You want on my PREFERRED Vendor List? Better have a SMART Phone & Know How to Text

By
Property Manager with Gibson Management Group, Ltd.

5 years ago, I had a client who was going on vacation and wanted me to TEXT him when I secured a tenant for his rental home....I HAD NO CLUE so he told me what to do and I entered his full mobile phone # in my Google contacts and the rest - as they say - is HISTORY.

Fast forward to 8-10 inch snow storm in Virginia of last Wednesday and as power, internet (land lines) were OUT and roads were impassible, I remained in business.

My PREFERRED tree guy lives further into the country than I do and he lost POWER and INTERNET.  He was out of business for 3 days - not getting my texts and e-mails.

TREE GUY * OUT OF BUSINESS for 3 DAYS * DURING A WEATHER EVENT * CAUSING MASSIVE TREE DAMAGE

I heard from him last night that he was BACK IN BUSINESS. YIKES! I've been giving him business for 3 days via texts to his smartphone.....if he had no electricity in his HOUSE, why didn't he have a CAR (truck) charger OR take his laptop and smart phone to the nearest FREE wi-fi?

I had to get batteries for my computer mouse yesterday and went to our local Radio Shack...they have an ENTIRE WALL of CAR (truck) chargers on display.

...guess I better be adding DO YOU HAVE A CAR (truck) CHARTER? to my questions to new vendors right after DO YOU HAVE A SMART PHONE? and DO YOU TEXT?

I'm in BUSINESS to HANDLE EMERGENCIES for my clients....I need vendors who will do the same.

 

Posted by

Wallace S. Gibson is a Certified Property Manager with over 50 years of property management experience and expertise.  She maintains a specialized property management business in Central Virginia serving Albemarle, Greene, Fluvanna and Louisa counties  

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"...to be a Virginian, either by Birth, Marriage, Adoption, or even on one's Mother's side, is an Introduction to any State in the Union, a Passport to any Foreign Country, and a Benediction from the Almighty God...." Anonymous

 

Comments (3)

Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

OMG, that is horrible Wallace. sometimes it makes you wonder what they did for 3 days with no response....

Mar 09, 2013 08:58 PM
Richard Burge Realty/ Burge Homes
Richard Burge Realty/Burge Homes - Conway, SC
Broker in Charge/Owner

My smart phone has a feature that I like.  It has a microphone that lets you speak your text messages and it sends what you spoke into it.   Great ...  only be sure to read the message before you send it. 

Mar 09, 2013 08:59 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Wallace - Buy a good sized UPS and don't plug much into it.  Only plug cell phones and a couple of other very low electricty usage gadgets. This will help out as long as the nearby cell phone towers are working.

Use other UPS's to plug in other items. 

Mar 09, 2013 10:03 PM