Top 3 Reasons I Pay My Rent Electronically
BY LAUREN BOSTON

I’m 24 years old, and I learned how to write my first check last year.

This makes me sound like the spoiled daughter of a rich entrepreneur, but I’m actually the self-sufficient offspring of a high school teacher. I just pay for everything online—rent included.

We all know the operational benefits of electronic rent payments, but what’s in it for the renters? There will always be elderly, cautious or technologically challenged residents who insist on paying their rent in person, but for the majority of today’s residents, the more that can be done on the computer, the better.

Following are three reasons I pay my rent online:

1. I’m Losing My Mind. I have difficulty remembering to pack my lunch every day, so do you really think I can remember to pay my rent? Electronic payments are the best way for absent-minded renters to pay their bills on time, with most programs offering an automated withdrawal option. My bank account is linked to my resident portal, and money is transferred on the first of the month—an incredibly helpful option for someone who has racked up way too many late fees at the library. Now I can sit back, relax and rest assured my rent is paid on time. I just wish I could find my keys…

2. I’m Anti-Social After Work. The leasing office at my apartment community is nicely decorated and the employees are friendly, but it’s still not on my Top 10 list of favorite places. When I get home after work, I want to hibernate in my apartment until it’s time for bed, not trudge down to the leasing office to pay my rent and socialize with a pack of prospective residents. Not to be Mrs. Scrooge here, but I’ve just spent half an hour fighting for a seat on the bus home and I need some peace and quiet. If I can pay my rent from the comfort of my couch, sign me up. Bah, humbug!

3. I Live in a Fantasy World. If you paid top dollar for a Liberal Arts degree like yours truly, chances are you have a pretty meager salary, a good chunk of which is allocated to rent. I know having a roof over my head is one of those necessary expenses—just like the four bottles of nail polish I purchased this week—but it’s a big investment that I don’t want to think about any more than I have to. And because I’d prefer to live in a fantasy world, I want my rent to tip-toe out of my bank account automatically, without so much as a whisper. Writing out and delivering a check somehow seems much more real and depressing. Yes, I understand it’s still the same amount of money, but automated payments feel less painful. I was aware of the monetary sacrifice I’d have to make when I signed the lease; I don’t want to be reminded of it every month. Hey, ignorance is bliss.

Lauren Boston is NAA’s Staff Writer. For more of her blogs, check out www.naahq.org/blog. She can be reached at lauren@naahq.org or call (703) 797-0678.