As our world becomes more and more virtual, Property Managers are being pushed into a more digital way of doing business. Property Management automation softwares and tools for nearly every realm of the business are becoming more and more abundant, widely adopted, and by now, is a minimum expectation of a well run property management company.Â
In this article, we’ll break down a list of tools available to work into your operations, allowing your business to run more efficiently and grow.
The Basics – Software:Â
Property management software is the most basic tool to help streamline processes. It helps property managers track leases, residents, collect rent and manage finances to reduce costs and streamline operations. Some of the popular softwares out there are:
1. Rent Manager
Rent Manager is a powerful property management software that combines all the features you need to run your business into a single integrated solution. This customizable platform is ideal for properties of every size and will allow property management companies to scale their business and run more efficiently. Rent Manager offers multiple tools, including:
- Accounting
- Reporting
- Marketing and leasing
- Business operations
- Maintenance
- Software customization
Rent Manager also has an open API and seamlessly integrates with dozens of property management technologies, including Latchel. This helps reduce any need for double entry, giving you time back to focus on the day-to-day responsibilities necessary to help you smoothly run your operation. For pricing information, click here to contact a member of the Rent Manager team.
2. PropertyWare
Propertyware is a customizable, open platform designed for single family property management companies. This property management software allows you to create custom fields, dashboards and reports. With Propertyware, property management companies can:
- Handle online leases
- Manage properties through their portal
- Track maintenance requests and work orders
- Control online accounting and payments
- Leverage marketing tools
- Streamline tenant screening
- And more!
This software also has an open API, which allows for two-way data connection, eliminating duplication, minimizing manual data entry risk, and increasing efficiency between Propertyware and other third-party systems, including Latchel.Â
Pricing ranges from $1 to $2 per unit, per month. Each pricing package requires a monthly minimum plus an implementation fee of two times the monthly subscription price.Â
3. Buildium
Buildium allows landlords, professional property management companies, and self-managed condos and homeowners associations to take control of their portfolio and business by leveraging their residential and association management software. This property management software features several tools, including:
- Property, company, and vendor accounting
- Maintenance request management
- Rental listing management
- Resident screening
- Community association management
- Onboarding and customer support
- Open API
- And more!
Buildium offers three pricing packages ranging from $50 to $460 a month. No matter how many units you manage, Buildium is a simple, unified platform built for any company size.
4. Appfolio
Appfolio is an intuitive platform that allows property management companies to streamline their processes and manage their entire residential portfolio, no matter the market or size. With an easy-to-use online portal, Appfolio helps with:
- Communication and service
- Accounting and reporting
- Maintenance and operations
- Staffing and training
- Marketing and leasing
- Management and growth
From document management and performance insights to utility management and corporate accounting, Appfolio has all the tools you need to effectively run and grow your property management business. Pricing is dependent on portfolio type and ranges anywhere from $0.80 per unit, per month with a minimum monthly fee of $280 to $3 per unit, per month with a minimum monthly fee of $1,500.Â
5. RentRedi
RentRedi is an all-in-one property management software that gives landlords all the tools they need to manage their properties. The RentRedi app seamlessly connects landlords to their residents, allowing you to improve tenant experiences with unlimited support. This property management platform offers several valuable features, including:
- Rental property accounting
- Rent collection
- Tenant screening
- Pre-qualifications and applications
- Maintenance requests and coordination
- Listings and marketing
- Resident and team communications
RentRedi offers three subscription plans to choose from, including $19.95 per month (renews monthly), $15 per month (renews every 6 months), and $9 per month (renews annually). If you are managing under 75 units, we recommend exploring RentRedi for your property management needs.
6. ResMan
ResMan’s property management platform helps multifamily and affordable housing managers operate more efficiently and deliver higher rates of return to investors. This intuitive property management software offers multiple solutions, including:
- Accounting
- Budgeting
- Reporting
- Marketing
- Online leasing
- Property management
- And more!
