Access Control With DRM Software

By Alice Pierce

When you float some of your literary works or other information on the web there is always the possibility that it would be accessed by persons who are not authorized to view or handle them. Document security and pdf protection are two major concerns of all the companies that have their website or intranet connections and individuals and organizations dealing with various aspects of human life and welfare. The same is applicable to classified security data that in the wrong hands could create havocs for all concerned.
Access control
Thus it is quite imperative that you must have some tools with you with which you can control the access to your intellectual properties thereby ensuring web content security for them. The DRM software could perform this task for you with considerable ease and convenience. You may download the software on your system and it will take care of PDF documents, image management, flash, clearing courses and also all your web pages. The software security uses DRM controls and gives desired protection to your properties.
In fact the digital rights management refers to the technologies that are used to control the access. The technology is basically used by the hardware manufacturers and also by those who are publishers of contents and hold the copyrights. They aim to limit the unauthorized access to their digital media and devices. Sometimes DRM is also referred as the restrictions that are associated with the specific instances of any of the digital products or devices.
Access control and Electronic key management
Access control may not be confused with the item control or electronic key management. In access control you permit or deny to the people the use of any resource. It could be physical control, logical control or digital control. You enter a cinema hall with a ticket which shows physical control. Bank transactions with withdrawal facilities through ATM are an example of logical control. Private document on your PC to which access is limited for a few only could be the instance of the digital control.
Electronic key management or item control on the other hand is the system of access control where the same is limited and regulated through the use of small assets or mechanical keys. You use some electronic digital combination and can control the access to your web contents and thus the chances of hacking or copyright violations become remote.
DRM and copyrights
Almost every government has put in place a copyright legislation. The aim is to provide exclusive rights on some intellectual properties to its creators or developers. The term indicates the "right to copy" that is limited and controlled under the legislative process put forth. The laws are applicable to any expressible form relating to ideas and information that is both substantive and discrete. Copyright to day is internationally standardized.
DRD tends to overlap the copyrights system by protection of web contents through software. Though the use is mostly confined to the creative media like the films, music and such creations, yet it is gradually taking the place of the traditional copyright concept where violations of legislation relating to print materials constituted a cognizable offence. Since establishment of digital theft is far too difficult in comparison, digital rights management system serves a great purpose of protecting your intellectual properties.

About the Author:
Web content protection can be ensured using quality drm software. To protect web content and for electronic document retention you need such software for ensuring regulatory compliances. Please log on to this website now for all the information you require.

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By Michael C Miller

As with all other sectors, the real estate business has also gained from the IT revolution storming across the globe. A smart and dedicate software solution for real estate can help you in the management of your assets and at the same time help you in adhering to the rules and regulations of the industry.
This software could be a boon for you if you have large amount of properties and land. It then becomes really difficult to manage all this and any idea to employ professionals to manage this for you could turn out to be an expensive affair. This software could multitask for you and could send any reminders for the due payments and few which are yet to be made.
This software package also assists you in staying in touch with the current news in real estate scenario across the globe. There is a built in interface for auto emails and deadlines notifications which will help you by operating in set paradigms of the industry.
The property software helps you in the proof reading and revising of agreements and the contracts and also protecting your money and interests in this industry. The atomization of the processes affords you quality time which you can spend in expanding your business.
The property investing software is capable of handling various calculations on permutation and combination as regards to the profitable locations in the real estate investment and tax calculations.
The real estate software programs offer the user multiple options for calculations and careful considerations, with the overall aim being the profit.
When you go out to purchase the software package for properties, you must first see the amount of comfort level you feel while using the software, it capability to operate without any errors, its ability to indulge in the comparison and contrasting of the financial data and ability to communicate with the central server.
The package analyzes and double checks the calculations for generating the net worth and can even point out the current value and future forecasts within this highly volatile property markets. You can check out on various versions of software available and should choose one which is in sync with your needs. This software enables you to monitor the growth in your investments in real-time from the comforts of your office.

Michael has been writing articles online for 10 years. Not only does this author specialize in self development, health, and investing, you can also check out his latest website retirement investing which help people find more about retirement help.

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How to Generate Revenue with Hotel Call Accounting Software

