Tools you wish you had to help you manage your properties?

[GordianKnot]

Hi there, I'm thinking about making a web app to help small landlords automate some of their management tasks, and I was wondering, what tasks do you wish someone would automate?

To start, I was thinking about automating the rent payments, the application process (and allowing people to do it online), online lease signing, marketing, and integrating all of that with accounting, email and text reminders, and so on. Does this stuff sound useful, or do you think it's overkill for a small real estate investor?

This might also be a good place to share existing tools people find useful, so that others can improve their process.

[Thedudeabides]

I don't own any rentals, so can't comment personally on the utility of such a tool, but I was reminded of this site: http://www.cozy.co (which I also haven't used). Your app sounds like it would have more features.

[GordianKnot]

Yeah, I've heard some good things about that one, though I thought $9/unit/mo was a bit high. From what I've seen, it's very slick, but it's also relatively limited in what it can do (rent payments and online applications). Maybe that's enough?

[D.williams]

I think having everything in one place is a good idea. When you say "the application process", is that just the prospective tenants filling out the application or would it also include running the actual background checks and all that good stuff? Just some food for thought and my two cents anyway.

[Annamal]

There was a guy here who automated a form for house inspections, I imagine there are different criteria in the states but that might be something worth looking into?

[GordianKnot]

I think having everything in one place is a good idea. When you say "the application process", is that just the prospective tenants filling out the application or would it also include running the actual background checks and all that good stuff? Just some food for thought and my two cents anyway.

Cool, thanks for the feedback! Yep, all the good stuff - client pays directly, fills out their info, and landlord gets most of the stuff they entered (minus some of the sensitive liability-generating info like SSN, DOB), along with credit score, delinquent account info, evictions, criminal, and so on. I've actually already implemented that part, automatic ACH bank transfer payments are next on the list.

[GordianKnot]

There was a guy here who automated a form for house inspections, I imagine there are different criteria in the states but that might be something worth looking into?

Like a rental move-in/move-out checklist, or for those looking to buy properties?

[Annamal]

There was a guy here who automated a form for house inspections, I imagine there are different criteria in the states but that might be something worth looking into?

Like a rental move-in/move-out checklist, or for those looking to buy properties?

Nope, neither, here there are a lot of property management companies who are obliged to inspect the rental properties they manage once every 3-6 months, this automated the collection of that inspection data

[GordianKnot]

Oh, makes sense. I'll add that to the list of potential features, thanks!