Paying your bills on the dot might be challenging at times. This is especially true for bills like your rent payment which is due on the first day of every month. However, paying your rent late has real consequences, including late fees and perhaps an unhappy landlord – or something worse. It can also make it challenging to qualify for a new rental home in the future since your current landlord is unwilling to offer you a great recommendation if you are frequently paying late. To make sure you’re paying that rent (and your other bills) on time each month, here are a few strategies that can help.
Pay Online
Today, many West Lake Hills property managers offer online rent payments to their tenants. If yours does, you should take advantage of it. It’s one of the best ways to ensure you’re getting that rent payment in on time. Online payments are great because they move funds quickly and securely from your account to your landlord’s bank. Many systems will even let you schedule a payment in advance for a specific date. Just make your payment a day or two before it’s due to allow for processing time.
Set Up Automatic Payments
Another good idea to ensure that you pay your rent on time is to set up automatic payments from your bank. Other landlords can help you set up ACH or other automatic transfers that will pay your rent for you on a specific date each month. In this fashion, you don’t need to worry about logging in to submit your payment – it’s all taken care of for you! Even if your landlord doesn’t offer automatic payments, you may be able to set up automatic payments through your bank or credit union. Take a look at your bank’s bill payment tools to see if yours offers this service.
Stay Organized
Creating a system for your bill payments, including your rent payment, can be very efficient. If you tend to leave things to the last minute, you may need to select a particular date or set aside time each month to take care of all of your bills at once. It’s also a good option to keep a file (either paper or electronic) with all of the information you need to get your bills paid on time each month. Some people know that creating a simple spreadsheet or checklist is useful, specifically if you enjoy checking things off. By keeping things organized, you can guarantee that your payments are made on time every month.
Create Reminders
From time to time, we all need to be reminded of important tasks. So, creating these reminders for yourself ahead of time is one way to be on time with your rent payments. If the notion of an electronic reminder sounds good to you, you could set up a calendar or use a reminder app on your phone or computer. As an alternative, your reminder could be as convenient as writing notes on a calendar that hangs somewhere you’ll be assured to see it.
Reward Yourself
In conclusion, when you pay your rent on time, keep in mind to give yourself a little treat for a job well done. Positive reinforcement can be an excellent way to ensure that you pay your rent on time every month. By treating yourself to some sweet or splurge item, you can build positive associations with paying your rent, making it easier for you to remember to pay it on time every month after that.
Paying your rent on time is easiest when your landlord offers convenient ways to pay. However, if your current landlord isn’t quite acquainted with their payment options, it may be best to locate one that is – like Real Property Management Advisors. You can contact our office to learn more or browse our online listings to find quality rental homes near you.
We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. See Equal Housing Opportunity Statement for more information.
