the MUST HAVE app? Whats the biggest game changer?

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the MUST HAVE app? Whats the biggest game changer?

Alex BekezaBusiness Member
Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

Every article you read about real estate investing trends makes some mention to emerging technology and its potential impact for REI. So my question for the BP community is this.

If there was ONE app every real estate investor absolutely HAS to have, what would it be?

Or which app has made the biggest difference for you as an RE investor this year?

All the best,

Alex Bekeza

[email protected]818-606-8823
Investor Property Loan5307 Reviews
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Most Popular Reply

Mindy JensenPro Member
BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
8y
Originally posted by @Caleb Heimsoth:

It’s gotta be bigger pockets. Ha

We're working on it... (I've seen the new app. It's 12,000% better than the current one.) 

[email protected]Podcast Guest on Show #261
BiggerPockets
26Reply
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  • Cheryl Foster
    Rental Property Investor · Anderson, SC · Member since 2017 · 42 posts · 24 votes
    8y

    Originally posted by @Billy Linn:

    Google tools have been really useful for us. Sheets for keeping track of finances, Docs for creating documents, Drive for storing documents, and Photos for keeping track of photos. They do the job pretty well for being free but I'd really like to have something more unified and that has better organizing capabilities. I almost have a system that's good enough to replace them all. 

     Hi @Billy Lynn - I just wondered what you meant by “I almost have a system that's good enough to replace them all.“ What is your replacement system? Are you working on a mobile app of your own, by chance? If so, can you share details? Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Tatyana M.
    Investor · Tobyhanna, PA · Member since 2015 · 61 posts · 46 votes
    8y

    Centriq - it keeps all my appliances information (make/model), manuals, paint colors (if different than the standard), fixtures, etc. it also is connected with amazon, so i can order appliance part without looking what model i have. 

    Also Coogle Voice and MileIQ

    2Reply
  • Michael Swan
    Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y
    How about Free and FREE? I use FREE Facebook Marketplace ads for my rentals (more than 1000 free views in one week time) and Craigslist FREE app too every 3 hours new ad goes up to the top. Did I say FREE!! Swanny
    5Reply
  • Marcus T.
    Rental Property Investor · Houston-Galveston Tx · Member since 2016 · 15 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    @Alex Bekeza

    For me its been dealcheck.io 

    Property analysis and for rentals and flips. I really like the format of the reports.

    3Reply
  • Karl Schnitzer
    Real Estate Consultant · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2017 · 52 posts · 35 votes
    8y

    Bigger Pockets of course! 

    However, another one of my favorites is Appfolio. Since I do not manage my portfolio my property manager uses appfolio to manage everything. He creates an owner portal with a login and password for me and I can go in and see EVERYTHING that is going on with each property. You can run reports by property, date range, whatever you want and see Every work order, income, expense, rent roll, fee, past due, lease, lease expirations, any activity you can think of is tracked on there and at your fingertips. This is the first and only management software I have used so I do not know how it compares to others (maybe someone else can chime in) but I have been very pleased with it. 

    I also find it very helpful to bookmark on safari your county property lookup website. 

    2Reply
  • Chris HosierPro Member
    Real Estate Broker · Fort Smith, AR · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    Another vote for MileIQ, and being a realtor I also like the RPR app.

    0Reply
  • Sol Kassam
    Realtor · Seattle & Toronto · Member since 2018 · 14 posts · 3 votes
    8y
    As an Apple/mac user Omnifocus is a gem for note keeping and reminders that seamlessly sync between iPad iPhone and Mac. Highly recommend it.
    0Reply
  • Jill F.
    Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    tinyscan,  us mortgage calculator,

    gmail, google drive/docs/sheets for storing and collaborating on documents/spreadsheets/photos, google voice, google keep,

    Buildium (property managment, online rent payment, property accounting)

    0Reply
  • Sol Kassam
    Realtor · Seattle & Toronto · Member since 2018 · 14 posts · 3 votes
    8y
    Omnifocus for apple products. The best and most expensive Reminders/note-taking app that seamlessly syncs between Mac, iPhone and iPad. Highly recommend anyone who’s serious about getting things done/GTD method of goal achieving.
    0Reply
  • Anton Ivanov
    Rental Property Investor · Rio Rancho, NM · Member since 2013 · 314 posts · 816 votes
    8y

    @Marcus T.

    Thanks for the shoutout!

    1Reply
  • Thor Thurneau
    Rental Property Investor · Eagle River, AK · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    First post, this thread sucked me in since I'm in the IT industry! 

    I just switch to Cozy.co for property management, so far its been excellent and free! I was doing manual rent collection but after my recent purchase it just felt like like its time to start automating the things I was already familiar with.

    I also would like to say Audible and Castbox. I know it isn't RE focused but being able to listen to RE books /podcasts on the go has been a great help.

    1Reply
  • Brian S.
    Rental Property Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2016 · 126 posts · 71 votes
    8y

    @Matthew Olszak

    Curious what you're using Wechat for since this is mainly used in China. You have a lot of clients in China or you have business, or both? Just wondering!

