PM Software White Paper [PDF]

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Property management software is simply an application that ... 1099-MISC e-filing system. A professional ... and accept electronic signatures. Store and share ...
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IS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE RIGHT FOR YOU? BROUGHT TO YOU BY CIC™

SO LITTLE TIME, SO MUCH TO DO As a property manager, you’re understandably very busy. With so much going on with your properties, the key to successfully running your rental business is staying organized and efficient. But how exactly do you do that? Property management software acts as a means to streamline productivity and manage your properties with ease.

PM SOFTWARE: WHAT IS IT? WHY DO I NEED IT? WHAT ARE THE FEATURES?

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WHAT IS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?

WHY DO YOU NEED PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE?

an application that helps property

to get disorganized. Property management

managers to organize information

software makes life easier, allowing you to

regarding their rentals. Its features include

quickly and simply store all of your

ways to organize properties and residents,

information in prepared ledgers. It

as well as managing financial information.

provides an easy way to keep track of

The system can also create a variety of

payments, promote your vacancies, and

useful reports, and acts as a hub for all

handle daily operations. It effectively

activity on your rentals. This includes

centralizes all of your information to

managing maintenance, handling

streamline your productivity. Since it is

vacancies, and even screening tenants.

technology-based the software can be

With technology always advancing you can

updated, which means you’ll always have

even use this software on your phone, so

new features to look forward to.

Property management software is simply

information is available to you no matter how far away you are from your computer. You’re no longer tethered to your desk and can utilize all of your software features as the need arises.

ALL YOUR INFO AVAILABLE ON THE GO! With technology always advancing you can even use this software on your phone, so information is available to you no matter how far away you are from your computer. You’re no longer tethered to your desk and can utilize all of your software features as the need arises.

Without the proper resources, it’s very easy

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WHAT FEATURES DOES IT INCLUDE?

WHAT FEATURES DOES IT INCLUDE?

Full ledger accounting for managing

The price of property management

properties and tenants.

software will vary by the product, but

Accept and make payments with ACH or

typically costs about $1 per unit. These

credit cards.

payments are usually charged monthly if

A robust reporting system, with built-in

using a cloud-based software, although

1099-MISC e-filing system.

occasionally offered at a discount if paid

A professional website to promote your

annually. Cloud-based software is usually

company and listings.

more affordable than desktop software,

Create, share, and store custom forms

even though that is purchased upfront.

and accept electronic signatures.

Some PM softwares do have monthly

Store and share important documents

minimums or set up fees, so watch out for

with owners and tenants.

those.

Keep track of maintenance and repairs.

IS THERE A CONTRACT?

Set up unlimited user accounts for your team to access the software securely. Accurate tenant screening built into the portal. Automatically syndicate your vacancies to top property listing services. Provide online applications and accept application payments. Built-in email and text messages service for convenient communication with your tenants, owners, and vendors. Mobile rental property inspection tool for easy move-in and move-out inspections. Bank-grade security protects your data. Mobile-optimized software for easy use on the go.

This depends on the software. Some companies will try to lock you into a long contract, sticking you with their software even if you’re not satisfied with the product. A company that is giving you a quality product you can trust won’t try to trap you with a contract, as they’re confident enough that you’ll stick around without it. If you’re considering a software that requires you to commit for a certain period of time, make sure you’ve done enough research before signing anything. Some companies won’t let you back out of

AND MUCH MORE!

a contract even if they don’t deliver everything they promised.

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DESKTOP OR CLOUD-BASED?

If you only plan on using your computer and don’t care about updates, desktop software may be the solution for you. However, it is important to remember that, if something should happen to the device you’ve downloaded the software on, all of your data is gone. Cloud-based software allows you to use it on any device, as well as having the data backed up no matter what happens to those devices. It offers the opportunity for updates and is typically cheaper than desktop software. Be sure to see that your cloud-based provider has reliable security, as your data is all stored online.

CAN LANDLORDS USE IT? Many companies do offer a version of their software for landlords. Typically, it is the same software, minus a few features that don’t necessarily pertain to those who have less than 10 properties. Landlords can still benefit from PM software, and it offers an easy way for them to organize their properties. Just be careful about extra fees or minimums that can make the software very expensive.

SO, IS PM SOFTWARE RIGHT FOR YOU?

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, VISIT CICREPORTS.COM OR CALL 800-288-4757.