Articles

• How to Build Your Own Property Management App with AI (2026)

  What a small landlord’s property management app should hold, when ready-made software is the better choice, and how to build your own with AI without writing code.

• Tenant Screening Process: Steps and Fair Housing Basics for Small Landlords (2026)

  A step-by-step tenant screening process for small landlords, with written criteria, income and reference checks, FCRA adverse action notices and the fair housing rules that apply.

• Rent Collection: Payment Methods, Late Fees and Grace Periods (2026)

  How small landlords collect rent: payment methods and their fees, receipts, grace periods, late fee limits with state examples, partial payments and a monthly collection routine.

• Move-In and Move-Out Inspection Checklist for Landlords (2026)

  A room-by-room move-in and move-out inspection checklist, how to photograph and sign it, wear and tear versus damage, and state rules from Washington, New York and California.

• Lease Renewal Process and Timelines for Small Landlords (2026)

  A lease renewal timeline from 120 days out, how to price a renewal against turnover cost, notice rules for rent increases and non-renewal with New York and California examples, and what a renewal offer should include.

• Security Deposits: Limits, Holding, Deductions and Returns (2026)

  How landlords should set, hold, deduct from and return security deposits, with a worked itemized statement and deadlines and penalties from California, New York and Texas.

• Property Management KPIs: Occupancy, Turnover and Delinquency (2026)

  The property management KPIs that matter for a small portfolio, with formulas and a fully worked 15-unit example covering occupancy, economic occupancy, turnover, renewals, delinquency and expenses.

• Owner Statements: What a Monthly Property Management Report Should Include (2026)

  What a monthly owner statement should contain, with a worked statement for a four-unit building, the supporting reports owners expect, reserves, distributions and trust account basics.

• Best Property Management Software for Small Landlords (2026)

  Eight property management tools for landlords with 1 to 50 units, compared on what they do well, what to watch and current prices from each vendor’s own pricing page.

• Best Free Property Management Software (2026)

  Seven free property management options for small landlords, what each free plan really includes, who pays the fees, and when it is worth upgrading, using each vendor’s own pricing page.

• Floot vs Buildium: Build Your Own Property Management App or Buy One? (2026)

  Floot and Buildium compared head to head for landlords and small property managers: what each is, features, pricing from each pricing page, and when each is the better choice.