What Built for the Rest of Us Really Means
If you’ve ever searched for “best property management software” on Google, you’ve probably seen the big names: Buildium, AppFolio, and DoorLoop. I did too.
When I first started managing my own rentals here in Charlotte, North Carolina, I genuinely didn’t know any better. I just assumed I had to pick one of the massive management platforms and start paying a hefty monthly fee. I didn’t know there were other, more affordable options—and honestly, at the time, there really weren’t.
But here’s the thing: my W2 job for over 20 years was in IT, where I built and managed enterprise software for a living. I even created successful platforms like adpeeps.com. I realized I was bringing a developer’s mindset to a landlord’s problem.
That’s when I decided to build something different—not just for me, but for landlords like you. Landlord Cart wasn’t created in a boardroom. It was born out of necessity, on real nights and weekends spent dealing with tenants, spreadsheets, and endless text messages. I used my two decades of software experience to create the tool I always wished I had.
The Problem with the “Big Guys” (and Why I Was Losing Money)
Let’s be honest: the big software companies do a lot of things well. They’re feature-packed, polished, and professional. But for the independent, self-managing landlord, they often create more frustration than freedom.
When I first started, I just wanted a few simple things:
- A professional front door for tenants—somewhere they could log in, submit maintenance requests, and see their history with me.
- A clear, organized way to stay on top of requests and payments, moving away from chaotic text messages and phone calls.
- And, most importantly, an affordable rental management software solution that didn’t eat away at my cash flow.
Here’s what I found when I tried the corporate solutions:
- The Costly Payment Trap: They wanted me to use their payment processors, which meant extra fees—often a staggering 2.9% + per transaction, directly impacting your cash flow. Why should I pay that when I could collect rent with Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App for free? I needed a record of the payment, not a processor.
- Terrible ROI for Small Portfolios: They charged bloated monthly subscription fees, sometimes $60 or more, even if I only had a handful of units. This resulted in a terrible return on investment (ROI) for small portfolios.
- Forcing Control: They tried to control the experience end-to-end—listings, payments, communication—in ways that didn’t fit how small landlords actually operate. Why pay for their listing tool when I can post directly on Zillow or Apartments.com?
The missing piece wasn’t functionality. It was freedom and simplicity. We needed tools that let us run our rental business our way, not the way a software company dictates.
Built for Landlords, by a Landlord
When I started designing Landlord Cart, I kept one simple question in mind: “What would make my own life easier, and keep my money in my pocket?”
That meant building the platform to be:
- Affordable: No inflated monthly fees. You shouldn’t have to lose profit just to manage profit.
- Flexible: Use your existing payment methods. You decide how your tenants pay, not us. We simply log the transactions cleanly.
- Simple: No learning curve, no tedious setup calls. Just log in and manage your core activities.
- Genuine: We focus on the critical needs that stop the chaos: communication, documentation, and records.
Every feature we’ve added to Landlord Cart has come directly from real-world headaches—a late-night text, a misplaced receipt, an unclear maintenance follow-up.
I remember one specific incident: A tenant texted me about pest control. I replied “got it,” and thought I scheduled it, but forgot to update my notes. Two weeks later, I got a frustrated message: “You said you were going to handle this.”
That small misunderstanding turned into a bigger issue—and it was entirely preventable. If I’d had a centralized system where requests were logged, categorized, and timestamped, that situation would never have happened. The right tools help you build trust and maintain professionalism.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by property management software that’s too expensive, too complex, or too controlling, you’re not alone. I was there too.
That’s why I built Landlord Cart—for people like us who want simple, cost-effective tools to manage rental properties online and maximize their success.
So if you’re curious, take the trial. Not because it’s free—but because it’s built by someone who truly gets the DIY landlord tools struggle.