Get started with your 7-day trial.
Follow these four walkthroughs to set up your search, review your first matches, and bring your existing rentals into Operator.
Step 1 · Day 1
Set up your first buy box
Start with one market and one strategy. Your buy box tells Operator which properties deserve your attention when it scans each day.
Open a new buy box.
Use the link below to open the setup form. If you are signed out, sign in first, then continue with your criteria.
Choose the property type you want to buy.
Select an asset class that fits your strategy. Start with the type you know best so you can judge whether the first matches are relevant.
Define your search area.
Add the cities, counties, or ZIP codes where you would actually buy. Begin with a focused area you can evaluate, then expand it if needed.
Set your budget and property requirements.
Enter your maximum price and minimum beds, baths, or units, as applicable. Add any available exclusions that would rule a property out for you.
Check the listing count and save.
Review how broad your search is before saving. If there are no listings, check the location and limits; if there are too many, tighten the criteria that matter most.
By the end of this step
Your first buy box is saved with a clear market, budget, and property type for the daily scan.
Step 2 · After the first run
What to expect from the daily run
Operator runs your buy box daily and surfaces new matches, including off-market and distressed properties. Use the first results to see how well your criteria reflect your strategy.
Check your workspace and email digest.
After the daily scan, look for new matches in Operator and your email. You do not need to recreate the same search each morning.
Open a high-scoring match.
Start with a property that closely fits your buy box. Compare its location, price, and property type with the criteria you saved.
Select View details.
Review the property information and, where available, owner details, equity, debt, and listing history. Use these details to decide what needs a closer look.
Review the numbers and assumptions.
Look at the available deal math alongside the price, rent, expenses, and financing assumptions. A match score is a starting point for research, not a reason to skip your own review.
Check your criteria if the results are sparse.
A daily scan does not guarantee a new match. If the results are not useful, revisit your search area, price limit, and requirements before the next run.
By the end of this step
You have opened your first scored match and know which property details and assumptions to investigate next.
Step 3 · Days 2 to 5
Save a match to your portfolio
Turn the daily results into a shortlist you can return to. Keep promising properties together and clear out those that do not fit.
Choose a property worth following.
Review its details first. Save a match when the location, price, and property fundamentals justify spending more time on it.
Select Save to portfolio.
Keep the opportunity in your portfolio so you can revisit the property and its numbers without starting from a fresh search.
Return to the saved property.
Open it from your portfolio and continue your review. Check the rent, operating costs, and financing assumptions behind the returns you are considering.
Select Pass on properties that do not fit.
Work through the remaining matches. Keep your shortlist focused on properties you would realistically investigate or pursue.
Refine your buy box when you see a pattern.
If you keep passing for the same reason, edit the relevant criteria. For example, narrow the location or lower the maximum price, then review what the next daily run brings.
By the end of this step
You have a focused shortlist of saved opportunities and a buy box that better reflects what you want to buy.
Step 4 · Before day 7
Add properties you own for rent monitoring
Bring your existing rentals into Operator as well as the properties you are researching. Accurate unit and rent information gives the monthly market comparison useful context.
Open Add property.
Use the link below to add a property you already own. If you have several, you can upload a CSV or Excel file instead of entering each one separately.
Review the property and unit details.
Check the address and unit information before you continue. For an import, review the uploaded details and correct anything missing or inaccurate.
Enter each unit’s current rent.
Use the rent you currently charge for that unit. Keeping actual rent accurate makes it easier to understand the gap between your rent and the market.
Turn on alerts in Rent Alerts.
Open Rent Alerts and enable monitoring for the properties you want to follow. Operator checks rents against the market monthly, rather than on the buy box’s daily schedule.
Use the next comparison in your review.
Compare current rent with nearby rental comparables when the monthly update is available. Revisit the information when planning a lease renewal, and update your recorded rent when it changes.
By the end of this step
Your owned properties and current rents are recorded, with alerts enabled for future monthly market checks.
Set up your buy box today.
Cancel any time before your trial ends and you won't be charged.