5 Online Tools That Help Me Run a Smarter, Saner Real Estate Business
Being a landlord doesn’t have to feel like death by a thousand little tasks. These five online tools save me time, protect my assets, and make this whole "building generational wealth" thing actually doable. If you're a real estate investor, a DIY landlord, or even a property manager, you need to check these out.
1. Cloud Storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
Let’s start with the basics. You need a place to store your stuff that isn’t a pile of paper in a drawer or an ancient laptop on its last leg. I use Google Drive, but Dropbox or any cloud service will do.
Here’s what belongs in there: leases, deeds, ownership docs, operating agreements, and especially your video move-in and move-out inspections. Get a terabyte of storage. Dump everything in. You’ll thank yourself later when your hard drive dies or someone tries to sue you. It’s cheap. It’s safe. It’s essential.
2. Online Signing Software (BlueInk, DocuSign, etc.)
If you’re still printing and scanning lease agreements, I’m gonna need you to stop.
Online signing software makes life so much easier. I use BlueInk, but there are great options like DocuSign or RentRedi. Most platforms auto-send the signed copy to everyone involved, so you don’t have to play document babysitter. You’ll save hours of back-and-forth with tenants, vendors, and your own brain.
3. Password Manager (LastPass, 1Password, etc.)
This one was a total game-changer. Before we started using LastPass, it was pure chaos keeping track of logins. Now? Every password is long, secure, and stored safely.
And the best part? You only have to remember one master password. It syncs across your phone, laptop, and tablet. Perfect for teams, and still a must-have for solo investors. Stop using “Rentals123.” You’re better than that.
4. Online Scheduling (Calendly or similar)
Real estate investors are busy—we’re juggling deals, contractors, tenants, and sometimes day jobs. So when someone wants to meet, the last thing I want is to play calendar ping-pong.
I use Calendly to let people book time directly on my calendar. Whether it’s showings, networking, or investor calls, it cuts the back-and-forth. I pay eight bucks a month, and it saves me hours. That’s ROI I can get behind.
5. Grammarly
I write like I talk. And while that’s great for making videos, it doesn’t always land in an email or article(like this!).
Grammarly runs in the background and checks everything—emails, social posts, documents. It corrects grammar, punctuation, and tone (bless it). It helps me sound clear and professional without watering down my voice. It’s a must-have if you write anything at all.
Final Thoughts
These five tools have saved me time, money, and a whole lot of headaches. If you’re serious about growing a real estate business that doesn’t suck the life out of you, get these in place ASAP.
Want more tools and tips to help you hold property better? That’s what we do at Hold It With PM Jen. Subscribe to stay in the loop, binge the videos, or reach out—because holding property should be profitable and fun.
What tool saves you the most time or money in your real estate biz? Drop it in the comments or shoot me a message. I’m always looking for another game-changer.
And hey—if this helped you, share it with someone who needs it. Let’s stop doing things the hard way and build smart, strong rental businesses together.
I’m PM Jen, the—landlord educator, real estate investor, and your favorite straight-talker in the buy-and-hold game. Hold It With PM Jen exists to help real estate investors protect their assets, grow their cash flow, and stop spinning their wheels.
Our mission is simple: help you hold properties smarter, longer, and with way less bullshit. Whether you're new to real estate or knee-deep in it, I’m here to help you hold strong and grow big.