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Property Management Tools for Landlords

Home What is Property Management? Property Management Tools and Resources for Landlords

Managing your own rental properties can easily become a full-time job.

Landlords have to deal with screening new tenants, managing maintenance requests, collecting rent, and handling tenant conflicts, you’ll have a lot to manage if you self-manage.

Fortunately, there are landlord resources available to help you save time and money on property management.

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    Essential Property Management Tools for Landlords

    Below are our Essential Property Management Checklists, which outline what landlord and tenant resources you can use at each step of the process.

    Marketing Your Property

    • Referrals: Leverage your network for tenant leads.
    • Facebook Ads: Paid ads to reach potential tenants.
    • Yard Signs: Traditional signs to attract local interest.
    • SEO: Optimize your property website for search engines.
    • Craigslist: High-volume but low-quality leads.
    • Facebook Marketplace: Free listings with photos.
    • Airbnb.com: For short-term rental tenants.
    • Apartments.com, Rent.com, Realtor.com: Professional listing platforms.

    Tenant Screening

    Move-In Checklist

    • Remove garbage and debris
    • Thoroughly clean the property
    • Check for mold
    • Repair any damages
    • Examine heating, plumbing, and electrical
    • Hire a pest exterminator (if needed)
    • Conduct necessary property inspections
    • Review, sign, and date the lease agreement
    • Assign security deposit and first month’s rent
    • Change locks
    • Introduce tenant to amenities
    • Provide contact information

    Collecting Rent

    • AppFolio: Online rent collection and property management.
    • NestEgg: All-in-one rental task coordination.
    • Rentalfy: App for rent collection and tenant screening.

    Preventative Maintenance

    • Check locks on doors and windows
    • Test smoke alarms
    • Clean gutters
    • Maintain shared appliances
    • Maintain pool and hot tubs
    • Maintain HVAC systems
    • Trim trees
    • Check water heater
    • Address pests
    • Check for water damage
    • Fix lighting fixtures
    • Ensure AC units work
    • Address plumbing issues
    • Maintain lawn
    • Winter-proof property

    Move-Out Checklist

    • Confirm last month’s rent
    • Remind tenant to cancel utilities
    • Set move-out date
    • Ensure tenant removes items
    • Provide cleaning checklist
    • Rent professional cleaners
    • Recover keys
    • Notify cleaning/repair charges
    • Conduct final inspection
    • Assign security deposit refund

    Accounting and Supplies

    • Hire a CPA: For tax and financial management
    • Separate Accounts: Track property transactions
    • Reconcile Accounts: Annual review with CPA
    • Tax Deductions: Property taxes, repairs, management fees

    Property Management Software

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    Rental Property Calculators

    Use calculators to assess ROI, depreciation, and property value.

    Property Management Services

    Learn more about Century 21 Northwest’s Property Management services.

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    Property Management

    Further Reading