For pricing information, click here to get in touch with one of ResMan’s property management experts.Â
7. Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct allows landlords and property managers to operate their business in the most efficient way possible. This comprehensive property management software gives you:
- A professional website
- Complete accounting system
- Tenant screening
- Resident online payments
- Online file management
- Publish vacancies online
In addition to these valuable features, Rentec Direct provides users with unlimited access to their U.S.-based client support. Pricing starts at $35 per month and increases depending on how many units you manage and if you choose a monthly or annual billing cycle.Â
Leasing Automation:Â
Leasing automation software helps property management experts manage their leasing activities under one platform. Some of the top leasing automation systems include:
1. Tenant Turner
Tenant Turner is a lead scheduling software that allows you to keep all your leasing activities in one place. Tenant Turner provides instant responses to all tenant leads, schedules showings and self-access viewings, and provides reporting so you can stay on top of your metrics. You also can set your screening criteria in advance so only qualified leads get access to scheduled showings. This leasing automation software provides several useful features, including:
- Centralized leasing dashboard
- Pre-qualification and scoring
- Listing import
- Call recordings
- Calendar integrations
- And more!
Pricing starts at $1 per unit, per month with a $50 minimum subscription and increases based on feature add-ons.
We had Tenant Turner on The Latchel Podcast to dive deeper into the details, you can tune in here.
2. Rently
Rently is an innovative self-touring and smart home technology that optimizes the complete renter lifecycle. With Rently, you can manage energy usage, control access, prevent damage, and monitor activity using a single system. This property management technology offers several intuitive features, like:
- Complete remote control of your assets
- Self-guided tours
- iQual Plus resident screening
- Call center
- Agent scheduling
- And more!
This time-saving solution helps improve the experience for both renters and property management professionals. To learn more about Rently and explore pricing, click here to request a demo.Â
3. ShowMojo
ShowMojo automates the entire residential leasing process all under one platform. From marketing to online scheduling to prospect nurturing, ShowMojo slashes costs, reclaims time, and delights your prospective renters. This leasing automation tool provides countless user-benefits that allow you to:
- Advertise on over 50 listing sites
- Fit showings to your schedule
- Seamlessly screen every prospect
- Report progress on every listing
- Drastically reduce no-shows
- And more!
ShowMojo offers three plan tiers for single family, mid-size multi-family plans, and plans for absolutely anyone. Pricing ranges anywhere from $69-$1800 per month.
4. PointCentral
PointCentral helps property managers reduce hassle and improve your operating income through smart automation and connected devices. This vertical focused home automation solution helps with lockouts by allowing you to generate a code or just unlock a unit from your phone via bluetooth. PointCentral is a best fit for those managing:
- Vacation rental
- Rent by owner
- Single-family
- Multi-family
- Corporate housing
Overall, this property management software helps you cut your energy spend, eliminate keys, track access, and receive important information from one system.Â
To learn more about PointCentral and their pricing options, click here to sign up for an exclusive free demo.Â
Automating Inspections:Â
Automating inspections is a great way to significantly reduce field work for your team and head strong towards paperless inspections. There are many user friendly web and mobile platforms out there that can integrate with your base software to create more efficient and standardized inspections across all your units. Owners also appreciate easy and quick access to inspection reports and property conditions. Some of the best automating inspection softwares include:
1. RentCheck
RentCheck has a solution that empowers residents to easily complete inspections and encourages them to treat the property like an owner would. This time-saving solution offers:
- Resident-led inspections
- Automated reminders
- Inspection scheduling
- Consistent report
- Customized inspections
- Easy import
These features not only save you time but allow you to save money, work smarter, and focus on managing more units.Â
RentCheck offers four different pricing packages starting at $5 per month and increases based on unit count.Â
Learn more about this property management solution by tuning into our podcast session with RentCheck here.
