Yes, I have office hours!! * 24/7

Bob - If I am not in my office, the office is closed....I roll alone!!! My owners and current tenants know to e-mail me.  If they call, it shows up with their name on my cel # as they are in my Palm "contacts"....during rental season which started last week, I answer calls up to about 7PM and on weekends if caller ID shows out of area phone # and if I don't catch the call in time, my outgoing VM actually gives my office hours and web site in the message.   If someone leaves a message with a property inquiry, I return their call immediately.

I DO NOT answer the phone during NASCAR races on Sunday or Saturday night....

Diane - pre-qualifying on the phone/e-mail and then in person or with application paperwork is the way to go.  When I provide applications at the actual property showing, the prospects NEVER have all of the information to fill in the blanks and are usually totally unprepared to answer the questions.  I don't want to wait while they complete them so I suggest they complete and fax to my office.

I have NEVER seen half of my residents....we did lease via e-mail and snail mail, they paid money up front, I left keys under the front mat for their arrival and they mail rent checks in payment envelopes I provide!

Diane - I like "showing days".....interesting concept. Thanks

B * I remember that discussion in Denver.  I was at the baggage carouselat the Richmond Airport that Sunday and learned that Dale Earnhart #3 had crashed at Daytona!!!

Since I "roll alone"...when I am not in my office, the office space is closed and locked; however, I can be reached by e-mail and cel phone....I'm available, just not in my office.  I am surprised when people want to "drop by" to see me...good luck.  If they don't know the car I am driving that day, they may park, hike up a flight of stairs and down the hall to have no one answer the door.

Even when I am IN my office - my desk can be seen through the glass front door - my office door is locked for security proposes and I can open the door if I know who is on the other side.

I have move-in monies sent to me FedEx marked NO SIGNATURE REQUIRED and FedEx (#11 * Denny Hamlin from Chesterfield, VA) will slip envelope under my office door so that it is secure.

My drop-bys to pay their rent decreased considerably when fuel prices were high last summer and more resident's are sending their rent USPS delivery confirmation to my po box which is fine if I do not have to sign for the envelope.

When you THINK about why people need to visit your bricks/mortar office, you can think, you can think of 5 + ways to organize your procedures so they do not....and most are more convenient for them.

B * excellent idea...moving and the costs of moving can/should be avoided with technology and de-cluttering.  I'm taking banker boxes home this AM from my office as I am consolidating old files in my basement.  VA RE rules requires me to have last 3 years on site; however, the rest can be stored elsewhere.

I'm also culling old leases into last years box so I only have current leases in files in my office files.  This way, I never buy new file cabinets.

I went to remote bank/rent deposit late last year so I need my check scanner on my desk; however, that is being decluttered as I type and files put in storage.

I don't buy paper by the box - only by the reem now and I only stock 1 replacement set of ink cartridges - luckily, my 3 printers take all the same so storage is not an issue.

I don't print my quarterly newsletters any more so storing those will cease and I am removing all issues to my basement and those bookshelves will be put to use.

I'll be advising clients of my new outside AR blog... www.propertymanagementmaven.com on my PROMAS statements for April and I'll put it on the 5th line of my return property address on my envelopes...3 lines are my address, 4th is my website and 5th will be my blog.  I print all of these as needed so this will be easy....

Thank you for reminding me!!

Charles - I have no competition.....my properties are ALL available for previewing on my website with interior photos and floor plans....no "competition" offers this for their tenant prospects....I would rather loose an "old school" rental prospect who comes to my CLOSED office expecting to jaw with me and handle 5 "new school" prospects via my website, e-mail and cel phone.....it is the time value of $$$.  If I had 500+ units, then additional staff would be warrented; however, I manage 120+ quite well with no additional staff...technology is the KEY.