Why Communication Is Key in Real Estate Management

5 hours ago

Let’s be real for a second—owning property isn’t just about bricks, rents, and spreadsheets. It’s about people. And where there are people, there has to be communication. Otherwise? Expect chaos.

Now, if you’re diving into side hustles in real estate, thinking you’ll buy a property and the money will just roll in while you sip espresso and scroll Zillow… pump the brakes. There’s a lot more talking involved than you might expect.

Nobody Talks About This Part of the Hustle… But They Should

Here’s what they do talk about: cash flow, appreciation, equity, passive income. Sounds dreamy, right?

What they don’t tell you? That your phone will ring at 10 PM because the AC just died. Or that a tenant didn’t understand their lease clause. Or that your plumber ghosted you halfway through a job.

Every single one of those moments could’ve been avoided—or at least softened—with better communication.

Owning property isn’t just a business. It’s a relationship business. And when you’re juggling side hustles in real estate, relationships either boost you—or bury you.

Let Me Tell You a Quick Story (That You Probably Know Too Well)

When I bought my first rental unit, I was over the moon. I thought I nailed it—good neighborhood, decent rent, low mortgage. What could go wrong?

Turns out, everything.

The tenant was lovely… until they weren’t. They’d leave voicemails, but I’d forget to check them. I’d assume everything was fine unless I got an angry email. Repairs were delayed. Little things became big things. And then—boom—vacancy. Cost me $2,200 just to fix what could’ve been a $200 issue.

Lesson learned: communication isn’t extra—it’s essential. And if you’re balancing a day job while managing your properties on the side? You need to get intentional about how you talk to everyone involved.

Tenant Communication: The Backbone of Everything

Tenants aren’t just rent-payers—they’re your business partners. If you want your real estate hustle to run smoothly, you’ve got to keep the lines open.

That doesn’t mean being available 24/7 or answering texts during dinner. It means setting expectations up front—and following through.

Examples:

“Hey, if anything breaks, text me directly and I’ll respond within 24 hours.”
“Rent reminders go out on the 1st. Late fees kick in on the 5th. No surprises.”

Tenants like clarity. You like fewer headaches. Everyone wins.

Contractors, Handymen, and the ‘Didn’t You Say…?’ Problem

One of the biggest gaps in communication happens with contractors. You say, “Just fix the leaky sink.” They fix it—but also install a new faucet and send you a bill that makes your wallet cry.

That’s not mischief—it’s miscommunication.

Get in the habit of:

Writing down work orders (text works)
Confirming costs before work starts
Following up with a quick “all good?” after the job’s done

When you’re doing side hustles in real estate, every dollar counts. One vague message can turn into a $500 surprise real quick.

Property Managers Aren’t Mind Readers (Even the Good Ones)

A lot of people in real estate get a property manager and breathe a little too easy. They think, “Great, now I’m hands-off.”

Wrong.

Even with the best property manager in the world, you still need to communicate. A lot.

Ask yourself:

Do they know how hands-on or hands-off I want to be?
Do they text, call, or email? And which one do I actually check?
Do they know my monthly budget limits for repairs?

Set expectations early and revisit them regularly. Treat them like a business partner. Because they are.

Side Hustles in Real Estate: Communication Is Your Scalability Tool

Let’s zoom out a bit.

You want to grow your portfolio. Maybe it’s your second property now, maybe your fifth later. But here’s the kicker: the more you grow, the more communication matters.

Sloppy communication won’t just cost you time. It’ll cost you trust. With tenants. With vendors. Even with your own sanity.

Want to keep growing? Then build a system where communication isn’t random—it’s baked into your operations.

Use Tech, But Keep It Personal

Look, there’s no shortage of apps—TenantCloud, Buildium, Cozy. You can automate rent reminders, schedule repairs, even chat through platforms.

Cool tools, for sure.

But don’t let automation make you invisible. Tenants still want to know there’s a human behind the app. A quick call. A follow-up text. A check-in when a lease renews.

You’re not a robot. They aren’t either.

Slight Tangent: We’re Not Always Great at This, Are We?

Can we be honest? Most of us aren’t naturally great communicators. Especially when we’re multitasking a job, a family, and this growing real estate hustle.

You forget to follow up. You misread a message. Or you assume something’s been handled when… yeah, it hasn’t.

Ugh. We’ve all been there.

Perfection isn’t the goal here. Just awareness. And improvement. The occasional mess-up is fine—own it, fix it, and move on. People appreciate that more than you’d think.

Simple Ways to Level Up Your Communication Game

Let’s not overcomplicate it. Here are a few things you can do today to make communication easier (and better):

✅ Create a shared folder with lease terms, emergency contacts, and maintenance logs
✅ Set up a separate Google Voice number for tenant calls/texts
✅ Do a monthly 15-minute check-in with your property manager
✅ Respond to repair requests with acknowledgment—even if you’re not solving it right away
✅ Be upfront about expectations with everyone—from tenants to plumbers

No fancy systems. Just consistency.

The Bottom Line: Talk More, Stress Less

If there’s one thing to tattoo on your mental whiteboard, it’s this:

Communication is what turns a real estate side hustle into a sustainable business.

Forget what the influencers say—it’s not about going viral with “Airbnb arbitrage” or buying five units with none of your own money. It’s about trust. And trust is built, maintained, and—yeah—repaired through good old-fashioned talking.

So start today. Call that tenant. Check in with your contractor. Shoot a follow-up to your manager.

Your real estate business will thank you for it. And so will your future self.