There’s no denying we’re living in a digital age. These days, people are more likely to communicate via text messages, email and Facebook before they pick up a phone. And while the real estate industry is notoriously behind the ball when it comes to technology, those in the multifamily business are making a pretty good effort to keep up with the times.

Over the past few years, the apartment business has embraced social media. The Internet is now not only being used as a marketing tool, but also as a way to maintain a dialogue with residents and even to conduct property management. Just about every major apartment firm has some sort of a presence online, be it a resident portal through which maintenance requests and rent payments are made, or a full-blown Facebook page and Twitter account.

It only makes sense; after all, the demographic most likely to rent is also most likely to be tapped into technology. Add to that busy work schedules, and it becomes even more understandable for tenants to want a way to access their property managers at any time of the day. (I don’t live in an apartment, just a townhouse now, but even I can’t begin to tell you how happy I was when our HOA organization and property management company decided to start using email more often!)