    I'm in Shanghai and probably couldn't live comfortably without it. 

    Brian

    0Reply
  • Matthew Olszak
    Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    @Brian S. I get almost all of my promotional materials - signs, banners, tents, flags, printing, etc - from China. I noticed working through Alibaba, I'd get the highest price via their messenger, lower via email, and lowest after connecting and chatting on Wechat. I get a much better response as well by including my wechat id in solicitations. The money I've saved this past year has been tremendous.

    I've never used it to communicate with clients, but I really like the interface and wish it would catch on here.

    0Reply
  • Wendy Schultz
    Property Manager · Wisconsin and Florida · Member since 2017 · 346 posts · 227 votes
    8y

    @Alex Bekeza Tiny Scanner is a great app for taking photos of documents and turning into a pdf that's lightened up a bunch. I have to check out Evernote Scannable because that one sounds good too. 

    2Reply
  • Anthony Testino
    Developer · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2018 · 35 posts · 21 votes
    8y

    Excel is definitly something to understand, its like a coder learning Java or c#. Either way, I have a few APPS that can help guide you through your every day life. 

    1.) Bigger Pockets (you already know) 

    2.) Fresh Books (inventors of organization)  

    3.) Easy Invoice (such a life savor) 

    4.) Cam to Plan (No tape? No problem) 

    5.) VideoLeap (make awesome adds fast) 

    6.) Voice Translator (dont lose clients) 

    7.) Zelle (pay or get paid quick)

    8.) Facebook for Business (stay on top) 

    9.) PDF Filler (need to edit but your in line) 

    10.) Image Search (for those iffy images) 

    Hope at least one of these help you. 

    Best Regards

    Happy 4th of July

    Anthony

    4Reply
  • Mark W Carpenter
    Wholesaler · Mustang, OK · Member since 2017 · 51 posts · 18 votes
    8y

    1. Podio -Crm 

    2. Zappier  Task automater 

    3. IFTT

    4. Voxer - Phone walkie talkie 

    1Reply
  • Troy Williams
    Rental Property Investor · Florida & Shanghai · Member since 2017 · 192 posts · 68 votes
    8y

    LoopNet - i know is probably old news, but I like the commerically oriented filter features to search for multi-unit criteria anywhere across the country.   Would love to hear if someone has found something better.

    Wunderlist - decent for keeping track of lists and syncing with others

    Wechat-  essential for all forms of communciation in China. 

    Richblockspoorblocks - useful data on demographics at various scales across the country.

    Redfin, Trulia and Zillow - the easy 3 but good for quick cross reference.  Zillow also has a feee Rental Manager app. Limited, but free.

    BP!

    4Reply
  • Rodney Morris
    Charleston, WV · Member since 2017 · 47 posts · 12 votes
    8y

    i'm surprised they're not mentioned more but my vote goes to Everlance and Cozy. I haven't tried MileQ but Evelance performed better on my phone and i have never needed support. Cozy has been awesome and they have expnded their capabilities in the short time i've been using it.

    1Reply
  • Dylan B.
    Investor / Real Estate Agent · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2015 · 324 posts · 157 votes
    8y

    @Alex Bekeza For a scanning app, I recently found iScanner which is super easy and user friendly.  Converts everything directly into a pdf and good quality.  

    MileIQ is a great app for tracking your mileage. 

    Castbox for listening to great podcasts, like the Biggerpockets Podcast. 

    Simple loan calculator for a quick reference. 

    Google Drive. 

    Google calendar, great to time block your day. 

    0Reply
  • Terrell Garren
    Rental Property Investor · Concord, NC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    Dropbox and MS Office have been my workhorses for many years. My new favorite is Cozy for rent collection. No more payment excuses regarding US Mail and going to the bank to make deposits. 

    2Reply
  • Steve Janiak
    Chelmsford, MA · Member since 2017 · 25 posts · 13 votes
    8y
    JotNot Pro great scanning app
    0Reply
  • Alex BekezaBusiness Member
    OP
    Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Marcus T. Seems pretty sweet. Looks like you basically get access to the MLS without needing a license. The reports are pretty easy on the eyes as well and $7 a month ain't to bad. Thanks!

    [email protected]818-606-8823
    Investor Property Loan5307 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Alex BekezaBusiness Member
    OP
    Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Karl Schnitzer Do you pay anything for the app as the landlord?  Or property manager pays the fees? 

    [email protected]818-606-8823
    Investor Property Loan5307 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
  • Karl Schnitzer
    Real Estate Consultant · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2017 · 52 posts · 35 votes
    8y

    @Alex Bekeza property manager has the account, he creates my parter and I owner portals through his account. 

    0Reply
  • Alex BekezaBusiness Member
    OP
    Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Anthony Testino Thanks for taking the time to lay out this toolbox!

    [email protected]818-606-8823
    Investor Property Loan5307 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    0Reply
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