Property Management Software - Protect Your Rental Property

Property Management Software - Protect Your Rental Property

As your rental property business grows, so does the need for a property management software system. Historically it has been the desire for more in-depth financial information that drives a property manager or landlord to abandon simple accounting software for property management software.

Today it is more important than ever for all property managers to use the same type of web based property management software as the larger asset management companies. There is more pressure to find reliable, rent paying tenants, with the possibility of an increased need for tenant debt collections, and the ever-looming threat of tenant landlord litigation.

Even with the best market outlook, the need to screen your prospective tenants is the top priority. Today's online tenant credit screening services allow you to access credit and criminal background information in minutes. With an integrated system, tenant screening information is automatically downloaded into your residential property management database. Later, you can review tenant payment history and property maintenance history and make smart decisions about lease management.

Providing tenants with online rent payment options, such as ACH or credit cards, helps to lower delinquencies and keep rental income at its optimum level. With integrated rental property management software, electronic rent payments reduce accounting errors and data entry, and trips to the bank. Automatic scheduled rent payments ensure that rent is received on time and eliminate past due balances.

With bad debt potentially on the rise, automated tenant debt collection services will also prove invaluable to property managers and landlords. The best property management softwares offer integrated access to national debt collections companies. These are the same programs that larger apartment management companies have been using for years.

Of course, some of these online property management services are available separately. Yet integrating all of these tools with one point of data entry can protect you from another, even more alarming threat-tenant landlord litigation. No matter how unjustified, the mere whisper of a lawsuit is enough to terrify any property manager. While litigation is a serious concern for real estate firms of all sizes, it can be particularly frightening for the small property management company which lacks the legal team of a regional or national real estate management firm.

Tenant credit screening services provide a valuable resource by providing a consistent, accepted process for making the best decisions. When you use quantitative tools for rejecting a tenant, you can be more confident in the leasing decisions you make. More importantly, having one database will help ensure all rental application data is captured and no mistakes are made.

What about cost? Historically cost has been a barrier to this type of software used by larger companies; today the web makes access to new online solutions much more cost effective. In many cases these online services, as well as services like internet listings and electronic rent payments, can be included in one low monthly fee. Hardware, server, upgrades, extra licenses, and other costs are eliminated as well, leading to considerable cost and time savings.

As the internet has been the great leveler across many industries, all rental property managers can now afford the property management accounting software that larger real estate management companies have been using for decades. The affordability of web based software is a trend with a positive impact on all professional property managers and owners. Property management systems no longer have to be reserved for the larger companies with deep pockets. They can be used by anyone with a computer and an internet connection who wants to protect their real estate investment.

Alison Cavano is Director of Customer Support at DIY Real Estate Solutions, developer of affordable property management software for property managers and landlords. DIY's online property management provides complete leasing and tenant management, including property maintenance requests, fully integrated accounting, credit and background screening and electronic rent payments services, along with personalized websites and resident portals. Visit the website at http://www.diyresolutions.com.

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Property Management

Property management pertains to the processes applied to maximize returns by effective administration of property--one of the major assets of most organizations. It also comprises the disciplines implemented on property rules and rental policies.

Property Management is a career profession that is a part of our growing business industry. A property manager's employment can either be directly under the supervision of a real estate property owner, or for a property management company, hired by an owner or legal entity to look after the real estate over a particular span of time.

A property management company is tasked with the responsibility of managing the multiple aspects which come along with the ownership of real estate. This is akin to the role of management in any business.

One of the important roles property management companies play is that of acting as liaison between the landlord and tenant. Their duties include posing appropriate gross rent, accepting rent, responding to and addressing maintenance issues, advertising vacancies for landlords, and doing credit and background checks on tenants.

In exchange for the service provided, property management companies charge landlords a percentage of the gross rent collected each month, in addition to lease commissions.

In addition to managing income and expense related activity, property managers may also manage construction, development, repair and maintenance on a property. The direction of repair and maintenance is quite a large part of a property manager's function.

Property managers should develop a relationship with the management company, property owner and tenants that is based on a mutual trust and complete confidence in one another. His alliance with tenants gives an advantage to the landlord and provides them the necessary buffer servicing their desire to profit and distance themselves from their tenant constituency.

There are many aspects to this profession, including participating in and/or initiating litigation with tenants, contractors and insurance agencies. Litigation alone is at times considered an entirely separate function, set aside for trained attorneys. Although a person or persons will be responsible for this in their job description, there may or may not be an attorney working under a property manager.

Special attention is given to Landlord/Tenant law and most commonly evictions, non-payment, harassment, reduction of pre-arranged services, and public nuisance are legal subjects that gain the most amount of attention from property managers. Therefore, it is a necessity that a property manager be current with new laws and practices in their given localities, cities and states.

Excellent property management can only achieved by top-notch managers. To be the best in this field, one must know and stay updated on local ordinances and state laws; be highly honest and ethical in enforcing property rules and rental policies; be detail oriented and organized with paper works; have good communication and computer skills; like working with the public; have a strong sense of duty and commitment; and be an exceptional follow-up person.

Copyright 2007 Ismael D. Tabije

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