By Rito Salomone

Communication services are essential to the majority of hospitality guests. Many business executives and travelers demand efficient facilities that can keep them in touch with home base. It is imperative for sophisticated hotel billing software to account for telephone charges, Internet usage, equipment fees, surcharges and taxes in real time.
Virtually every major hotel has some form of call tracking or call accounting software. The declining cost of telephone calls has seen a decline in revenue. Gone are the days when hotels could command huge margins for simply picking up the telephone. At one time, it was not uncommon for hotels to mark up telephone calls 80 to 100 percent. Sometimes your telephone charges could account for a larger cost than the room rate.
In the past, a decent hotel call accounting system would generally been left in the back room logging long distance call records from a PBX serial port. The system would apply exorbitant rates and post them to the property management system. Tariff updates from the manufacturer were usually ignored (since the updates usually contained lower billing plans).
Hotel telecom revenues are now declining at a steady rate of 3 to 6 per cent per year. Hotel general managers and comptrollers are forced to become more creative to meet bottom line objectives for communication. The traditional call accounting system cash cow now needs to be fined tuned to adapt to new technologies and market competition. The answer lies in the creative use of new call accounting modules or more appropriately a communication management system (CMS).
The proper utilization of a hotel call accounting system can still derive huge benefits. Guests that get busy signals will find alternate ways to make telephone calls. It is of utmost importance for properties to track the number of busy signals, overflow or blocked calls. This can be accomplished through the use of traffic reports that identify grade of service and peak calling hours. These reports often recommend the proper number of trunks or lines for the property to run smoothly.
Long distance calling has been declining for years. However local and toll free calls have been fairly steady. The use of billing thresholds can help increase revenue. Certainly a guest that talks for thirty minutes on a local call could be charged a small amount for facility usage. Some hotels have turned to adjusting room rates a fixed amount to compensate for lost telecom revenue.
The rise of internet usage has forced many hotels to provide free internet access. This has compounded the problem for the telecom department. Many guests and business travelers have found other convenient means of communication (IP services, instant messaging, email, cellular phones) that are not part of the infrastructure of the hotel property. The advent of flat rate VoIP providers has given the business traveler the ability to bypass toll charges. A modern communication management system should be capable of adding internet usage charges into guest folios.
Proactive hotel properties use call accounting reports to determine calling patterns that show where guests are calling. These statistics help the hotel target marketing and negotiate better tariff plans. Night auditors have always been asked to reconcile daily transactions. However most failed to reconcile the transactions against the actual telephone bill. Examining telephone company records versus the call accounting records helps to ensure that all calls are being recorded, billed and appropriately surcharged.
Many hotel call accounting systems are missing critical information. Often extensions are not identified correctly as guest rooms, conference rooms, VIP or administrative. This can result in inaccurate billing and lost revenue. Properties should ensure that their call accounting system is loaded and configured properly on a monthly basis. Most banner properties have a preset tariff table that is deployed among all properties. System administrators should ensure that all properties follow the same guidelines.
As more communication facilities are offered by the property, the communication management system will be required to account for hotel cell phones, calls made with authorization codes, internet service, hand held devices and other guest amenities.

Discover more about call accounting, internet usage, hotel billing and telephone reporting from Resource Software International Ltd. (RSI).
Rito Salomone is the president of Resource Software International Ltd. (RSI). He has 17 years experience in the field of communication management solutions.
For more information you can review: http://www.telecost.com or http://www.callaccountingsoftware.com or contact the author at rsalomone@telecost.com.

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Construction Software

By Alexander Gordon

Construction Software are so advanced and useful that they not only are useful in the operation of the business but also integrate it with the financial management with ease. The choice available to the customer is astounding and it is easy to choose software that suits your business needs. Commercial and Industrial Contractors, Corporate Owners and Government, Real Estate Developers, Real Estate Managers, Residential Builders, Electrical and Mechanical Contractors, Specialty and Service Contractors and homebuilders etc. are those who make use of construction Software. The software help produce fast, accurate estimates as well as budgets, help track costs, make cash flow forecasts, determine prices and analyze profits making it so much easier to handle the financial aspects of constructions too.
There is different software to meet demands of the different sectors of construction. CAD software will help in designing, procurement suits help in managing procurement of materials turning estimates in to RFQ etc., project management suits help in controlling all aspects of the project, and Service management software help the running of a service operation and property management software are useful in managing properties better.
Construction Software is helpful as they cut costs, save time and ensure that the work is carried out in a synchronized fashion. Some construction software are designed to include features to suit all aspects of the business such as purchase management, engineering, inventory management, sales and marketing management. They also include online customer relationship management, accounting management, society management, online document management, complete suit of civil engineering software, land and legal record management other features such as decision support system and management information system.
Advantages of Construction Software:
o Efficient estimation makes it easier to plan and take action, helping contractors make the most of sales opportunities.
o Accurate projections got by using the software help in convincing buyers and impress them by presenting professional and well-planned proposals.
o The software help the project to operate within a budget and a fixed time as all actions are well coordinated and so work is carried without hindrances making it possible to start and finish the projects on time.
o It helps schedule all activities ensuring all tasks get done on time.
o Advance construction accounting can be done with ease ensuring complete financial management control. Therefore, constructors need not worry about over paying or paying a bill twice etc.
o A complete financial analysis is made by this construction Software, making it possible to judge the projects and constructor's financial position. This will aid in taking necessary steps to correct any problems and to guide the project towards success.
Thus, this construction Software is an essential tool to ensure success of any project. There are firms that offer services as well as products to help people run businesses successfully.

Alexander Gordon is a writer for http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com - The Small Business Consulting Community. Sign-up for the free success steps newsletter and get our booklet valued at $24.95 for free as a special bonus. The newsletter provides daily strategies on starting and significantly growing a business.
Business Owners all across the country are joining "The Community of Small Business Owners” to receive and provide strategies, insight, tips, support and more on starting, managing, growing, and selling their businesses. As a member, you will have access to true Millionaire Business Owners who will provide strategies and tips from their real-life experiences.

