Learn About Property Management Software
Excel spreadsheets and the old standby of pencil and paper may be the organizational weapons of choice for some property managers, but too often their methods begin and end there. There are plenty of cheap, user friendly specialty tools that property managers may choose from that are much better than using Excel. When considering these alternative tools, avoid those that require long-term contracts or that have recurring fees attached. It is important to be able to cancel if needs be without paying a price. Go with property management software that includes customer support and tutorials as part of the subscription because some property management programs may require a little assistance in order to sift through all of the available features.
Support and training does not do you any good, however, if they are not available when you need them; therefore be sure that the software company’s office hours are extended, especially if time zone differential is an issue. In addition, be sure that the management program has been developed by an expert instead of someone who has limited experience. A developer who actually spent some time in property management is more likely to address all of its issues, from single-family homes to commercial property investment.
The program you purchase should also contain the following features:
- Efficient data management. You will spend a lot of time entering records and searching through databases and so your property management software must make it easy for you to do those tasks. Getting software that makes these routine tasks a pain will soon cause you to give up on it. You might need to try out a trial version of the software to assess this for yourself.
- A full accounting package. Your accounting method will certainly differ from others, so be sure to choose a program that supports the one you like best. Some prefer cash, which is the simpler accounting method. Most property managers, however, prefer the accrual method because of the greater detail it provides. Because accounting relies heavily on reports, choose a program that allows you to run several of them whenever you need, for any time span, and that automatically calculates any late fees and discounts.
- Check writing. Because your time is valuable, you do not want to spend most of it writing checks, especially if your business requires you to write a lot. Be sure to find software that allows you to print checks off on your computer. If you are unsure of which company to contact about the proper check forms you need, your vendor can guide you in the right direction.
- Reminders. As a property manager, there will be plenty of important appointments and projects that you do not want to forget, so choose a program that offers automatic reminders either as pop-ups or emails. Be sure to send automatic reminders especially for late rent payments and leases that are about to expire.
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