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Voicemail is Great...But Nothing Beats the Personal Touch and Novel Approach of Answering the Phone~

By Thomas R. Martin Broker/Owner ICPM

Property Manager with Investors Choice Property Management CAL BRE LIC# 01124954

February 28, 2009 02:50 AM

We did it again. For the.....(pause while counting).....let's say "umpteenth" time, we managed to secure a fantastic applicant on one of our homes, even though ours was one of a dozen homes these people were calling on and we were NOT the cheapest rental.

How did we get the applicant over our competitors on Craigslist...what's our secret? It is nothing special, yet in this age of automation where everyone is so dependent on voice mail, perhaps it is somewhat unique. We answer the call. In this case, the caller was transferring here from the Bay Area, called on at least 12 other ads within the previous 24 hours, yet ours was the only company they could get through to, or get a call back from within 2 hours or less.

On this particular day (yesterday), we took the call live, scheduled the showing within the hour, met the applicants, collected their applications, and had them approved for tenancy this morning. Yes, this morning. That is secret #2- we work when there is work to do. We are one of the very few property management companies that will show and process move-ins on the weekend, to be as accommodating as possible for our incoming tenants.

This is just one area where personal, professional property management can really make the difference in a highly competitive market. We have consistently leased properties through superior service, shorter callback times and more flexible appointment scheduling.

I'd blog more, but have to get on the road. It is Saturday morning and we have a move-in to do for yet another satisfied client.

Investors Choice Property Management (ICPM) manages 110 single-family units with the care and diligence our Landlord clients deserve, in a manner that has them referring their friends, co-workers and family members. With over 16 years professional property management experience, our business is 95% word-of-mouth referral, we do NO Sales, we do NOT markup repairs, and pay among the highest referral fees in the industry for management accounts. Visit our website at www.investorschoicepm.com today for more details, and find out what we mean when we say:

“Experience Property Management the Way it Should Be.”

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Wallace S. Gibson, CPM

Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA

LandlordWhisperer

Thomas - kudos for you. I too show vacant properties on the weekends. My office phone number rolls through to my cel phone and I answer it and after a few preliminary questions as to when they need a rental home and plan to move; if they have pets and how far away they are from the property, I'll schedule a viewing. While my vacant properties have local MLS lockboxes on them, I have additional property keys with me in my "bag of tricks" in my car. I arrive prior to the scheduled meeting time, freshen up the property with Carpet Fresh, open the blinds and sweep the porches if leaves have accumulated.

I have properly listing sheets showing my available properties at the property as well as application forms and floor plans of the property....prospects are always amazed that I provide them with this additional information and for areas with complicated street configuration, I provide area maps.

Back to basics in this rental market will get properties rented!!!

Feb 28, 2009 11:15 PM

Thomas R. Martin Broker/Owner ICPM

Investors Choice Property Management - Sacramento, CA

Property Management the way it SHOULD be.

It sounds like we aren't the only ones who go above and beyond. It certainly makes for a better landlord/tenant relationship when the tenants feel like they are getting treatment usually reserved for a homeowner. Thank you for your comments.

Mar 01, 2009 02:26 AM

Gena Riede

Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792 - Sacramento, CA

Real Estate Broker - Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699

Thomas, great to hear! I have sent quite a few people to a different Sacramento property management firm, and never received as much as a thank you or acknowledgement...plan on giving you a try for further referrals.

Mar 01, 2009 03:57 AM

Gena,

Glad to hear you are considering our services for future referrals. If you did not know already, we do no sales, so we are happy to send your clients back to you for any future buying or selling. We also pay a $400 fee per client and the first $50 we earn from any Broker/Agent referral goes to benefit a local charity (depending on time of year; right now we are donating to Sacramento SPCA through 3/31/08).

We hope to be of service to you very soon.

Mar 01, 2009 04:20 AM

David Henke

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc - Newtown Square, PA

Realtor, Homes Just West of Philadelphia PA

It's amazing what a simple habit like answering the phone can produce. We're so used to being told we have to respond to emails, IMs, twits, etc immediately, we sometimes forget that the most important connection is still the personal contact best achieved in person or on the phone.

Mar 01, 2009 04:58 AM

Voicemail is Great...But Nothing Beats the Personal Touch and Novel Approach of Answering the Phone~

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Thomas R. Martin Broker/Owner ICPM

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