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The Uses of Online Property Management Software

by Editor123

Excellent ambience and swift management of hotels which appears to be effortless at first sight, in fact, is not so uncomplicated at the backend. In present times, availability of online Property Management Software (PMS) has made this process quite simple and effortless. The entire procedure of a hotel requires hard core management.
Better understood as hotel software or hotel management software in layman terms, PMS is a suite of software solutions to attend to all the needs of a hotel or motel as a system. It is comprehensive and incorporates all essential features including hotel reservation software, hotel accounting software, hotel billing software and other important software assortment essential for hotel/ motel management
The advantages of a PMS are many. The hospitality suite presents a well planned and detailed hotel process management solution to maintain all essential functions in single software.
To outline the advantages,
It automates the system and eliminates scope for human negligence, including error due to omission.
The paper work is considerably reduced. The lesser paper work controls un-necessary expenditure on stationery, as well as, renders the hotel more environment-friendly.
You do not need several different programs or preparation of different lists. PMS is a single point program that starts working right from the point when a guest checks in till the moment he checks out. This not only tends to make the entire process well managed but also effortless.
PMS minimizes manual labor. This in turn saves hotel expenditure on manpower.
The software is helpful to front desk and provides them full management support. It is capable of managing the entire network including transactions, house keeping, tariff plans, guest lists, directory, room plans, address book, guest flight reservations and also takes care of documentation. The software can be customized for various facilities.
It is not only applicable for huge properties but an equally useful hotel management solution for medium and small sized hotel/ motel properties. It can even be applied at hospitals, medical centers, service apartments and even college and military hostels.

About the Author

The article is contributed by a professional content writer, having experiences of working in different industries. For further information on hotel software, Property Management Software and Hotel reservation software to improve your sales, please visit us at http://www.anandsystems.com/

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Property Management - The Operation Of Commercial And Residential Real Estate

By Helen Cox

Property Management exists for the same reasons that management exists in any business; to run it smoothly and effectively to get results. The role between the landlord and the tenant is the most important but due to mounting responsibilities this role can often become to much for a landlord to cope with, which is why extra help is important; this extra help comes in the form of a property manager.

The help of a property management team would mean that duty's such as collecting rent, responding to and addressing maintenance issues and advertising vacancies for landlords as well as performing credit and background checks on tenants would be taken away from landlords. This will allow the landlords to get on with other jobs, making their work a lot easier.

For all of the duty's performed a landlord will pay a percentage of the rent collected every month, this percentage is typically between three and ten. This percentage will pay for duties such as all of the ones named above as well as work such as the construction, development, repair and maintenance on a property.

This provides a face for the landlord. It should also be noted that the real estate market is very competitive, which is why gaining help is important. A property management team allows you to keep your real estate in good condition in order to keep tenants in your real estate and as a way of gaining more.

As a landlord you need a management company that offers a effective, cost effective service throughout the UK. This is because the team can take away daily hassle and let you enjoy your investment.

Many people often argue the point of why not just use a letting agent for your maintenance needs? To put it simply a letting agent is good for finding your next tenant but doesn't help you with on going management needs where as with real estate team at your disposal you will be able to provide the level of care and help that is needed for your tenants needs. You wont have to go out of your way to hire a building contractor when a tenants pipe bursts or their roof leaks as you will have a building contractor team ready to help.

As well as your actually team it is also a good idea to invest in management software. This software aids the help of the team as it allows them to keep a record of aspects such as property details (room sizes, property condition, home furnishings, fire safety, etc). It also allows you to store images of all rooms and aspects of the property as well as utility details i.e. gas and electricity.

You can also set up a payment schedule, which allows you to track the payments of rent and any other services that you provide. It can also be used to store tenant's details and the lease details.

If you are a landlord it is highly advised that you enlist the help of a property management team to help you look after your property and to provide a help service to your tenants.

Helen is the web master of ARCH Property Management, specialists in all aspects of Property Management [http://www.archpropertymanagement.co.uk/article/1/1/propertyinvestment:beingagoodmanager.html].

Please feel free to republish this article provided a working hyperlink remains to our site

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Principles of Effective Property Management

By Lori Burger

Effective property management requires a close working relationship between tenants, investors, and managers. This enhances the ability to satisfy each party's needs while improving NOI (Net Operating Income), ROI (Return On Investment), and the property itself. Industry expertise and knowledge in property management cannot be replaced, but there are some basic principles that underlie all good property management solutions:

• Effective, responsive and customized service.
• Strength, generated from team effort and training.
• Creativity and understanding of management principles.
• Goals to enhance the value and esthetics of a property.
• Constant reevaluation of procedures to ensure superior levels of quality.

To get a bit more specific, there are two major branches of property management - logistical and physical. A key factor in the logistics of property management is financial reporting. Financial reporting must be timely and accurate to be effective. Regular and comprehensive reporting (typically in a monthly fashion) establishes continuity and reduces the number of lines of communication, thus maximizing time and minimizing confusion. Such reports should always adhere to GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Principles), though employing a higher set of standards for quality assurance is frequently advisable.

