7 Tech Tools Every Landlord Needs to Be More Efficient

This story originally appeared on Readwrite.com

You probably won’t find anyone who claims being a landlord is inherently easy, but there are things landlords can do to make their lives easier. Streamlining property management has never been easier, thanks to the ever-evolving landscape of tech tools.

In this guide, discover seven indispensable tech tools that every forward-thinking landlord should embrace. You’ll be able to enhance tenant experiences and make your landlord duties easier with these tech tools:

1. Smart Home Technology

Smart home tech in or around your tenants’ homes can make your life easier by automating routine maintenance tasks and protecting your property. It can also make your tenants’ lives easier for the same reasons. For example, implementing smart lock systems in your rental properties can significantly enhance security and convenience for both parties. By integrating high-tech locks, you ensure controlled access while eliminating the need for physical keys and the inherent risks of loss or duplication.

Should a situation arise where access needs to be granted remotely or revoked swiftly, smart locks empower you to do so from anywhere. Additionally, in cases of tenant turnover, resetting access is as simple as a few clicks. This not only improves the property’s security — meaning your tenants can feel safe — but it also streamlines administrative tasks.

Cameras are another popular smart home tech often worth the investment because they can alert you to things that might be amiss. If anything happens on the property, you’ll also be able to review the incident on the camera. If you do install cameras, make sure the cameras don’t point anywhere that would violate your tenants’ privacy. Most of today’s security systems are wireless, but if you’re worried about the system being hacked, you can opt for wired security cameras. Both work just the same and provide many benefits to landlords.

2. A Property Management App

If you’re going to manage your own properties, you need an app that covers everything from tenant screening to rent collection. Centralizing tasks like rent collection, maintenance requests, and communication with tenants in one platform saves you time and makes the renting process more accessible to tenants.

An app can help you stay organized because it’ll keep track of all lease agreements, important documents, and financial records. If a tenant misses a payment, you’ll have evidence and they’ll likely be notified. Keeping these records in a place that’s easily accessible for you and your renters means difficult conversations can be a bit easier. If a tenant is consistently missing payments, the app can send notifications and reminders about consequences, if applicable.

Another benefit of a property management app is that it can allow you to manage your properties remotely — if you use it correctly. Sometimes, though, it is best to have someone on location. If you don’t want to manage the properties yourself, you can pass off your property management duties to a professional property management team instead, like the property management experts at Green Residential. When you have a property management team working for you, they’ll have a software suite of their own, so you won’t have to do any of the work.

3. Airplane Mode or ‘Do Not Disturb’

This isn’t a tool you’ll have to buy or install. Luckily, it’s something you likely already have in your pocket! If you’re a busy landlord, or you just like keeping your personal life quiet, airplane mode or ‘do not disturb‘ will be your best friend. It’s simple technology, and it’s not new, but it’s extremely powerful, especially when you want to relax and not be bothered by your phone.

Related: 6 Ways to Make Passive Income Through Rental Properties

When you have tenants, you might get calls both day and night. Hopefully, you have someone else to take these calls for you and manage the situations as they arise. If not, and it’s all on you, start using airplane mode to set boundaries for when you’re available. Use it during the day to go on breaks and enjoy your hobbies — at least for a few hours.

Make sure to set up an emergency number for when you’re not available. Whether it’s a trusted property manager, maintenance service, or an emergency hotline, having a dedicated line for urgent matters ensures that critical issues can still be addressed promptly. You should also set up your voicemail message, so callers know you’ll return their call as soon as possible. Remember, it’s unreasonable for anyone to expect you to answer the phone 24/7 around the clock, day after day. So, don’t have that expectation for yourself.

4. Pet Management Software

Just when you thought nobody could invent an entirely new type of software, here come pet management applications. For landlords who need to keep track of tenants who have pets, this software can be a game-changer. A simple pet management platform helps…