Week One of Validation: A Small Landlord Software Idea That Might Be Real

This week I started validating an early idea: simple software for small landlords with 1 to 10 properties or units.

The goal is not to pitch people. It is to learn whether this is a real problem and whether these landlords feel underserved by the tools they have today.

So far, the early signal has been good.

I have talked to three people so far.

The most useful conversation was with Dustin, a landlord with 1 to 10 properties. I called him after he left his phone number on a Facebook post where I asked to speak with landlords. He gave me the clearest validation yet.

Two things stood out right away:

• Rent collection needs to be simple for both the landlord and the tenant.
• Background checks matter a lot because one bad tenant decision can be costly.

That conversation gave me confidence that I am looking at a real problem.

I also spoke with Shelby, who owns a couple of properties and uses TurboTenant. That was helpful because if I keep going, products like TurboTenant will likely be my competition.

The third conversation was with Ethan, who manages around 60 to 70 units. That conversation was useful too, but it also helped me realize something important: I have not always been talking to the right customer.

The people I want to understand best are not large operators. They are the smaller landlords who are not full-time property managers but still need reliable software. Right now, it seems like many of them do not have a tool that feels simple, lightweight, and easy to get started with.

That is the opportunity I keep hearing underneath these conversations.

One thing I do feel good about is how I end each call. I always ask if they can connect me with someone else I should talk to. That has helped me keep the momentum going. I also try not to force my idea into the conversation. I want to hear about their workflow, their frustrations, and the jobs they need done before I say too much.

That has probably been the biggest lesson from week one:

Talk less. Listen more. Find the right customer.

The idea still feels early, but it feels more real than it did a week ago. Now I just need more conversations with the kinds of landlords I actually want to build for.