Opinion / DealCheck vs. EzLandlordForms: Key Comparisons, Pros, and Cons
DealCheck vs. EzLandlordForms: Key Comparisons, Pros, and Cons
Published Date: September 21, 2024 - By Ebadul Haque
In the world of real estate, two tools have stood out in my personal experience—DealCheck and EzLandlordForms. They’re both indispensable but serve entirely different functions. While DealCheck is a must-have for analyzing real estate deals, EzLandlordForms is a landlord’s dream for managing tenant relationships.
I’ve spent years working with landlords and investors, and these tools have been crucial in many successful transactions. Let me walk you through DealCheck vs. EzLandlordForms, how each one works, their benefits, and a few lessons I’ve learned along the way.
Take Rayma, for example. She’s a young, ambitious real estate investor. Rayma was eager to make her first real estate flip, and she knew that numbers were the backbone of any successful deal.
Through a mutual friend, she learned about DealCheck—a platform designed for property analysis. Rayma wanted to make sure her first flip was profitable, and DealCheck offered her the flexibility to run the numbers.
She plugged in the purchase price, estimated repair costs, and market rent for the property she was eyeing. Within minutes, Rayma could see the projected cash flow, return on investment (ROI), and potential profit from selling the property after renovations.
DealCheck helped her quickly determine that this house was a gold mine waiting to be polished. She ended up making a $50,000 profit on her very first deal—something that might have taken months to calculate manually, or worse, could have been a loss if the numbers were wrong.
Here’s why Rayma, and many like her, swear by DealCheck:
Real-Time Profit Analysis: Whether you’re analyzing a rental property, BRRRR, or flip, DealCheck makes it possible to crunch the numbers in minutes. It cuts out the hours spent building spreadsheets and checking formulas.
Mobile Flexibility: On a visit to a potential property, Rayma used the DealCheck app right from her phone. She quickly inputted the numbers, and the app showed her whether the deal was worth pursuing—without needing to go back to her office or spend hours rechecking her calculations.
Comprehensive Metrics: Cash flow, cap rate, ROI, repair cost estimates— DealCheck lays it all out in an easy-to-understand format.
But, as amazing as DealCheck is, it doesn’t cover all aspects of the real estate journey, especially once you’ve bought a property and need to manage it. That’s where EzLandlordForms comes in.
Once Rayma successfully completed her flip and turned a profit, she wanted to invest in rental properties. This is where she faced a new challenge—tenant management.
I introduced her to EzLandlordForms, a platform I’ve used myself when helping landlords stay on top of lease agreements, tenant screening, and all the legal paperwork that comes with renting out property.
EzLandlordForms proved invaluable for Rayma. Her first tenants were young professionals with a decent credit score, but before she signed anything, Rayma used EzLandlordForms’ tenant screening service to get a deeper look into their rental history.
The background check revealed an earlier eviction from a previous rental due to unpaid rent—something that would have been a disaster for Rayma if she had skipped this step.
Here’s why EzLandlordForms is the landlord’s lifesaver:
Comprehensive Tenant Screening: As Rayma learned, EzLandlordForms offers a robust background check that includes financial, criminal, and rental history. This service saved her from potentially signing on a tenant with red flags.
Customizable, Legal Forms: Whether you need a lease agreement, eviction notice, or move-in/move-out checklist, EzLandlordForms has customizable, state-specific documents. Rayma loved how simple it was to create a professional-looking lease that covered all the important points.
Property Management Tools: EzLandlordForms also includes rent collection, eviction forms, and maintenance requests, helping landlords stay organized and compliant with legal requirements.
The Real-Life Pros and Cons:
While both DealCheck and EzLandlordForms are incredibly useful, neither is perfect. Here’s how I’ve come to weigh them in real-life scenarios:
DealCheck Pros:
Fast and Accurate Analysis: It’s hard to find a faster way to determine if a property is worth the investment. You get real-time data with minimal input.
User-Friendly Interface: Even if you’re not tech-savvy, DealCheck walks you through the process seamlessly.
Variety of Property Types: Whether you’re looking at a single-family rental, a multifamily unit, or a flip, DealCheck has built-in calculations for everything.
DealCheck Cons:
Limited Post-Purchase Support: Once you’ve made the purchase, DealCheck isn’t designed to help you manage tenants or properties.
Subscription Costs: While affordable, DealCheck’s premium features do come at a cost. However, they offer a 20% discount with the promo code ANALYZEREALESTATE, which helps!
EzLandlordForms Pros:
Tenant Screening and Legal Protection: With tenant background checks and customizable forms, you’re covered from a legal standpoint.
