How do you like to communicate with tenants and maintenance?

[Tyler Kaye]

I am curious what the trend is and what works best for those of you who are already a landlord.  For those of you who have been a landlord for some time, what did you wish you had to communicate with tenants specifically for maintenance issues or lines of communication tenants try to open?  For those that haven't been doing this for that long, what do you think is the most efficient means of organizing communications from tenants and how do you transpose maintenance issues to those who are going to be tasked with the repairs?

[John Warren]

@Tyler Kaye I use google hang outs which is connected to google voice. I self manage 32 units in the Berwyn/Lyons area outside Chicago, and almost all of my communication uses this method. I can "text message" from either my computer or my phone, and this allows me to keep communication direct and simple. I do not like picking up the phone, and I avoid this if possible. Even my older tenants seem to be ok with text messaging for the most part. 

For maintenance, I simply text my maintenance guys the issue and put them in touch with the tenant (for the most part). I do have an on site guy at one of my apartment buildings who coordinates with them if I am not available, which has helped a lot. I think it starts to make sense to have an on site maintenance/helper when you get to 10-12 unit buildings and up. You can give them a few bucks off the rent to help coordinate all the silly little things that come up.