Skip to content
×
Try PRO Free Today!
BiggerPockets Pro offers you a comprehensive suite of tools and resources
Market and Deal Finder Tools
Deal Analysis Calculators
Property Management Software
Exclusive discounts to Home Depot, RentRedi, and more
$0
7 days free
$828/yr or $69/mo when billed monthly.
$390/yr or $32.5/mo when billed annually.
7 days free. Cancel anytime.
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
General Landlording & Rental Properties
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated 8 months ago on . Most recent reply

User Stats

26
Posts
13
Votes
Brendan M Hornung
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Monica, CA
13
Votes |
26
Posts

Property Management Software for 1 SFR

Brendan M Hornung
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Monica, CA
Posted

I recently purchased my first property in Cullman, AL (4/2 single-family home). I am seeking a property management tool to schedule showings, screen tenants, collect rent, and allocate maintenance requests to one centralized platform. The listing is posted on Zillow. I have a lockbox on the property that generates a new code for each property tour.

I live in Santa Monica, CA so I need a tool that will allow me to manage the property remotely. Are there any tools that you recommend?

Any insight is appreciated! Thanks, BP fam!

Most Popular Reply

User Stats

28,045
Posts
41,038
Votes
Nathan Gesner
Property Manager
Agent
Pro Member
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cody, WY
41,038
Votes |
28,045
Posts
Nathan Gesner
Property Manager
Agent
Pro Member
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Cody, WY
ModeratorReplied
Quote from @Brendan M Hornung:

Software is a common question on BiggerPockets. Here are some things to consider:

  1. Most investors don't need software until they have 5-10 rentals. You only need a place to track tenant information, payment history, maintenance, etc. You can easily do this on a spreadsheet, and it will take less time to track than finding and learning new software. If the software is not simplifying your life or making you more accurate, you shouldn't use it. Go to Etsy and search for "rental property tracker," and you will find hundreds of nice spreadsheets to track 10-20 rentals, usually for under $10.
  2. Software has extremely helpful features like online payments, marketing syndication (click a button, and your property is advertised on multiple sites), electronic document review/signing, maintenance tracking, and owner reports. Do you need all this for a couple of rentals?
  3. There is no perfect software out there. Every system you try will have flaws, or you may salivate over a feature that appears in other software.

Some familiar names are mentioned frequently: Stessa, Apartments.com, RentRedi, TenantCloud, Innago, RentManager, Avail, Rentec Direct, Doorloop, etc.

I recommend conducting thorough research on each app online to understand their offerings, pricing, etc. Create a simple spreadsheet or written list to compare the features of each and identify the ones that align with your requirements. Try to narrow down your options to the top 3-4. Once you have a shortlist, sign up for an account with each one and test them extensively to see how they function. Perform the same task in each app to ensure a fair comparison.

  • Load a property with pictures and details.
  • Market that property.
  • See what your marketing looks like from the public's perspective.
  • Submit a fake application to see how easy the process is.
  • Run a credit/screening report on yourself.
  • Enter a maintenance request, assign a vendor, and attach a fake invoice.
  • Enter charges to the tenant's ledger.
  • Enter recurring charges and automatic late fees.
  • Sign documents electronically.
  • Run owner reports.

After testing a few apps, one should clearly stand out. It's important to choose that one and commit to using it. Remember, no system is perfect, so avoid the temptation of constantly chasing after the next shiny object. You should only consider switching when your current software has a significant flaw or lacks features that force you to spend excessive time on workarounds. At that point, it's worth researching and finding a solution that better meets your needs.

  • Nathan Gesner
business profile image
The DIY Landlord Book
4.7 stars
156 Reviews

Loading replies...