State-Specific Forms: If you’re renting properties in different states, EzLandlordForms’ state-specific agreements ensure you’re always in compliance.
All-in-One Management Tool: From screening tenants to collecting rent, it’s an all-in-one tool for landlords.
EzLandlordForms Cons:
Pay-Per-Use Pricing: While EzLandlordForms offers many forms for free, some specialized documents come with a price tag. If you manage multiple properties or need frequent updates, these costs can add up over time.
Limited Property Management Features: EzLandlordForms focuses on providing forms and tenant screening, but it lacks some broader property management tools like rent collection or maintenance tracking that other platforms might offer.
State-Specific Complexity: Although the platform tailors forms to state regulations, changes in local laws may require additional manual adjustments. You need to stay informed about legal changes to ensure forms remain compliant, especially in more complex states.
No Deal Analysis or Financial Projections: Unlike other tools that assist with property investment decisions, EzLandlordForms is designed solely for managing existing rental properties. It won’t help you analyze a potential property’s financial viability, so you’ll need another tool for that stage of investing.
DealCheck vs. EzLandlordForms: Which Should You Choose?
It really depends on where you are in your real estate journey. If you’re just getting started, looking for properties, and don’t yet have tenants to manage, DealCheck is probably where you should begin. It’s an investor’s tool, helping you make the right purchase decisions by crunching numbers for you.
But once you’ve got a few properties under your belt, EzLandlordForms becomes an indispensable tool. It’s your legal and tenant-management safety net, ensuring that all your paperwork is in order and that you’ve properly screened tenants before handing over the keys.
Final Verdict:
If you’re in the property acquisition phase, DealCheck is your go-to. It’s efficient, user-friendly, and gives you a clear view of the potential profits or losses from any deal. But if you’ve moved on to the property management phase, EzLandlordForms becomes your best friend, providing all the necessary documents and tenant screening services to run your rentals smoothly.
In the end, real estate success often comes down to having the right tools. For anyone like Rayma, DealCheck and EzLandlordForms can be like the dynamic duo of property investing and management—each doing their part to make sure she avoids costly mistakes and keeps her investments running smoothly.
FAQs:
What is the main purpose of DealCheck?
DealCheck is designed to help real estate investors quickly analyze potential investment properties. It allows users to input property data and calculates key financial metrics like cash flow, ROI, and cap rate. It’s a powerful tool for evaluating rental properties, flips, BRRRR strategies, and multi-family buildings before making investment decisions.
How does DealCheck help me find profitable real estate deals?
DealCheck allows you to input property details, and it automatically calculates metrics like cash-on-cash return, cash flow, and financing options. This helps you see whether a deal will be profitable based on your criteria, helping you avoid costly mistakes before purchasing a property.
What types of forms does EzLandlordForms provide?
EzLandlordForms offers a wide range of legal documents for landlords, including state-specific lease agreements, eviction notices, rental applications, pet agreements, security deposit forms, and more. These documents are customizable to ensure they meet the specific needs of your rental property.
Can EzLandlordForms help with tenant screening?
Yes, EzLandlordForms provides a comprehensive tenant screening service, which includes checking a prospective tenant’s credit score, criminal background, and rental history. This service helps landlords make informed decisions and avoid problematic tenants.
Can I use DealCheck on my phone or tablet?
Yes, DealCheck offers a mobile app that allows you to analyze properties on the go. Whether you’re visiting a property or attending an open house, you can run numbers and check if the deal meets your investment goals directly from your phone or tablet.
Is EzLandlordForms suitable for landlords with multiple properties?
Absolutely! EzLandlordForms is ideal for both small landlords and those managing multiple properties. Its wide range of customizable forms and tenant screening tools make managing multiple leases and tenant applications much easier and legally compliant.
Does DealCheck support BRRRR strategy analysis?
Yes, DealCheck has specific features that cater to the BRRRR strategy. It allows you to analyze the potential returns from buying, rehabbing, and renting out a property and then refinancing it for future investments. This helps BRRRR investors see if a property will meet their goals.
How much does EzLandlordForms cost?
While many of EzLandlordForms’ basic forms are free, more specialized documents and tenant screening services come at an additional cost. The pay-per-form model lets you choose only the services you need without paying for a full package unless required.
Can I compare multiple properties in DealCheck?
Yes, DealCheck has a feature that allows you to compare different properties side-by-side. This is particularly useful when you’re evaluating several potential deals and need to see which one offers the best financial returns.
Is EzLandlordForms compliant with state-specific landlord-tenant laws?
Yes, EzLandlordForms offers state-specific lease agreements and legal forms that are designed to comply with local laws and regulations. However, it’s always a good idea to stay informed about any changes to local laws and consult a legal professional if necessary.
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