Technology is continuously changing the way we do everyday tasks. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s likely that technology has changed or impacted your daily life in several ways over the years. If you’re a property manager, you know the way we market rental properties, communicate with tenants, and perform maintenance has changed through technology. Most property managers today rely on numerous tools and apps that streamline daily operations. Read along as we review the top 10 tools and apps for property managers.
Contents of This Article:
- How Is Technology Helpful in Property Management?
- Top 10 Tools and Apps for Property Managers
- Streamline Your Rental Business With PPM
How Is Technology Helpful in Property Management?
Most people can agree that advances in technology have helped many different industries evolve–including property management. Gone are the days of strenuous manual work, handwritten documents, overflowing filing cabinets, and in-person maintenance requests. All of these tasks can be streamlined by technology.
Northern Virginia property management companies can utilize several online tools and apps to automate tasks, communicate with tenants, and more. Here’s why technology is so crucial to efficient and effective property management.
- Automates Routine Tasks- Technology helps streamline repetitive tasks, allowing tenants to pay rent, renew their lease, and schedule appointments online.
- Streamlines Communication- Online tools allow property managers to communicate with tenants, owners, and vendors through automated messages, portals, or apps instead of nailing down a time to speak in person.
- Improves Financial Management- Property management software simplifies rent tracking and financial reporting, saving tons of time and ensuring more accurate records.
- Enhances Tenant Screening- Advanced property management tools provide access to credit scores, background checks, and rental histories, helping managers choose the best tenants for their properties.
- Simplifies Marketing- Online platforms allow property managers to create and share listings on multiple websites, reaching a larger audience much faster.
- Allows Tenants to Pay Online- One of the most helpful things about online platforms is how easy it is to pay rent. With just the click of a button, tenants can pay rent online however and whenever they choose.
- Optimizes Maintenance- Digital tools allow tenants to submit maintenance requests online, and managers can track, assign, and resolve issues efficiently.
- Improves Property Security- Technology has also changed how we access and protect properties. For instance, smart locks and security cameras increase safety measures and allow landlords to manage their properties remotely.
Top 10 Tools and Apps for Property Managers
Now that we’ve gone over why technology is great for property management, you’re probably wondering how to implement it. Luckily, there are dozens of tools and apps for property managers that can help simplify the rental process, streamline tasks, enhance communication, and more. Here are the top ten tools and apps that are worth looking into.
- Buildium
- AppFolio
- Propertyware
- TurboTenant
- TenantCloud
- Zillow
- Realtor.com
- Rentometer
- Stessa
- Property Matrix
Buildium
One of the top property management apps is Buildium. This cloud-based platform allows landlords and property managers to manage various business operations, like tenant screening, property marketing, and generating reports for owners. It has a user-friendly interface and works seamlessly across most devices, allowing landlords to stay connected from wherever they may be.
AppFolio
Another popular app amongst property managers is AppFolio. It’s another cloud-based property management tool that works for any rental portfolio. It offers comprehensive features like accounting, marketing, leasing, and reporting. Additionally, AppFolio supports various property types, whether you’re managing multifamily, single-family, commercial properties, and more.
Propertyware
Unlike the others, Propertyware is an app designed mainly for single-family homes. That said, it’s ideal for landlords and property managers overseeing portfolios of 250 or more residential units. Some key features of this app include rent collection, maintenance tracking, accounting tools, tenant screening services, and more.
TurboTenant
If you’re a property manager looking for an excellent property management tool on a budget, TurboTenant is for you. It provides features like marketing, online rent collection, and tenant screening, and also allows you to send individual or mass messages quickly and efficiently. The best part? It’s completely free to use the app’s basic features.
Zillow
A huge part of property management includes pricing and listing properties. Zillow is an excellent resource for researching real estate pricing trends. Landlords and property managers can explore specific areas and properties to compare prices and home values. With millions of listings available, Zillow helps simplify market research and decision-making.
Realtor.com
Realtor.com is another reliable source for up-to-date rental market information. Like Zillow, it allows you to search for home prices to buy or rent in any location. You can also compare home values and property deals by exploring listings or reviewing recently sold properties in any area.
Rentometer
Rentometer is a quick and effective tool for performing basic rent analysis. All you have to do is enter a property address and monthly rent price, and you can determine whether the rent is below, above, or at fair market value. It’s a great resource for analyzing rental competition and setting competitive prices for your rentals.
Stessa
Stessa is a free finance software that helps simplify tracking rental property performance and finances. It allows you to manage unlimited properties, automate income and expense tracking, and export tax-ready financial reports. So, if you’re a landlord or property manager looking to monitor properties and finances, Stressa is a great tool.
Property Matrix
Another tool that helps landlords and property managers with accounting tasks is Property Matrix. One of the best things about this tool is that it’s designed for all levels of accounting experience. So, whether you’re a first-time landlord or an experienced one, it’s simple to navigate. It’s also equipped with advanced customizable features that help automate essential tasks.
Streamline Your Rental Business With PPM
Managing rental properties, especially several of them at a time, can quickly get overwhelming. That’s why there are so many great tools and apps for property managers to utilize, helping in several aspects. Most property management tools allow landlords to collect rent online, communicate with tenants from wherever, and keep track of essential data.
If you’re looking for help managing your rental business, hiring a professional management company can help. Whether you own a few rental properties or 100 rental properties, a company like Professional Property Management in Northern Virginia can help. Contact PPM today to learn more about our comprehensive rental management services.
