Revolutionize Rental Property Inspections With The Top Maintenance Management Apps

With the maintenance management apps market expected to grow to 1.8 billion by 2028, maintenance software has to have some serious appeal to property managers. Otherwise, why do an increasing number of property managers entrust their business management to software? 

If you’re considering adding software to your property management, there’s much to learn. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. From the pros and cons to the features you should be on the lookout for, here is everything you need to know about maintenance management apps. 

Should Property Managers Use Software To Manage Rental Property Maintenance?

Yes, you should. Maintenance management software has revolutionized and digitized much of the time-consuming and outdated management systems of the past. With software, you can leave behind filing cabinets’ worth of paperwork, ineffective spreadsheets and tracking, and difficult communication.

As a property manager, you’re already dealing with a lot. Trying to keep track of maintenance issues and your resident’s repair requests with pen and paper isn’t effective, especially if you have more than a handful of units. 

Maintenance management software streamlines these processes and does so from one centralized dashboard. 

Pros And Cons Of Using Property Maintenance Management Apps

Maintenance management software has proven to be a powerful addition to property management but has challenges. Let’s look at some pros and cons of using maintenance management software.

The Pros

Manage Multiple Properties

A centralized dashboard gives you an overview of your properties, maintenance requests, and repairs. All this makes keeping track of your units much easier, especially if you are managing multiple properties. 

Remote Access

One of the biggest issues with old-school maintenance is access. Suppose you wanted to manage maintenance requests, job distribution, and track progress. In that case, you’d need to be physically present for all parts of the job. 

But with maintenance management apps, you only need your login details to manage almost all building and apartment maintenance aspects. As long as you have a smart device and internet access, you can manage your properties almost anywhere. 

Increased Productivity

Remote access is just one of the ways maintenance management apps improve productivity. Maintenance management apps give residents access to you. They can send maintenance requests, which you can approve and track from your phone, laptop, or desktop.

You’ll get more done than you would with pen-and-paper maintenance management and get it done much faster. 

Less Downtime

Instant and direct access to local professionals will keep your downtime minimal. You and your residents no longer have to wait days for maintenance that can be completed in a few hours.

Automation also makes it possible to schedule inspections and implement preventative maintenance. Once you set your maintenance parameters, the software will do much of the day-to-day tasks, freeing up time and keeping maintenance downtime to a minimum. 

The Cons 

Learning Curve 

As with any new software, there is a learning curve. Maintenance management apps can confuse anyone new to software and business integration. Fortunately, many software companies offer in-depth tutorials and help desks to guide newcomers through difficult processes. 

Software Fees

Most maintenance management apps are not free. You must pay a monthly or annual subscription fee to use the basic features, with a premium option for more advanced features. 

Many maintenance management apps also charge per unit, which can be a lot if you manage multiple locations. Fees can also be a lot for new property managers. 

When choosing your software, don’t go beyond your means. There are affordable software options that work just as well as more expensive ones. 

Multiple Platforms 

Maintenance management across multiple platforms can be overwhelming if you already use other software to manage different aspects of your property. Using a lot of single-function software is expensive and time-consuming. 

What Features Should I Consider When Looking For Property Maintenance Management Software?

Now that you know how maintenance management software can improve your management style, let’s look at some software features you should look for when choosing a maintenance app. 

Simplified Inspections

The most important part of the maintenance process is fast and efficient inspection software. Maintenance management apps simplify inspections, making it much easier to catch maintenance issues, find professionals to manage repairs, and maintain your property’s value. 

One great example is RentCheck. It empowers residents by letting them manage the inspection process, saving managers and owners time, money, and effort. It’s a groundbreaking solution that prioritizes convenience for residents and owners and improves communication for more effective management. 

Preventative Scheduling

Prevention is better than cure, and nowhere is that more true than with maintenance. If you frequently inspect your properties and catch the issue in its infancy, you can fix it before it becomes a costly matter. 

Practicing preventative scheduling is the most effective way to go about preventative maintenance. You schedule inspections ahead of time, and you do so regularly. Look for software features that support inspection and maintenance automation and send reminder notifications on inspection dates. 

Seamless Integration

Maintenance software is very rarely a standalone solution. Instead, it works in conjunction with inspection software, accounting software, resource planning software, and more. 

If the software doesn’t allow integrations or offer an open API, you’ll work with a disconnected and difficult system. 

Always looks for software that offers seamless integration options. For example, RentCheck integrates with popular rental property management software like AppFolio. 

Specialized In Property Management

Maintenance management software is an umbrella term that encompasses maintenance for a wide variety of industries. While you could opt for general maintenance management software, we’d suggest finding one specializing in property maintenance management. 

It’ll have features, filters, and capabilities unique to the property industry. It’ll be much easier to understand and more powerful than generic maintenance features. 

Remote Access & Mobile Friendly 

Finally, mobile-friendly maintenance software with remote access will allow you to manage maintenance from anywhere. If you’re not tethered to your workstation, you can increase your on-the-go productivity and keep maintenance hold-ups to a minimum. 

3 Maintenance Management Apps To Improve Your Portfolio

Maintenance apps can be a game-changer. However, not all of them are created equal. Here are the best maintenance management apps to improve your business and property management.  

1. RentCheck - Quick & Easy Inspections

RentCheck is inspection software that maximizes profits, streamlines inspections, and improves resident-landlord relationships. 

With RentCheck, residents and managers can manage inspections with automated reminders, one-step scheduling, time-stamped reports, customizable assessments, and easy import and integration features. It’s a simple yet powerful inspection platform that’s proven its power in maintenance management. 

RentCheck is a great option for any property manager who wants to improve inspections and maintenance turnaround. 

2. Appfolio - General Property Management

Appfolio is a general real estate and property management software that aims to free up your time to focus on what matters most. The general property management software can be set to different property management niches, including residential, student, and commercial properties. 

Among its features and benefits, its biggest wins are easy setup, good customer support, and ROI with professional coaching. 

Appfolio is a good option for property managers who want general maintenance and professional investment coaching. 

3. Avail - Property Management With Accounting Features

Avail property management software, like Appfolio, lets users manage maintenance requests and general property management from a centralized dashboard. 

Avial is a good option for property managers who need accounting software alongside their maintenance management software.  

Improve Your Rental Inspections With RentCheck

Maintenance management software can revolutionize how property managers go about inspections and repairs. Automation, integration, scheduling, and remote access are just a few features that will streamline your property upkeep. 

However, none of them will revolutionize your maintenance process as much as RentCheck. With quick and easy resident-led inspections, preventative scheduling, and customization, RentCheck is guaranteed to save you time and money. Give RentCheck a try and view a demo today.