A small landlord problem turned into a property management app

The writer says they inherited management of 7 rental properties with no training or handoff. They were pregnant, grieving, and suddenly handling keys and tenant needs. Existing property management software was either too expensive or the free tier did not include what they needed, so they built their own app called Leasly.

Key points

  • The writer says they had to manage 7 properties without prior experience.
  • The older process used manual records, including handwritten receipt books.
  • They found existing property management software too expensive or too limited on the free tier.
  • They built Leasly for small property owners and managers.
  • The stated goal is an affordable tool that covers the needed basics.

Quick term guide

handoff
Passing work from one step, person, or tool to another.
property management software
Software used to track rentals, tenants, payments, maintenance, and related tasks.
software
Programs or apps that run on a computer or smartphone.
free tier
A set amount of usage a service provides at no cost before charging begins.
business
An activity where you provide value to others in exchange for money.
workflow
A repeatable set of steps for getting a task done.
spreadsheets
Table documents, like Excel files, used to organize numbers and information.
spreadsheet
A file made of rows and columns, often used for numbers, budgets, and lists.
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