It makes perfect sense that the internet is inundated with discussions about the best property management tools for landlords. The Utah rental market is growing in a way many us have never seen before, and the opportunity to take renting from a side gig to a constant cash flow is the reason real estate investment is so appealing to many Utahns right now.

2. It makes perfect sense that the internet is
inundated with discussions about the best
property management tools for landlords.
The Utah rental market is growing in a way
many us have never seen before, and the
opportunity to take renting from a side gig to
a constant cash flow is the reason real
estate investment is so appealing to many
Utahns right now. It’s also why so many
people are seeking a way to make renting
out their property easier.

3. 1.) How do I take this from a hobby to a legitimate business?
and
2.) Do I need to hire a property manager?
If you have more than five properties (or live far away from your units), hiring a property
manager might be a good idea. However, if you’re only working with a few rentals, using an
online property management software can be the stepping stone you need to up your rental
game.
Determining what to charge for rent is a question most property managers will face. Many
newer property managers simply guess a price that feels right with no further research —
don’t do that. Charging too much could lead to a loss of revenue by keeping your property
vacant for months while charging too little could amount to a large loss of profit over time.
Rental calculators will help you get a feel for what’s a fair price in the area to help you find
that sweet spot.

4. Harnessing the power of data will also back you up when rent increases and you want to
charge more rent.
Typically, the most tedious part of being a landlord is collecting rent. Between gathering rent
checks, printing and handing out late rent reminders, and driving to the bank to deposit
checks (and hoping none of them bounce), it’s a huge time-suck.
Yet going through the process every single month is something most landlords have
accepted as part of the job. To really get to the next level, it’s time to switch over to an
online payment tool. Pick one that will deposit rent in your account quickly, charge
automatic late fees, and send tenants digital reminders.

5. Rentler’s online rent payment service allows landlords to collect rent online for free and
also allows tenants to build credit for free with each on-time rent payment; which can be a
bonus marketing angle for you when you’re trying to fill vacancies.
An effective maintenance system is the key to retaining tenants. Problems will arise, but
as long as you take care of the issue and keep an open line of communication tenants are
going to be happy. Happy tenants are long-term tenants. Having a trusted team that you
can call for emergency fixes is crucial, but how you handle the actual documentation of a
maintenance request is also important for legal and tax purposes.

6. 1. Time-stamp and save all requests. Avoid legal issues and conflicting information by
saving all your maintenance requests in one place.
2. Set Priority level. This will help you filter out emergencies and get to them quickly.
3. Show a status. A real-time ‘pending’ or ‘completed’ status update will let tenants know
their issue is being worked on, without having to text or email you round the clock.
4. Let you upload pictures and documents. The ability to show pictures of the issue can
help landlords determine how serious the issue is. In addition, the ability for tenants or
landlords to attach receipts makes communication seamless and accounting easy.

7. Even if you had your property inspected when you purchased it, move-in/move-out
inspections can save you from unexpected repair expenses. You should always hire a pro for
initial property inspections, but mobile apps are a great alternative for move-out inspections.
Mobile property inspection tools let you walk through an inspection checklist on your phone
and take photos. Once your inspection report is created, you can store it digitally until you
need it. It’s an easy way to reduce overhead and prevent future losses.
Time-stamping and filing all documents related to your rentals is crucial for landlords who are
interested in following Fair Housing laws (aka everyone). Instead of keeping paper copies,
make your life easier by switching over to digital leases, move-in/move-out checklists, and
eviction notices. We recommend finding a property management software with digital
archiving (like Rentler’s forms). However, scanning and uploading your docs into iCloud or
Google Drive can be a good temporary solution for landlords who only have a few papers to
track.