on the front end to automate certain processes from your mobile device, you save yourself loads of time on a daily basis that would be spent on minute tasks. Here are a few examples of how you can harness the power of automation.

Messaging. Any type of landlord-to-tenant communication can be automated. This includes rental reminders, lease updates, and even the status of maintenance requests. Because you are using mobile technology, these messages will go directly into the hands of your desired audience.

Recordkeeping. When it comes to property management software, hands-free recordkeeping has to be one of the absolute top perks. Because your tenants are paying through a managed portal, every move and transaction is automatically tracked. No bursting accordion file of receipts or hand-written calculus required. Not only does this save you time and keep you accurate, but it also allows more transparency for the benefit of the tenant. On their own, they will have visibility to the payment history and can use it for their own notation.

Autopay. The best part of offering online payments just got better. Tenants will no doubt appreciate the ability to make rental payments online, but once you make it automated, it’s a win for all parties. Property management software makes it easy for renters to “set and forget” by activating an autopay feature. This is a perfect option for the person on-the-go, as changes can be made at any time through the software app.

Get Smart About Your Business

There’s a chance that, until you read this article, you had no idea what opportunity you were missing out on in the mobile game. The possibilities are endless when it comes to how you can better streamline your business through smartphone technology. From notifications to automation, there is a whole world of tools out there ready to optimize your workflow, saving you time, money, and headache. And there’s nothing dumb about that.