Making Propane Easy for Landlords With Multiple Properties
In many communities, landlords are some of the busiest propane customers you’ll deal with. From duplexes to apartment buildings to mobile home parks, these property owners often juggle multiple tanks across different units and tenants. Some properties may be on automatic delivery, while others are will-call. Some tanks are landlord-owned, and others are rented. Keeping it all straight is tough, especially when each location has its own usage patterns and billing needs.
As a propane provider, you can be more than just a delivery service. You can be the steady hand that helps landlords simplify and organize their accounts, reduce their stress, and keep tenants satisfied. If you make things easier for them, they’ll keep coming back – and will likely send more business your way as well.
Make Account Management Simple
The first step is helping landlords organize their accounts in a way that works for them. If they have five properties, they shouldn’t have to manage five separate logins or call five different times to get updates. Offer one point of contact who can manage it all for them. Provide a clear, combined monthly statement that breaks down usage by each specific property, so they can track their costs without doing the math themselves.
If you have a customer portal or software system, make sure it lets landlords group all of their various properties or units under one profile. The easier you make it for them, the more loyal and consistent they’ll be as customers.
Offer Flexible Billing Options
One of the biggest pain points for landlords is billing. Some want the tenant to pay. Others want to handle the bill themselves. Many deal with the hassles of late payments, move-ins, and move-outs all year long. Offering flexible billing setups can help them stay on top of payments and avoid any potential gaps in service.
Let landlords choose whether to prepay, postpay, or set up auto-pay. If a tenant is responsible for a tank, make it easy to switch billing when tenants change. Clear communication during those transitions can prevent missed deliveries and extra calls.
Monitor Tanks to Avoid Service Gaps
When landlords manage multiple units, it’s easy for one tank to slip through the cracks. However, a missed refill can lead to cold homes, angry tenants, and emergency calls. You can help prevent those unpleasantries by offering remote tank monitoring or automatic delivery options.
Even if they prefer will-call, be sure to offer a courtesy check-in or a reminder when usage patterns show a drop in fuel. Staying ahead of foreseeable problems does much to protect the landlord’s reputation and helps you avoid last-minute chaos.
Help With Move-In and Move-Out Transitions
Every time a tenant moves out, landlords have one more thing to worry about. Offer to step in during that period to make sure tanks are topped off, records are updated, and new tenants get the service they need.
You can also offer basic tenant education – simple flyers or messages that explain how propane works, how to avoid running out, and what to do in case of an issue. That helps cut down on landlord headaches and shows you’re offering excellent customer service by thinking ahead.
Become Their Trusted Fuel Partner
At the end of the day, landlords want to work with people who make their lives easier. They want a propane partner who listens, responds quickly, and helps them keep things running smoothly. The more you do that, the less likely they are to shop around.
Being that kind of partner means offering more than just fuel. It means giving solid advice, sharing tips that cut costs or improve efficiency, and being available when something goes wrong. It’s about being a helpful resource – not just a propane vendor.
Why Strong Support Builds Lasting Business
Landlords who manage multiple accounts often don’t have time to shop around or test out new suppliers. If you help them save time, reduce their stress, and keep their tenants warm, they’ll likely stick with you year after year. Better yet, they’ll talk to other landlords and bring you more clients.
When you build systems that serve the unique needs of landlords, you create lasting value. And when they feel supported, your propane business earns more than income – you earn the vital commodity of long-term trust.