Specific reports, such as cash to budget variances, cash flow and income statements, balance sheets, and complete transactional accounting registers, are fundamental and essential to the property management process. Specialized reporting, such as HOA Architectural and Compliance Logs, Affordable HAP Vouchers, Tax Credit Project Status Reports, Periodic Commercial CAM Reconciliation, and Resident Violation Notices, can make the difference between a good project and a great project.

In addition to financial reporting, up-to-date property management software is an important part of logistics. It enables customized reporting for each type of property managed. Investing in infrastructure is critical to managing a diverse portfolio. The more quickly a property management system can identify problems and produce solutions, the more successful a project can be. Further logistical involvement is necessary in developing bid specifications, securing competitive bids, and coordinating with contractors, vendors and suppliers.

Beyond the logistical or back-end component of successful property management is the physical component. Preserving, maintaining, protecting and enhancing the physical and financial aspects of real estate holdings is of paramount importance. Without corresponding efforts in logistical and physical property management, neither can achieve complete success. This includes emergency management as well as regular visitations and inspections of the property. Comprehensive inspections deliver far-reaching results, and should include lobbies, stairwells, landscaping, recreation facilities, walks and driveways, parking lots, and other physical aspects of the real estate.

Maintenance and on-site management training programs should be conducted regularly. Safety inspections for compliance with loss prevention and OSHA requirements must also be performed. Additionally, the managers need to assemble regularly to discuss market trends, ongoing training, contractor service quality, and current regulatory issues. Following these procedures and refining system effectiveness and cooperation is the surest way to optimize management in the 21st century.

Ms. Burger serves as Senior Vice President of Eugene Burger Management Corporation (EBMC) and has managed a full-spectrum of real estate including common interest developments, multifamily residential including both conventional and subsidized housing, commercial, medical, single-family home and mini-storage. One of Ms. Burger's greatest attributes is holding the fundamental knowledge of the management practices in all real estate management disciplines.

Since 1979, Ms. Burger has focused her skills primarily on EBMC's common interest developments. Ms. Burger has lead the way on "full-envelope" reconstruction projects of aging community association communities, she has orchestrated numerous successful multi-million dollar renovation projects. For more, visit

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Property Maintenance Software

By Richard Romando

Property maintenance software helps monitor, maintain and control the building maintenance function for building structures such as apartments, hotels, schools, hospitals and retirement communities. These software help simplify the maintenance operations, thus reducing the cost while, at the same time, improving the performance and efficiency involved in managing these edifices. There are many companies in the US that produce property maintenance software. Some features, which are common in software produced by most companies, are the ability to track and organize work orders, add labor, material and subcontracting costs and improve accuracy of data.

Many of the property maintenance software companies manufacture the software in various levels depending on the needs of the customers so that they are suitable for small, medium and large properties. For example, a major business house may have to manage several buildings in different parts of the world whereas a school will need to manage only a few localized buildings. The software will need to include exclusive features, which will be specific to the level of the software developed, as properties of different sizes will have different needs. The features may include alerts when the program is started, management of inventory control and purchasing capabilities, import and export of data in various formats, convenient data back up, security and data management functions.

Some software are enabled with report writing features so that a user can create customized reports. These reports are of great significance for property maintenance as the statistics derived from them are used to set up maintenance Key Performance Indicators or KPI's. Some software also helps create property maintenance cost reports, which assist in monitoring the cost of equipment and determine their ?sell by? date. Maintenance of equipment is closely monitored to determine the sell by date.

Good property management operations help reduce the amount spent on maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) and achieve higher asset utilization. This leads to improved and more consistent revenue generation. Therefore, it is imperative for property owners to use effective property management software, which can facilitate informed decision-making and improved work planning and coordination.

provides detailed information on Maintenance Software, Maintenance Management Software, Fleet Maintenance Software, Preventative Maintenance Software and more. Maintenance Software is affiliated with Facility Maintenance Management Software [http://www.e-maintenancemanagementsoftware.com].

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Property Maintenance Software

By Richard Romando

Property maintenance software helps monitor, maintain and control the building maintenance function for building structures such as apartments, hotels, schools, hospitals and retirement communities. These software help simplify the maintenance operations, thus reducing the cost while, at the same time, improving the performance and efficiency involved in managing these edifices. There are many companies in the US that produce property maintenance software. Some features, which are common in software produced by most companies, are the ability to track and organize work orders, add labor, material and subcontracting costs and improve accuracy of data.

Many of the property maintenance software companies manufacture the software in various levels depending on the needs of the customers so that they are suitable for small, medium and large properties. For example, a major business house may have to manage several buildings in different parts of the world whereas a school will need to manage only a few localized buildings. The software will need to include exclusive features, which will be specific to the level of the software developed, as properties of different sizes will have different needs. The features may include alerts when the program is started, management of inventory control and purchasing capabilities, import and export of data in various formats, convenient data back up, security and data management functions.

Some software are enabled with report writing features so that a user can create customized reports. These reports are of great significance for property maintenance as the statistics derived from them are used to set up maintenance Key Performance Indicators or KPI's. Some software also helps create property maintenance cost reports, which assist in monitoring the cost of equipment and determine their ?sell by? date. Maintenance of equipment is closely monitored to determine the sell by date.

