Best Tools for Self-Managing Rentals

[Kyle Thomas]

Hey BP,

For those of you self-managing your rentals, what tools or systems have made your life easier? I’m looking for recommendations on:

1. Rent Collection – Any favorite platforms for automated payments and tracking?
2. Financial Tracking – What do you use to track income, expenses, and overall profitability?
3. Tenant Management & Communication – Any software that helps streamline guest stays, maintenance requests, and lease agreements?
4. Marketing & Bookings – What’s working best for listing and filling midterm rental vacancies?

I’d love to hear from investors—especially those managing midterm rentals—about what’s worked (or hasn’t) for them. What’s your tech stack for staying organized and profitable?

Looking forward to your insights!

[Robin Smith]

Hi Kyle,

I am a MTR host and I own my property.

1. I used Furnished Finder Keycheck for payments and tracking.  It's easy for me though because my real estate empire is very very small. It charges the guest to use the tool for payments (which I don't like) but it reminds them a few times before rent is due and it automatically calculates late fees if they are late. I stopped using it because I spoke with my guests beforehand and through that communication I trusted them to Venmo or Zelle. I may get burned later, but I screen my guests well.

2. The financial tracking, I just have a separate bank account, with a separate credit card. It will make my CPA like me. He sees debit and credits.

3. I used Furnish Finder for leases because they are state specific.  I don't want to overlook something that should be in my lease for my state that may not be included if I used one I found from a friend.  Its a small fee, but it helps me sleep at night knowing my bases are covered. Maintenance requests involve me telling my husband, "Hey I got a text, fix this." (I told you I was small.) Furnished Finder also has a tenant tracking page, I used that.

4. I list exclusively with Furnished Finder.  I keep my calendar up to date, I reach out to any leads (matched or unmatched) immediately, and I switch up my pictures every once in a while.  This makes their algorithm (activity) put my listing at the top of a search. I have not used AirBnB because they charge fees and I want to be able screen before I communicate.  I have not looked into other programs.