As a Willowbrook rental property owner in the Greater Houston area, you likely want to ensure that your property is well-maintained and performs optimally. Managing rental property maintenance and repair issues can be challenging for even the most experienced landlord.
In the State of Texas, rental property owners and landlords must make repairs to their rental units in a timely manner including repairs to structural, electrical, or plumbing problems that could pose a health or safety hazard to tenants.
In addition, landlords must provide tenants with written notice of any repair work that will take place. This notice must be given at least 24 hours in advance and include information on the nature of the repairs and the expected duration of the work. If a landlord fails to make repairs in due time, tenants may file a complaint with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Maintaining a rental property and addressing repair issues can be very burdensome for landlords. Not only do landlords have to keep up with day-to-day repairs, but busy landlords may not always have the time to track every repair made on their property.
Expert Tips for Landlords to Track Repairs
A professional property management company will have systems and processes to track all rental property maintenance, repairs, invoices, rental payments, and leases. Still, we recognize that some property owners prefer to manage their properties on their own.
If you are a landlord or real estate investor who wants to stay on top of rental property maintenance, we have a few tips to help you organize and track all the necessary repairs for your property:
- All repair requests must be in writing, whether an email, a text, or an online work order to ensure a paper trail of the repair request.
- If having a detailed conversation with the tenant about the repairs needed, take note of the conversation and keep a copy of the work order.
- Upon completion, the landlord should take pictures of the repairs for documentation and save all related invoices.
- The landlord should follow up with the tenant to ensure they are satisfied with the repair.
Overall, there are many ways that landlords can track rental property repairs. While the work order system is a standard method, it is outdated. Spreadsheets are a better option, but they can be time-consuming to input all the data.
The best choice for a landlord is property management software because it provides a wealth of features and advantages that simplify keeping track of repairs.
Rental Property Management Software
The best way to keep track of property maintenance is to use rental management software with built-in repair tracking functionality. Busy landlords can quickly and easily see all the repairs made on the property and the completion date.
A user-friendly software system with an online portal can provide you with transparent and easy access to all information related to your property’s performance, from expenses to leases and rental payments to helping you better understand how your property is doing and identifying areas for improvement to increase your rental income.
Besides tracking rental property maintenance, property management software can also provide monthly and annual accounting statements to track your rental property finances. Listing your rental, screening tenants, and managing leases are other benefits of rental property management software.
The online system will provide accurate information about your investment property’s financial status, rental income, and budgeted expenses. By streamlining rental property management with current technology, property owners can improve the performance of their portfolios while saving time and money.
Who Should Use Rental Property Management Software?
Rental property management software can benefit any rental property owner or landlord. This software can help track various tasks, from receiving rental payments to scheduling maintenance appointments.
In addition, rental property management software often includes a wide range of features, such as creating custom reports and working with multiple properties at once.
As a result, this software can save rental property owners and landlords a significant amount of time and effort. If you are responsible for being a property manager to your own properties, then rental property management software may be what you need.
Choosing Rental Property Management Software
The best property management software will offer various features to help landlords track and manage their properties effectively. These features include online portals, work order management, repair tracking, accounting statements, and more.
By using rental management software with these features, landlords can easily track repairs, stay on top of maintenance tasks, and keep their properties in good condition, helping landlords avoid costly repairs and maintain their properties.
The Downside of Using Rental Property Management Software
The problem with rental management software is that it can be expensive for landlords and time-consuming to learn and use, making property owners feel they don’t need the software.
Depending on the features needed, the monthly fee can range from $10 to $100. Some software systems are free to the landlord, but some charge a fee or restrict the number of properties to track.
Another downside of using rental management software is that it can take time to learn how to use all the features effectively. As a result, busy landlords may want to consider hiring someone to manage their property if they don’t have the time or patience to learn how to use the software.
Overall, rental property management software benefits landlords who want to track repairs, stay on top of maintenance tasks, and keep their properties in good condition.
However, the software can be expensive and time-consuming to learn and use. As a result, real estate investors should weigh the pros and cons of using rental property management software before deciding.
How We Chose the Best Property Management Software
At Residential Leasing & Management, we looked for the best property management software by considering various factors, including price, features, ease of use, customer support, and more.
The property management software we use has many benefits for property owners, property managers, and tenants, including:
- 1. Transparency of information – Property owners can see real-time updates on what is happening with their property, such as maintenance requests, work orders, and tenant payments. Tenants can also see what work is being done on the property and when rent is due. This transparency creates a more open and communicative relationship between owner and tenant.
- Accuracy of information – All information entered into the system is automatically updated and shared with both parties, so there is less chance for human error. This leads to a more streamlined process and fewer mistakes.
- Efficiency – Online portals allow for faster and easier communication between all parties involved. This leads to a more efficient process, with fewer back-and-forth emails or phone calls.
- Convenience – Our online portal is accessible anytime, anywhere there is an internet connection. This means that property owners and tenants can access information whenever they need it.
No matter what method you use to track repairs, it’s essential to have a system that works for you and your property. Tracking rental property maintenance will help keep your investment property in good condition and ensure that tenants are happy.
Property management companies using the latest technology and progressive strategies are essential in helping to keep your investment property running smoothly by tracking repairs, updating leases, and creating accounting and financial reports.
If you need assistance tracking rental property repairs or maintaining your Willowbrook property, contact our team at Residential Leasing & Management. By partnering with our qualified and experienced Houston property management company, you can feel good knowing your investment property is performing at its best.