Good property management operations help reduce the amount spent on maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) and achieve higher asset utilization. This leads to improved and more consistent revenue generation. Therefore, it is imperative for property owners to use effective property management software, which can facilitate informed decision-making and improved work planning and coordination.

provides detailed information on Maintenance Software, Maintenance Management Software, Fleet Maintenance Software, Preventative Maintenance Software and more. Maintenance Software is affiliated with Facility Maintenance Management Software [http://www.e-maintenancemanagementsoftware.com].

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Web-Based Software Tools For Property Managers That Increase Productivity and Save Money

By A. Miller

Web-based software can save property managers both time and money.

One of the best ways to understand the value of web-based (online) software is to compare it with traditional software. Usually people think that traditional software is the best approach because once you buy it you own it...forever. And then you're done! Zero additional investments are needed. But that isn't always the case because there are a number of hidden costs that end up taking your time from your revenue-producing activities. At the end of this article, we'll show you how to take the first step towards going web-based by moving your email from a traditional server to an online email service.

How can you grow your business this year without growing your staff?

In a recent poll conducted during an AppFolio webinar we asked property managers if they were planning to add more properties this year and if they were planning to increase their staff to accommodate an increased workload. The majority said they are planning to add more properties but only a few said they would be adding more staff. This article outlines the value of web-based software - how it can save you both time and money, and how to take the first step by moving your email from a traditional server to an online email service.

First off, why would you even consider using web-based software? How could it save you time and money?

One of the best ways to understand it is to compare web-based with traditional software. Usually people think that traditional software is the best approach because once you buy it you own it...forever. And then you're done! Zero additional investments are needed. But that isn't always the case because there are a number of hidden costs that end up taking your time from your revenue-producing activities.

Some examples of these hidden costs:

1. Installing the software takes time and often consultant resources to customize and configure the application
2. Periodic software upgrades to the newest / best version are typically not included and cost extra
3. You have to purchase licenses for everyone in your office and if you add users, you have to pay for them
4.You will need to purchase a server if you want multiple people to access the technology. Costs are installation and occasional consultant fees for fixes, upgrades, etc.
5. Training costs both time and money. Traveling to the course, paying for the course and the lost time while everyone is out of the office.
6. If you're using a property management software, migrating the data from one system to another is expensive and time consuming.
7. Ongoing support when issues arise is typically an additional charge.

The examples above are primarily illustrating the hidden dollars you have to spend for ownership of traditional software. But the biggest hidden cost is truly the time you and your staff spend when the software doesn't work as it should or you need to train a new team member or the software needs upgrades or maintenance. This is time that you could be spending acquiring more properties, working with owners and managing your tenants.

How is web-based software different? Why are so many software companies moving to web-based offerings?

With web-based software the Internet is the server. This means:

o Access your data from anywhere at anytime - from home, from the office, on a vacation, from your PDA device (Blackberry, iPhone, etc).
o No longer pay extra for support and upgrades, they are usually included
o No need to purchase, maintain or upgrade server hardware
o Typically training is included and applications are intuitive and easy to use

An easy place to get started: Move to a free web-based software like Gmail.

Most property management professionals use Microsoft Outlook for email & calendaring systems. This is great while you're in the office but once you leave, you no longer can easily access your email or calendar. It can also be expensive to pay for an email server like Microsoft Exchange so multiple people in your office can view shared calendars. When the email server goes down work often comes to a standstill - without the ability to communicate using email your staff often has to wait until the server is restored to complete important tasks. A simple first step is to move your email to an online provider like Gmail (gmail.com) so you will have access to your email from anywhere - work, home, vacation or on the road. Gmail is secure and easy to use and a great example of the value of web-based software. In addition, once your office is using Gmail you can set up a shared calendar that is accessible and viewable by all members of your staff. With Gmail you have the option to use the free basic service or pay a minimal fee to use your own domain (@company.com).

Best of all, it is very easy to get started. Go to gmail.com and select "sign up for Gmail" and you can follow the instructions provided. You will find that you can do all of the same basic email functions as it is very much like the email systems you're accustomed to using on a daily basis. There are two main differences: 1) You can access this email and calendar from anywhere...if you're on a beach in Hawaii with a computer with Internet access you can get your email! 2) You can potentially get rid of your email server and save some money each month.

Here are a few suggestions on where to get started and see how using Gmail might work in your daily life.

If you already have an email account you can start by forwarding your emails to your Gmail account. You can get used to the Gmail interface and access your email from any location. You can automatically import your contacts into Gmail - this is a quick way to have you address book of contacts available to you from any location. You can also configure Gmail to receive email on your PDA (Blackberry, iPhone, etc) so you can access email while on the road (google.com/mobile).

Taking the next step: Google Calendar

Now that you have a Gmail account you have more flexibility - you can receive email at gmail.com and can access it from anywhere: home, work, vacation, Blackberry/portable PDA device. And you can begin to use the calendaring function. Setting up a coordinated calendar system using the Microsoft exchange server can be very complicated but sharing Google calendars is really simple.

