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Landlord

6 Stessa Alternatives for Better Leasing and Compliance

Stessa is a financial tracking platform for rental property owners, with automated bookkeeping and Zillow listing distribution. Where landlords tend to outgrow it is pricing and compliance. Leases and e-signing require the Pro plan at $28/month, and the platform does not automate the denial notice that federal law requires when you turn down an applicant based on a screening report. This guide compares five Stessa alternatives on cost, screening, compliance, and the details that matter as your portfolio grows. RentSpree offers a comparable workflow at a lower cost: Landlord PRO runs $6.99/month billed annually with leases, e-sign, and free rent payment collection included, and automated denial notices are built into every plan, including the free tier.

Smiling woman with dark hair wearing striped blazer and gold necklace, standing outside near a wooden structure.
Kimberly Mingo
Landlord

How to verify tenant employment (and reduce income fraud)

Employment verification helps you check where an applicant works, while income verification confirms how much they earn. Both can help you evaluate the information an applicant provides against the criteria you've set for your rental. You can verify employment by contacting an employer directly, then verify income through financial documents or bank-connected income data. RentSpree brings the application, screening reports, income verification, and reference checks together in one place. Bank-connected income verification pulls deposit data directly from an applicant's financial institution, so you're not relying on documents that could be altered.

Smiling woman with dark hair wearing striped blazer and gold necklace, standing outside near a wooden structure.
Kimberly Mingo
Landlord

Credit checks for tenants: what landlords need to know

Most landlords check the credit score and stop there. Knowing how to read that data, set documented criteria around it, and handle denials correctly is what separates a confident screening decision from a costly one. RentSpree's screening includes a TransUnion credit report with ResidentScore on every application, with most results back in two hours.

Smiling woman with dark hair wearing striped blazer and gold necklace, standing outside near a wooden structure.
Kimberly Mingo

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Landlord

How to write a rental application denial letter

When you have to let a potential tenant know that you're denying their rental application, it's important that you do so in writing to both protect yourself and provide clarity for the applicant. In this article, we'll talk you through what's included in a rental application denial letter and even give you a free template to use.

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RentSpree Staff
Landlord

How to be a great landlord to your tenants

Maintaining a harmonious relationship with your renters doesn't have to be stressful or overly complicated. In this article, we're sharing several tips on how to be a great landlord and the various tools you can employ to make your life as a landlord headache-free.

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RentSpree Staff
Landlord

Guide to standard rental application forms

With a thorough rental application, agents can ensure every prospective tenant is who they say they are and protect their landlord client from bad actors. In this guide, we'll go over the information agents should ask from applicants and explain what agents need to look for (and how to interpret) on a rental application.

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RentSpree Staff
Grey background with the image of a rental application with a bright blue checkmark
Landlord

Rental application process 101

In this article, we'll go over the various parts of the rental application process including what the application is, why you can't afford to ignore an application, and what you can expect in the subsequent chapters of this guide.

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RentSpree Staff
Rent Estimate the Ultimate Guide
Landlord

The ultimate rent estimate guide

Whether you are a real estate investor or a real estate agent providing advice and support for the investors on your client roster, developing and maintaining an accurate rent estimate is the first step toward measuring the profitability and return on investment of the property under your care. In addition, once you develop an initial rent estimate, you can continue to plug in new information so that it becomes more accurate and useful in the years ahead.

Smiling middle-aged woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a black top and grey background.
Christy Murdock
Author
Woman wearing glasses smiles as she manages her property remotely via her laptop.
Landlord

10 important basics of being a long-distance landlord

Real estate investment opportunities can happen anywhere and the perfect property may not be in your neighborhood at all. The good news? With today’s tech capabilities and communication options, you can own and manage a property from virtually anywhere. If you’ve been considering an investment opportunity in a distant city or even another state, we’ve got a roundup of great information that you need before you begin life as a long-distance landlord.

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RentSpree Staff
Landlord

Identifying red flags on apartment rental applications

With rental scams on the rise, landlords can't afford to fall victim to bad actors pretending to be a legitimate applicant. In this article, we'll explain what a rental application scam is, go over common red flags on applications, and provide best practices on how to avoid rental scams.

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RentSpree Staff
Rent receipt example next to small stack of cash
Landlord

What is a rent receipt? [+ Template]

To better track their rental property finances, landlords should get in the habit of providing tenants with a rent receipt. In this article, we'll dig into the benefits of a rent receipt, what should be included, and provide landlords a rent receipt template to get started.

Smiling woman with shoulder-length hair sitting outdoors with green leaves in the background.
Eva Hatzenbihler
Author
Landlord

How to choose between two applicants

When it comes to filling a rental vacancy, having too many prospective tenants can be just as stressful as a slow rental market. In order to simplify the process of choosing between two qualified applicants, landlords should establish a clear set of criteria and an application process to remove any anxieties that come with making a final decision.

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RentSpree Staff