5 Resources for Managing Real Estate Rentals Remotely

Many people can retire early or live the digital nomad life because they get passive income from real estate. I know that owning rental property has certainly helped me reach some goals related to early retirement and financial independence. If you think you’re interested in taking this route. Here are some tips I’d like to share with you about owning and managing properties remotely.

1) Smart everything- locks, thermostat, garage door, etc.

This is especially helpful if you are doing vacation rentals, i.e. short-term rentals. But it’s also helpful if you need to work in your home before any renter comes in, short-term or long-term. When I get a property, one of the first things I do is set up my Simpli Safe alarm system with the digital lock and cameras.

This system helps me let in contractors remotely and assign everyone coming in and out of the property unique PINS. For instance, the guest, cleaner, contractor and property manager have their own PIN. It’s a super simple system you can build on modularly and install yourself.

Also, I like the idea of having a Wi-Fi-enabled garage door opener. I use the Google Home thermostat and MyQ garage door opening systems, too.

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2) Thumbtack or TaskRabbit

These services allow you to find people who can help you with various tasks, from running errands to fixing things and everything else in between. I like the fact that you can choose people based on proximity and see their reviews as well.

For example, I’ve used Thumbtack to locate people who’ve helped me with everything from electrical issues and plumbing to furniture assembly.

3) Virtual Mailbox Service

To me, a virtual mailbox service is essential tool for remote property management since it lets you to receive and manage your mail digitally. With this service, physical mail is scanned and uploaded to a secure online portal, where you can view, read, and even forward your correspondence as needed.

This is particularly useful for property owners who may not be on-site, ensuring crucial documents and communications are never missed. Additionally, it provides a level of privacy and security, as you won’t need to share your personal address with tenants or contractors.

The service I use, Traveling Mailbox, also offers faxing and sending paper letters.

Check out this virtual mailbox provider: Traveling Mailbox

4) Instacart and store delivery services

Whether you get delivery from an all-inclusive provider like Instacart or from a local store like Walmart, this can help you immensely with your remote real estate operation. Plus, these services are great short-term rentals. I’ll send items to my cleaners, contracts or guests within a few hours, even if I’m thousands of miles away.

5) Software stack: project management, scheduling, bookkeeping, etc.

This is just a collection of tools you use to keep records. There are so many out there, and you’ll have to research various services to find out what works best for you. I use Google Workspace, Trello and Waze for accounting.

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