Some ideas on how you can use shared Google calendars in your office:

o Share calendars among your staff so everyone can see each other's schedules. This makes it so much easier to schedule tenant or owner meeting as you can see the availability of your entire team.
o Simply invite other people in your office to view and collaborate using the Google calendar settings.
o Create a shared office calendar of property showings. You could post this calendar to your website or simply use it as a tool for everyone in your office.
o In addition to email and calendar Google also provides the capability to create shared documents, websites and online forms - and all of these web-based tools are free.

Paying for web-based software is similar to paying for Property Management services.

But why do companies pay each month for a web-based ? In fact, this is very similar to the value proposition of a property management company. Why don't owners just manage their own properties? Because it is a service that saves the owner time and allows the owner to focus on his/her core areas of expertise which typically is not property management. Once you get started with these easy Google services you will experience how web-based services save you time and allow you the flexibility you need to run your business without increasing your staff. This is even more important during the current economic climate when you need to maximize every hour in your day. The world of software is changing and small and midsized businesses like property managers are in a position to take advantage of these technologies that used to be only available to larger companies.

Aimee Miller
VP Marketing, AppFolio
aimee.miller@appfolio.com

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4 Characteristics of Reliable Hotel Management Software

By Simona Rusnakova

You can use hotel management software to control most aspects of your hotel business. However, hotel software is not always very reliable and if you have an unreliable system you will constantly be in fear of losing all details of your bookings. In order to avoid this it is best to get a reliable system and there are at least 4 features you should check before making the final decision.

1. Property management software that improves with age

Many people believe that getting new software every so often is best in order to ensure reliability. There are various software packages with updates every now and then. These updates may be via the internet or an extension that you may have to pay for. Getting software with online updates is a good idea as you can be sure that any problem will have a patch to fix it. This will ensure that your system is reliable and stays at the top of the range.

2. What other people say about a hotel management system

Seeing what other people think about a particular hotel management system is another way you can ensure reliability. Review websites are easy to find and they hold a host of reviews from both professionals and other program users. Reliability is not only judged by whether or not the program crashes but also by how well it works. When you look at reviews you will be able to see the areas where the program is good and the areas where it is bad. Hotel management systems need to be able to respond to requests quickly and this is one of the things you should look at in reviews.

3. The price of reliable hotel management software

High price is often a characteristic feature of reliable hotel management software. You may find that the more expensive software will be, the more reliable, but this is not a foolproof rule. There are many systems that are expensive but have some serious reliability issues. You should not just go out and buy the most expensive because it's pricey. You need to check that the system will have everything you need and that reviews confirm that it is reliable.

4. Support for your hotel PMS is advisable

With any software system you should always check the level of support you will get. There are many different types of support you should be aware of. For example, the 24-hour online support which is a good idea to have.

If your system crashes or has a problem you will be able to get help anytime. Your system may also come with technical support that you have to call and the technician will come to you. The only problem with this kind of support and that is that you usually have to wait for the next working day.

There are many things that make up reliable hotel management software. The updates, reviews, price and support you get are all characteristics that should be looked at when considering purchasing a new software package. The reason for this is that you do not want to have your hospitality business compromised by a system that is completely unreliable.

This article was submitted by Simona Rusnakova, consultant of 3r.ie, on behalf of Innovation PMS - low-cost hotel management software, with free trial available.

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Property Management Software - Make Your First Purchase the Right Purchase

By Mark Thomas Walters

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 programs that include 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 should be available that fits in with your schedule. Make sure that your software vendor has extended support hours, especially if your office is in a different time zone to theirs. Ideally, you want property management software that has been developed by actual property managers. The greater their experience, the better. You want the software to be able to efficiently deal with all kinds of properties, from single-family houses to large commercial properties. When deciding on a management program, some features to consider are the following:

- Efficient data management. Data and record entry is rather time consuming, and locating the proper feature in your management software can be as well. A program that does not handle these jobs efficiently is probably not for you. If you are in doubt, it is always a good idea to give the trial version a spin.

- A full accounting package. Whether you prefer the simplicity of cash or the detail provided by an accrual method, the management program you purchase should support it. And, because a property manager is continually reading reports and calculating late fees and discounts, pick a program that does it automatically. The reports should be available at any time and for any period.

- Check writing. Find a program that allows you to print checks right from your computer, especially if you write quite a few for your business. Time is money, and you don't want to spend it writing checks. Just ask your vendor to guide you to the correct companies that supply the check forms you will need.

- Reminders. You should be able to set up reminders for appointments and projects. You should also get automatic reminders for the two things every property manager needs to be aware of - expiring leases and late rent payments. The reminders should ideally be in the form of desktop pop-ups or emails.

If you liked this, try:

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Significance of Property Management Software

By Henrey Drakes Jr

What is property management? Why is there a need for property management software?

Property management is all about the management of residential, industrial and commercial properties involving operations that pertain to the affairs of property owners and their tenants. It's a challenging process that requires property owners to monitor, collect rent and address the concerns of their tenants. And with the country continuously progressing, property owners are finding it difficult to do their jobs with the exception of using property management software.

With the software on property management, property owners can easily monitor their tenants' payment history through a special feature that does exactly that. It's an online payment history that tenants can access using the internet. It shows their individual payments from the very beginning of their stay until the present marking those months that have already been paid and those months that still needs to be paid. It even comes with an email notification feature that reminds tenants of their past dues and current payments. It makes monitoring this easy.