2. OnSight PROS
OnSight PROS delivers thorough, photo-based reports that give you the documentation you need to effectively make decisions about the properties you manage. This automated inspection tool includes several types of reports, including:
- Move-in/out
- Initial/acquisition
- Periodic/lease-renewal
- Exterior
- Interior
- Kitchens
- Sinks
- Air filters
- Smoke alarms
- Doorstops
OnSite PROS helps protect yourself and your investment through these crucial reports made easy.Â
To learn more about OnSite PROS and request pricing information, click here to contact a member from their team.Â
3. EZ Inspections
EZ Inspections automates your manual routine and streamlines your property management process, allowing you to be more organized and productive. This automated inspection platform consists of three parts:
- A website for process management
- A mobile app for field data collection
- And integration services to connect to your other software systems
EZ Inspections currently serves industries including long-term rental (single or multi-family), vacation and short-term rental, mortgage or insurance inspection, property preservation, BPO/REO management, site inspection, janitorial service, and more.Â
Pricing will vary based on your industry.Â
Marketing Automation:Â
When your basic operations are fine-tuned, you’ll have more time to focus on growth and marketing. A few companies that work with Property Management businesses on automating marketing processes are:Â
1. FourAndHalf
FourAndHalf is a property management marketing company that is dedicated to helping property managers accomplish their business goals and promote company growth. This digital marketing company offers multiple services such as:
- Content marketing
- Property management websites
- Google ads for property managers
- Reputation management
- Email marketing automation and sales CRM
- Social media marketing
- And more!
Whether you need help with PPC or an entire suite of property management marketing, FourAndHalf works with innovative marketing professionals who specialize in the property management industry who are eager to help you grow.
There are three main pricing packages starting from $524 a month with add-on features to choose from as well.Â
Learn how to supercharge leads and growth by tuning into the FourAndHalf on The Latchel Podcast.
2. LeadSimpleÂ
LeadSimple allows property managers and real estate professionals to organize their business and turn customers into fans. This property management marketing tool brings structure, accountability, and systems your business needs to grow. With LeadSimple, you can:
- Follow up immediately
- Track leads and communications
- Automate sales processes
- Forecast, measure, and hit targets
There are three main pricing packages depending on your business needs, starting at $99 per month.
Join LeadSimple on The Latchel Podcast and explore how top performing property management companies build unbreakable processes and operational systems.
3. RentBridge
RentBridge (recently rebranded as Geekly Media) is a property management and marketing automation tool that enables you to acquire more doors with less effort. This platform allows you to maintain the best ROI possible through automated property management systems and marketing. RentBridge offers various solutions, including:
- Sales enablement
- Inbound marketing
- Website design
- Knowledge base and chatbot integration
- SEO optimization
- Guided DIY Services
To explore property management marketing best practice, tune in on RentBridge on The Latchel Podcast. To explore RentBridge’s marketing services and pricing, click here to schedule a consultation.
Maintenance Coordination:Â
1. Latchel
At Latchel, we provide proprietary software to track maintenance requests, as well as a human call center to handle after hours, emergency, or all general maintenance calls depending on the level of service needed. Latchel responds to your maintenance requests in 60 seconds or less. Property managers who use Latchel are able to save up to 80% of time spent on maintenance.Â
We proactively troubleshoot all maintenance requests that come in, and by doing so, are able to resolve or de-escalate around 30% of all resident maintenance requests that come in. Â
We recently launched a video-based troubleshooting feature that helps resolve more issues over the phone, keeping residents and maintenance providers out of harm’s way. No downloads are necessary. Residents simply receive a link via text that opens a video chat.
What sets Latchel apart from the competition is the new 24/7 Home Assistant product, which helps property managers generate a new revenue stream by packaging our highly rated maintenance coordination services into a resident benefit package with a few other high quality resident benefits.
Last, Latchel significantly helps improve your reputation management ratings. Did you know that the industry average for job maintenance reviews is only 2.7% while the Latchel customer average is 20.2%!Â
Learn more about how Latchel can help streamline your property management business and grow your unit count by requesting a live demo today.
There are many more automation tools available for Property Managers, and more being developed as the industry changes. If you’re using a stellar automation service that we haven’t mentioned here, drop us a comment below.