RentPayment’s Promotion Team has been offering residents a variety of promotional incentives and giveaways this holiday season. Last month, we launched our First 50 Promotion where the First 50 residents to pay their rent online had the opportunity to win a $50 MasterCard Gift Card courtesy of RentPayment. So who were the lucky winners?
Check out a few of them below!

This month we are offering residents the chance to participate in our Holiday Giveaway Spree where one resident has the chance to win a $1,000 MasterCard Gift Card to kick off 2012 and five additional residents will each receive a $100 MasterCard Gift Card for participating. The promotion has been a great success generating an extra 42,000 electronic rent payments from the select communities.

We asked these residents: Why do you use RentPayment?

• “It’s so much easier to not have to worry about writing a rent check and finding a stamp to mail it in. With the holidays it just gets too hectic!”
  Rick M. – Chicago, IL
• “I can pay from my iPhone anywhere in the world. You can’t beat that.”
  Julie T. – Gainesville, FL 
• “The 1st always seems to sneak up on me, especially around New Year’s. The rent reminder emails are perfect because I can click one link and then pay with my credit card.”
  Prasad K. – Houston, TX 

Congratulations to all our First 50 Promotion and Holiday Giveaway Spree winners and a big thanks to the property managers for all their efforts! If you’re interested in running a promotion for the residents at your property, email us at Marketing@RentPayment.com for more information.

Money saving web sites such as Living Social, Groupon and ShopKick, have spread through the World Wide Web like wild fire. A survey by RedPlum reported, more people are searching for coupon codes prior to making a purchase and most are members of several reward programs. Are you taking advantage of this money saving, coupon clipping, mentality at your property?

This thrifty trend has opened the doors for innovative and relatively inexpensive ways to increase renter retention and resident satisfaction in the multifamily housing industry.  Many apartment communities currently offer cash rewards if a resident refers a friend, renews a lease, etc.  Although this is a great incentive to a resident, the value of the reward is equivalent to cost to the property, denting your property’s revenue.

The latest trend in the multifamily housing industry is to utilize resident rewards programs rather than cash based incentives. These rewards programs can vary from point based systems to simply offering discounts and coupon codes.  Points or rewards can be given for anything you choose, like renewing leases, referring friends, or helping around the community. The greatest benefit of resident reward programs is you no longer have to give dollar for dollar incentives. The perceived value of a discount or reward is usually much higher than the actual cost to the property.  You can finally reward resident loyalty without “breaking the bank!” 

Although initiating a resident rewards program can seem like a daunting task, as it could take some planning , it has the ability to set your property or Property Management Company ahead of the competition. You can also reach out to local merchants and companies that would like more business from your residents about coupon and discount offers. You would be surprised how many would jump at the chance to give your residents freebies. Resident rewards can prompt renewals, increase referrals and get your residents more involved at your property; so why not give it a try?

RentPayment is always available to discuss reward programs for your renters, whether it be coupon codes, rebate offers, or gift card giveaways, we are ready to work with your property. If you’re interested in learning more about RentPayment promotions, feel free to contact us at Marketing@RentPayment.com.

Want to learn more about Resident Rewards? Read this article by Multifamily Executive.

Just as promised, we are excited to announce the BIG PREMIER of RentPayment’s 2011 Student Housing Promotion Wrap-Up Video!  Seeing the “Love at First Click” Promotion come to life was extremely exciting for us and we couldn’t wait to share this video with all of you.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the “show”!
 

Once again, thank you to all the property managers and their management staffs! Without your help, dedication and enthusiasm this promotion could not have been such a success.  We promise to keep the promotions and prizes coming for you and your residents.

Don’t let your community miss out on a chance to win BIG for just paying their rent online! Stay tuned to the RentPayment blog for future promotions, giveaways, coupon codes and sweepstakes.

Everyone loves a good deal and it’s fair to say that if someone had the option to pay a lower price, they would, despite their economic situation.  In fact, a survey by RedPlum reported an overwhelming 96% of shoppers (of the 23,000 surveyed) claimed they would still use coupons even if they won the lottery! This “save when you spend” mentality has only become more prominent in our society since the onset of the most recent recession.  More people are spending additional time surfing the web for added discounts, free shipping, and promotions. NCH, a coupon processing and information management company, reports the overall coupon redemption volume in the United States grew 3.1% to 3.3 billion consumer good coupons, in the past year alone.

The digital age has definitely facilitated the process of the “deal hunt,” as online coupon usage is on the rise.  Naturally, online retailers of all sorts have had to jump on the bandwagon and start satisfying consumers’ need to save, increasing the number of digital coupon offers by 37% in 2011, as reported by the NCH.

RentPayment thinks it’s time for the multi-family housing industry to dive into the coupon craze and utilize online coupon codes.  We can now proudly say, we too have contributed to the 37% increase in the number of digital coupon offers in 2011! Our “Love at First Click” Student Housing promotion marked a new beginning for RentPayment promotions.