It's also convenient to collect rent using the software because of its online payment feature. This special feature enables tenants to pay their rent instantly anytime and anywhere. They can choose to pay from their office or directly from their home at any time of the day because it's active 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. They don't even have to use cash when paying since they will only need their credit card or an electronic check. The process is fast as it will only take a few minutes to complete. Property owners also benefit from it because it saves them time, money and effort of traveling to distant places just to collect the month's rent. It's definitely hassle free.

Furthermore, it's faster to address the concerns of tenants with the software due to a feature that enables tenants to send their complaints, requests and questions. They can easily contact their property owners by sending an email or posting on a message board on the community website which is supported by the software. This way, property owners can best address their tenant's needs faster avoiding any delays that result into problems piled up and soon forgotten. It results to better communication on both parties.

Indeed, property management software is truly a useful tool in building in a property management business. It makes the whole process of managing a residential, industrial and commercial property fast, easy and hassle free!

To know more about and visit PropertySolutions.com.

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Benefits Of Using The Property Management Software

By Cesar Calnan

Ask any person managing a property portfolio what their biggest problem is, and you probably won't hear that is it keeping property rented, or even maintaining property that often gets damaged by tenants. Yes, those are big problems, and are quite time-consuming, but they are not the greatest time consumer, or even the most aggravating chore. There is something that is even worse, something that can be aided with the property management software.

The majority of managers will say keeping up with paperwork is the most difficult, aggravating, and time consuming of all tasks they have to perform. Rent payments have to be recorded, late rents noted, maintenance schedules kept up with, and numbers of reports processed. All this is necessary for making the most of any property you manage. It's possible to do it manually, but this takes a huge amount of time.

The very first task, once a potential tenant is found, is to ascertain their ability to pay you the rent. This is usually done by obtaining a credit check. You also want to run a background check to be sure of the type person you will be renting to. This can be done manually, making the request and waiting for results. But, this just delays the whole process. With the software, you have the results instantly at hand.

In order to efficiently manage property, you have to be aware at all times of how much rent is due, when it is paid, any late payments, and late charges that are due. There needs to be a quick and easily accessible account of units that are empty, lease ending dates, and any notice of vacating. Manually done, it is a huge chore. Plug the data into the software, however, and the job is simple.

A maintenance schedule is vital for smooth property management. This can get quite confusing, especially if there are several units to maintain. Manually, it is often overwhelming. Maintenance tasks get overlooked, and tenants get unhappy. However, with software, it is a matter of plugging in the data and printing out the report. This is especially helpful if there are more than one maintenance employee.

Managing a property portfolio is made much easier with the property management software. With just the click of a button, you are able to control your entire property portfolio, have immediate access to all data, and have available at all times an accurate picture of your financial investment.

Discover how can help you run a more productive business. You can find details about the benefits of using now.

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Defining Property Management Software and Why You Need It

By Chris Jenkinson

If you are responsible for managing the maintenance and general operations of commercial or residential properties, then property management software can be a valuable tool. While you may have records on your computer or online to track rent payments, repairs and vendor records, it can be cumbersome to juggle these different resources. With the software, you can simplify your administrative functions.

Inventory Functions

When you are accountable for both residential and commercial properties, software to handle all aspects of each of them in one package can make your life and job a whole lot simpler. You can segregate your types of properties as well as group them by location, property manager, use of the property, and more.

You can create unique profiles for each property under your control using the property management software. Within these properties, you can classify them down even further by types of units such as grouping all same number of bedroom units together or even by floor coverings, appliance availability and more. Or, you may want to group your properties by the monthly rates tenants pay.

To further break things down, the software can be used to create and maintain descriptions of each individual unit within a property. For instance, with commercial properties, you can log the individual businesses that rent there as well as list the individual layouts of each space, from square footage down to the number of lighting fixtures that exist. The same principle applies to residential properties like apartment buildings, condos and duplexes. With just a few clicks of the mouse and keyboard, you can pull up how many empty spaces you have in your residential properties as well as how many bedrooms and baths they have and even whether they have a washing machine and clothes dryer hook-up.

Tenant Tracking

One of the best features of property management software is the ability to keep track of individual tenants. Credit reports can be saved in tenant profiles as well as their payment history, correspondence history, requests for property improvements and repairs as well as any other information you deem appropriate.

With the customised reports your software can run for you, you could easily discern which tenants are late on the rent, have a lease coming up for renewal and whether or not a moving tenant is eligible for a security deposit refund. Being able to draft new leases and other contracts and paperwork is a possibility too, within software.

Bring your business operations into the 21st century and integrate all your records and tracking mechanisms into one property management software package. Test drive the software you plan to purchase to ensure you will be able to easily navigate it.

the best tool a property manager can have and Multi-User Systems Ltd at can help you automate property management.

