Why you need to automate your property management workflow

The administrative side of property management is chock-full of tedious and straight-up boring tasks. How much time do you spend on leasing paperwork, contracts, record keeping and invoicing?

Well, hold onto your clipboard– because that is all about to change.

Those mind-numbingly monotonous and repetitive tasks can be automated by software! Let's leave the soul-destroying tasks for the soulless machines.

Today, we’re going to cover how automation is changing the role of the property manager for the better.

What is property management automation?

Automation may sound terrifying, like a sci-fi movie gone wrong. 

But do not fear – automation is your friend!

Property workflow automation isn’t taking anyone’s job anytime soon. It's about eliminating repetitive tasks and freeing up time so you can focus on the work that requires your expertise.

This could be meeting with potential tenants, showing properties or landlord prospecting.

The tasks that can be automated by software are most likely the tasks that you push to the bottom of the priority pile anyway: things like generating invoices, creating maintenance tickets, and sending rent reminders.

What parts of your property management workflow can be automated?

Property management is packed with time-consuming administrative tasks that even your newest office intern wouldn’t want to do.

Property management software solutions can assist you in automating the following tasks:

• Collecting rent online
• Gathering eSignatures
• Scheduling calls and appointments 
• Sending automated emails (e.g. sending out scheduled inspection notices, alerting tenants to lease renewals or rent due dates)
• Creating and assigning maintenance tickets
• Accounting
  

The best property management software

There is a whole raft of property management solutions to make your life that little bit easier. We’ve narrowed it down to our five favorites:

AppFolio is an all-in-one software including online rent payment, maintenance requests, tenant screening, and more. Subscribe to AppFolio for the features, but stay for the automated processes that help you leave the office early.

Lumin Sign is an easy-to-use eSignature solution that you can use for document signing or tracking the journey of contracts sent out for electronic signing.

Lodgify is for managing vacation rentals. I’m looking at you Airbnb rental managers. It syncs calendars, rates and reservations to accommodation platforms like Booking.com to ensure you’re getting the best rates.

Lumin is essential in any property manager’s toolbox. Are you creating contracts, inspection checklists or other notices on the daily? Lumin has the tools to do it including a curated library of property management templates, so you never have to write a contract from scratch again.

It’s also a brilliant solution for digital record keeping, as it syncs back to Google Drive.

PropertyWare is a more straightforward software, targeted at managers dealing with single-family properties. Its features include tenant screening, accounting, payments and marketing.

Property managers can still do things face-to-face

A house is someone’s home and an office building is someone's home away from home. Both landlords and tenants alike will always prefer to put a face to the names managing that home.

Until there’s a walking, talking robot that can communicate like you and I, software and automation won’t be replacing the face-to-face aspect of property management.

Embrace the change! Save yourself the admin and focus on what really matters.

Property management templates

Software and automation is one way to cut time. Another is using online forms and templates. We have thousands of curated templates available for your use. Check some out below: