Accurate Message Center's Francis Reynolds wrote that “yelling into an answering machine isn't good customer service when your tenant's A/C blows when it's needed the most.”

Words of wisdom, folks. Sure it feels great for you, but the pesky thing about tenants is they pay something called “rent,” which you need to keep gas in your car. 

The simple solution, of course, is to sell your rental properties and become a Mixed Martial Arts fighter or lead singer for a death metal band, just like the personality assessment test in high school recommended to you as good career options. Another option is to get an answering service staffed by nice people, ones who can field your calls and provide compassion when your angry tenant calls when you're unavailable. Or when you're available but not in a particularly compassionate mood. 

“You may think a live answering service is a luxury in a bad real estate market, but one bad experience without one can cost thousands of dollars in an emergency,” Reynolds said. “Even in a down market your tenants should know you care by hiring a responsive and professional answering service so they stay with you for the long haul.”

“Live operators who are able to tend to your tenants is a way to provide customer service around the clock,” he added.

Accurate Message Center operates just such an answering service. And they don’t just be nice to your tenants when you can't or won't be – “why are you losing clients to voicemail?” they ask. “Sure, it's cheap, a cheap alternative to answering the phone yourself, but what if you lose that one in a million client?  With an answering service you'll never miss that call because we'll always be there to answer for you, day or night.”

And be nice and pleasant about it in the bargain.