Rent collection is never fun. Not only do you have to contact your tenants, but you also have to keep chasing them up if they're late. And if they're constantly non-compliant, then you'll have to evict them and go through the process of attracting new renters.
It doesn't always have to be such a nightmare though. There are some smart ways to make rent collection less painful. Read on for some strategies you should use to get payments on time, and with less stress too.
Start With a Clear Lease Agreement
This might be too late to do with current renters, but rethinking your lease agreements can help immensely in the future.
A solid contract will include a clear outline of:
- Rent amount
- Due date
- Late fees or penalties for missed payments
You'll also want to specify your preferred payment methods. Provide any required account information too, so your tenants can access this information easily.
When you have a transparent lease agreement, not only can you collect rent more easily, but rent increases won't be as shocking either.
Offer Automated Payments
Automatic bank transfers have been around for a long time now, so there's no excuse for not having them available for your tenants. This will be a huge weight off of everyone's shoulders, as your renters won't have to remember to manually transfer money every month.
Automated payments go hand-in-hand with online payment options. For example, portals will allow tenants to set up automated payments, while they can't do the same if they pay with cash.
Send Reminders
Those who don't want to automate rent payments will probably need some extra help. Sending reminders might sound like a hassle, but with today's technology, it doesn't have to be.
You can send out emails, text messages, or push notifications from online payment platforms. This can all be done conveniently from your devices, no matter where you are.
Offer Incentives
You can punish renters with fees if they submit late payments, but you can also go the other way and reward them for being punctual. And in most cases, rewards work much better than punishments.
You don't have to lose out much to make this work either; a small $20 discount will suffice.
Use a Property Management Company
To make things easy, you should use a property management company. Professionals (such as PMI Space Coast) can take care of every little detail so you live a stress-free life.
In addition to rent collection, we can also perform other services, such as property marketing, tenant screening, and evictions. You can sit back and enjoy a steady stream of revenue without doing all the hard work yourself.
Ensure Efficient Rent Collection With Our Tips
Rent collection can be such a landlord's nightmare that it's enough for them to quit. However, if you implement our tips, you won't have such a tough time.
The key thing is to use a property management company. That way, you won't have to deal with issues on your own.
For property management services in Melbourne, contact PMI Space Coast today. We offer a free, no-obligation rental analysis with consultation.