From here on out, be on the lookout for RentPayment coupon codes for your community’s residents.  They might just have the chance to enter one of our exciting promotions or sweepstakes and win amazing prizes or discounts, just for paying their rent online!

The RentPayment marketing department would like to give a special thank you to all the property managers and amazing management staffs, who put in extra time and effort to spread the word about our Love at First Click Promotion.  We know fall move-ins can be extremely hectic and busy, yet every one of you did an amazing job! Without the help of such great management staff, our promotion could not have been such a success! 

Two communities in particular really stood out this year. Not only did they go above and beyond by handing out and displaying RentPayment marketing materials around their property, posting on Facebook and sending us pictures, but they also increased RentPayment usage, immensely.

Therefore, we would like to award their hardworking management staff with a small prize. 

The Reveille Ranch Staff

Our first place student housing community and the winner of a $300 MasterCard gift card is, Reveille Ranch, a Jamespoint Management property. Reveille Ranch increased usage at their property by about 75% throughout our Love at First Click promotion!

Here is what Property Manager Travis had to say when we asked him a few questions about RentPayment.

Q: How did your property convert residents to ePayments? What is your advice to fellow property managers to help increase RentPayment usage?

A: The primary thing we do is encourage residents to make their payments online. It all starts with the lease application.  As a property with a lot of students, we close a lot leases via email, fax, and phone.  We find that if a future resident pays the application fees on-line they’re very likely to make their rent payments online.  We also make a point to hand out RentPayment flyers during move-in day.  With many parents making their payments for their son/daughter the ability to pay from their computer without having to mail a check in is a big convenience.

Q: What would you say are some of the benefits Reveille Ranch receives from high RentPayment usage?

A: The primary benefits are the amount of time we save from not having to process checks and the added security of payments being handled by RentPayment rather than employees.  Not to mention, there’s a money trail with RentPayment. No more dealing with “check lost in the mail” or “I dropped it in the drop box last night, you must have lost it” excuses!

The Gateway at College Station Staff

Our second place community and the winner of a $100 MasterCard gift card is Gateway at College Station, a DMC SUH Management property! Gateway at College Station took social media to another level!  We saw constant Facebook posts reminding residents to pay rent online for a chance to win, as well as reminders in their monthly newsletter. Gateway did an amazing job of keeping us updated and displaying their efforts by sending several pictures throughout the entire promotion.  Lastly, by this year’s student housing promotion’s conclusion, Gateway at College Station had over 35% of their residents making online payments!

RentPayment’s Love at First Click Student Housing Promotion officially came to an end on September 15th, 2011, after an amazing turnout, thanks to all 111 student housing communities that participated. For anyone that may not already know, our “Love at First Click” Promotion, gave all residents from the participating student housing communities the opportunity to win 1 of 3 amazing prizes for making a payment online with RentPayment and simply entering the coupon code “LoveAtFirstClick!”

Without further ado, the RentPayment Marketing Team is delighted to introduce our 3 Grand Prize Student Winners! These lucky ladies will be taking home a $1000 MasterCard gift card!

Desiree Waters from The Woodlands of Tuscaloosa, a Dovetail Companies Property!

Kayla Smith from The Gateway at Tucson, an Asset Campus Property!

Fan Yang, from The Stratum at Indiana, an Asset Campus Property!

Back in July, RentPayment hosted a promotion for four property management companies designed to help increase the number of residents who use AutoPay. AutoPay is a recurring monthly debit from a resident’s checking account in the form of an eCheck, an electronic version of a paper check.  Any resident within these four property management companies who signed up for AutoPay by eCheck with RentPayment from July 1^st to August 5^th, 2011 was automatically entered to win a $200 MasterCard Gift Card!

The time has come to introduce our winner:

Lisa Cordeiro of Pocasset Village, a Bilotti Group Inc. Property!

Lisa learned about RentPayment and its AutoPay promotion from her property management team who took time out of their busy schedules to hand out flyers to all the residents!  She loves that “RentPayment’s AutoPay feature makes it easy to ensure [her] payment is on time every month.”  Lisa also shared with us that she recently moved into Pocasset Village and began using RentPayment right away! Her property managers introduced her to the benefits of paying rent electronically from the get go and she has really enjoyed not having to “worry about getting stamps or taking a chance the mail will be late.” 

Lisa is going on a vacation in November and says the “extra money will make [her trip] even more fun!” Congratulations Lisa, enjoy your trip and your $200 Master Card Gift Card and thank you for using RentPayment!

 Property managers, tell your residents about RentPayment’s availability at your property from the start, so they can begin enjoying the benefits of flexible payment options like Lisa! Also, if your property management company is interested in having RentPayment host a promotion to incentivize your residents to convert electronic payments, contact Marketing@RentPayment.com to further discuss the options available at your community!

