While I have for the most part put away my tools at the rentals i still use them at home.

I recently purchased a tools that i am soooooo impresses with, a big step up from the previous tool. So for my first ever tool recommendation - I am recommending the Frieden DT drain auger (replaces toilet plunger) available on Amazon for $37. It is basically an air gun that clears toilets ( and sinks, tubs, etc.) with one big puff. Love it! What is your favorite tool?

That sounds like a nasty blow back waiting to happen! I don't plunge tenants' toilets but if I did and had the contents of their commode shower back onto me, I'd have to quit real estate indefinitely.

I have a huge assortment of Makita cordless tools. It's hard to choose a favorite child, but the oscillating tool has more than paid for itself.

As I got older I found my favorite tool was my phone.

Problem -- pick up phone-- call appropriate fixer of problem-- done.

Years ago we invested in a Toto toilet. Never regretted it, never had a clog since then. We even pulled it out of our old house and carted it down here to this one.

As a licensed contractor, builder, owner, landlord and manager, I have lot's of tools. Over $100,000 worth. If a tool can make lifer easier, I but it!

Quite a nice tool collection Robert J.

I like the taser dart gun. Have you ever used it?

I have an antique hand drill that I like when I need a drill and do not have a cordless or electric.

My phone with camera.

I take a pic and text it to the appropriate helper.

They send me a pic of the completed item.

And Graco 360 handheld HVLP paint sprayer. Super easy to clean. No hoses.

Like Richard and Brad...smart phone is my best, most-often used tool.

I get it: on this site we have a lot of DIY land lords. That's fine. If that's your wheel house then enjoy your augers and laser guided poop breaker uppers.

But that never was and is no longer my goal!

I want the freedom of being a real estate investors, not a jack of all trades handyman.

Last month, tenant puts in a maintenance request for a clogged toilet. I text my plumber. He's there for 2 hours clearing tampons out of the line and hand-scooping poop out of the toilet, because the tenant kept using it even while it was plugged....for 3 days! The bill was $300. I emailed the bill to the tenant and she paid.

Time out of my life was about 5 minutes, and that includes paying the plumber's invoice and filing the digital PDF invoice in my PC folder for Taxes-2021. My phone is the most efficient tool I've ever had, truly!

CEOs don't scoop poop. Brad 20K taught me this, though in those specific words. Thank you, Brad! I enjoy life so much more now that I've "taken the tools out of the trunk."

Great Post Sid

A good reminder to keep the push toward being more business-like.

The next level beyond that is when you don't even field the service requests or manage the invoice files or bill the tenant yourself! Certainly none of that is the work of a "CEO" either!

I totally agree on the cell phone tool. As far as toilets, I put in my lease over a year ago that if the backup is local, they caused it, they will have to pay for a plumber. If they do call me for a back up in the sink or toilet, I go over that part of the lease and give them the option to first try a plunger before I call a plumber. Thats usually the end of it. Same with garbage disposals by the way, they can watch a 5 minute video on YouTube to free up the clog. I have a saved link that I text them.

Looks like cell phones are tops for most of us! Using mine tomorrow to meet up with the tree guy for a damaged oak. No more waiting around, just get a heads up when he is on the way, then run over to meet. Show him what I want taken out, done in under 10 minutes. Boom.

I have been doing this rental stuff so long that we didn't have cell phones when I started. So, yes, that is the biggest game changer.

But . . . as far as a tool to "fix" something . . . I would go with the oscillating tool. I remember not even 10 or 15 years ago there was no such tool or, at least, no tool that was easily affordable.

Now, I have both corded and battery ones and use them on almost all my rehabs. Such a cool device.