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What Investors Should Know About Property Management Reports

By David V. Tran

Each month your property manager will send you a monthly report. Each company has its own format, using different property management software and internal processes. However, you should receive the following:

1. A one-page summary that highlights key issues about the property, e.g., one tenant is 30 days behind on the rent.
2. Income & expense statement. This should be a short statement showing the base rent, Common Area Maintenance (CAM) charges for each tenant, rent and CAM payments received from each tenant. It also shows maintenance expenses and management fee; so you may quickly determine if each tenant has paid rent or not. This statement itemizes all of the income and expenses which may include:

• Late fee: when the tenant pays late, he has to pay the rent plus the late fee. The late fee amount is normally stated in the lease. Normally, when the tenant pays late, the property manager has to do extra work to collect it. The amount of work depends on whether the tenant is too busy to mail the rent check, does not have the money or simply does not want to pay. The property manager will try to convince you that he is entitled to the late fees as an incentive to collect the rent. However, one can debate that it is a reward to the property for a lousy job. You as the investor suffer the damage when the tenant does not pay you on time so you should receive it.
• Management fee: this fee is usually a percentage of the monthly income from the property that both you and the property manager agreed in the management contract. If you have a very stable property with the same income every month, then the management fee is the same. Otherwise, it varies from month to month.
• Leasing fee: you typically see this when there is a new tenant or a renewed lease. This fee is normally around 6% of the base rent for the life of the lease. However, when the property manager is also the leasing agent you should ask for 4% fee.
• Security/Fire Protection: your property may have fire & security monitoring services.
• Electricity: this is most likely for parking or common area lighting as each unit normally has its own meter.
• Water: this is for both drinking and irrigation.
• Disposal: this is for garbage collection paid to the city.
• HVAC repairs & maintenance: this is the maintenance costs for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. Usually, there is a service contract for HVAC whereby the maintenance company will inspect the HVAC twice a year: once before the winter and once before the summer. So, you may receive the service bills only twice a year.
• Garbage dumping: sometimes people dispose their unused furniture, mattress on the property because there is no one around at night. The maintenance crew may have to clean up these things. Normally, you or the property manager will want a picture of the dumping to make sure that it is a legitimate bill.
• Landscaping: this is often the biggest expense item. Typically, the landscaper signs a one year contract to maintain the landscaping on the property, such as mowing the lawn, trimming the trees/shrubs, and planting flowers. Thus, the monthly payment should be the same for the whole year.
• Sweeping: the parking lot is usually swept daily, either late in the evening or before the tenants open for business. In the winter, there may be an expense for snow removal.
• Steam cleaning: the concrete sidewalk is normally steam cleaned once a month. This is done by the same company that handles the sweeping and landscaping.
• Roof maintenance: the roof of a commercial building is often flat and requires regular maintenance especially during the rainy season. The roofer may charge each time he is called to fix a roof leak. So, this is not something you see on the statement on a regular basis.
• Supplies: there are various things on the property that have to be replaced periodically: light bulbs, trash bins, sprinklers, etc.
• Bank charges: sometimes the tenants pay by check with non-sufficient funds. The bank will charge a fee each time the check is bounced.
• Legal fees: you may see this if the property manager has to evict a tenant.

As a rule of thumb, you should not spend more than 30 minutes to review the management report of a retail property with 10 tenants. If you have to spend much more than that, then your property manager has sent you too much information or not organized the report properly.

The property management company often proposes an annual maintenance budget for the property based on the prior year's maintenance expenses. Each tenant is then billed a fixed monthly amount, proportional to the size of his unit. Thus, the base rent and CAM charges are the same each month; so, the tenants may expect to pay a consistent amount each month. Annually, between January and March, the property manager reconciles the accounting for the prior year. If the actual expenses exceeded the budget, the tenant will have to pay his share of the difference. In the event, the actual expenses were less than the budget; the tenant will be refunded or credited back the difference.

Do's and Don'ts

1. Use email for most of your correspondence. This will allow you to have records (date, time) of all issues sent and received between you and the property manager. You may want to set up the mail option such that it automatically will save all out-going mail. In addition, you may want to create an email folder for each property and keep all email messages related to that property in that folder. This allows you to find information quickly.
2. Ask the property manager to email to you the monthly reports. You should save all of the reports on your computer. Time and time again, you will need to look at a report from a previous month. The easier and faster you can access them, the more likely you will do it. Paper reports are much more time consuming to retrieve.
3. Have a copy of the rent roll handy with rent rate, lease start date, lease expiration, and CAM share portion. When you are asked to approve a new lease, check to make sure it does not expire on a year when you have several other leases expiring. This minimizes the risk of high vacancies on your property.

David V. Tran is the President and Chief Investment Advisor at Transmercial (formerly eFunding, Inc.), a commercial real estate & loan brokerage company in San Jose, CA. His website is may be contacted at (408) 288-5500. Transmercial does business in all 50 states. He is the #1 US commercial real estate expert author. David currently offers 3 FREE real estate investment seminars:

1. How to invest in commercial real estate for early retirement income.
2. How to maximize cash flow with 1031 tax-deferred exchange.
3. TIC: Fractional ownership in high-value commercial properties.

features a daily list of Best Commercial Properties in the US to invest for early retirement income.

You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in its entirety, with anyone you like. You may not remove this text. © 2007-2009 Transmercial.

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