With September right around the corner, the RentPayment marketing department wanted to remind all the properties participating in our Love At First Click Student Housing Promotion, that there are several ways to increase your residents’ awareness of electronic payment options! RentPayment’s Love At First Click Promo is nearing it’s end and we want to help your property benefit from electronic payments, and help your residents, earn 1 of 3 AMAZING prizes. Don’t forget, any of your residents who make a payment and enter the promotion code “LoveAtFirstClick” on their payment page from now until September 25th, are automatically entered to win an iPad, $1000 MasterCard Gift Card or a trip for two anywhere in the United States!

Here are some quick tips on how to spread the word (and the love) about RentPayment’s Love At First Click Promotion and the availability of electronic payment options at your community:

• Have a Community Facebook or Twitter? Make a quick status update reminding your renters to pay their rent online with RentPayment and tag @RentPayment on your Facebook or Twitter.
• Have a Community web or print Newsletter? Include RentPayment in your monthly newsletter. Email Marketing@RentPayment.com a copy or link to your newsletter to be included on our blog!
• Have RentPayment Marketing Materials displayed at your property? If you don’t, email us and we would be more than happy to send some. If you do, we’d love to see some pictures and share them on Facebook! Send your pictures to Marketing@RentPayment.com.
• Have Resident Email Lists? RentPayment can create customized eBlasts that match the look and feel of your property, to send to your residents. Let us help you remind them that rent is due and that they have the option to pay online.
• Have a Move-In Party or Event? Request promotional giveaway items for move-in parties and events and send pictures to Marketing@RentPayment.com.
• Have Creativity? Make a quick and fun video about RentPayment and share it with your residents via social media! Get creative and have fun! Check out our YouTube Channel for past video submission ideas.

With these easy tips, we guarantee RentPayment awareness will increase and your property will begin experiencing lower operating expenses, improved cash flows, more on time payments and happier residents, in no time! Feel free to contact Marketing@RentPayment.com for further assistance in transitioning your residents to electronic payments.

Keeping in theme with our “Love at First Click” 2011 Student Housing Promotion, we thought it would be fun to share some thoughts about the things we love, which can all be done with just one click!

Here is a list of the top ten things we fell in love with at first click:

1. Paying rent online with one easy click for a chance to win prizes through promotions!  Hundreds of renters have won great prizes with RentPayment.com.
2. Sending emails.  Electronic messaging allows us to communicate instantly, with the click of a button. No more snail mail!
3. ClickPay emails from RentPayment – What could be easier? One click and your rent is paid!
4. Becoming “friends” on social media sites, like Facebook.  Keeping in touch and finding long lost friends and relatives has never been easier.
5. Sharing RentPayment blog posts with one click!
6. Online shopping.  Indulge in your shopping cravings and add items into your shopping basket with just one click!
7. One click phone installs from the iTunes store – downloading the RentPayment App takes only seconds!
8. “Undo-ing” an action on your computer. I always sigh with relief when I remember that I can utilize the trusty “Undo” function to fix any mistake with just one click.
9. Retweeting or social sharing RentPayment posts.  Be sure to tell all your residents about RentPayment or remind them rent is due, with just one click!
10. Video chatting with someone in another country. Not only is talking to someone across the globe just a click away, so is seeing them!

Share what you fell in love with at first click on our Facebook page, or tweet to us, using #RentPaymentLoveAtFirstClick.  Happy Clicking!

With summer closing in on us, RentPayment is gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year—the start of a new school year.  Because many of our clients include Student Housing communities, RentPayment works closely with them to help convert their student residents to using electronic payment options. Electronic payments are particularly beneficial to such communities because they allow for more efficient and effective rent collection.  Parents no longer have to worry about their students not paying rent, or sending in late rent checks. With RentPayment, anytime is a great time for students to pay their rent with ease online or by phone with a credit card or an eCheck! 

Each year around mid to late August, student housing communities experience a huge influx of new residents.  In many cases, the biggest obstacle in transitioning residents to electronic payments is awareness. Our annual Fall Move-In Student Housing Promotion allow us to inform student residents and their parents of their electronic payment options from Day 1!

This year, RentPayment is partnering with over 100 Student Housing communities in our 2011  “Love At First Click” Promotion.  Any resident of a participating community who makes an online rent payment and enters the promotion code “LoveAtFirstClick” on their payment page from July 25^th to September 15^th, 2011, is automatically entered to win one of three AMAZING prizes!  The best part: the winners get to choose the prize that they love most! Three winners will be chosen to win an iPad, a $1000 MasterCard gift card or a trip for two anywhere in the United States*.

If your Student Housing Community is participating in RentPayment’s “Love at First Click” promotion, spread the love (and the word) about RentPayment and begin reaping the benefits of transitioning your residents to electronic payments! As a property manger you will experience lower operating expenses, faster cash flows, more on-time payments, and happier students and parents. 

Don’t let your residents miss out on the chance to experience Love at First Click! Feel free to contact Marketing@RentPayment.com for further details or to request complimentary promotional marketing materials.

*For more information, visit www.RentPayment.com/LoveAtFirstClick