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Software Suggestions for the NEWBIE

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Real Estate Broker/Owner with Southeast Realty Group

I am in the process of becoming a Certified Residential Property Manager. Have all the classes scheduled but won't actually be done with them until after the first week in May. I am very excited about getting into the property management side of real estate and was wondering if anyone out there could give me some feedback on what type of software programs that they are currently using and which ones to avoid. I was hoping to use a system that is very versatile and could be used for both single-family properties as well as multi-family units. In addition, it would be nice if it were also able to be used for homeowners associations since I am in the process of getting my C.A.M. license.

I know that I may be jumping the gun here because I am sure that they will go over the most popular systems in the classes I will be taking, but you know how that goes. I don't want someone pushing a program on me just because it might benefit them. I am looking to use a program that can benefit me for a long time without having to convert to something different in a few years.

I have done a little research on Yardi and TenantPro7 and they both look like good programs. Yardi looks like it is much more popular and used by a variety of different companies, but it does look like it is a little more difficult to learn.

TenantPro7 looks pretty simple and seems like it would be pretty easy to learn, but when I searched out several large management companies that handle multi-unit housing they all use the Yardi system

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

 

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Betty Fletcher
Fletcher Property Management Inc CRMC® * www.FletcherPM.com - Little Rock, AR
MPM, RMP - Little Rock Arkansas Property Manager

Cindy -

Congratulations on pursuing education to become an efficient, effective and profitable property manager!  We have used PROMAS for many years and find that it works well for us.  There is a maintenance module, an association module and even a separate inspection program.  Check them out at promas.com  I have no personal experience with Yardi although I do have management colleagues across the country that use it and are very satisfied.  I did purchase and try TenantPro many years ago before I found PROMAS.

It looks like you are fairly close to Jacksonville, FL.  I would suggest that you contact James Jordan with Tri County Rentals at 904-213-0032 or jamesjordan@tricountyrentalsonline.com.  James is President of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM) Jacksonville chapter.  they have a great group and are a very active chapter.  NARPM members, just like here on Active Rain, are a very sharing group.

Best of luck on building your management business.  Let me know if I can help in any way. 

Apr 01, 2009 02:30 PM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC

Hi Cindy - Betty has given an excellent answer.  What we are noticing is the need for web-based property management software which we are now experimenting with after being with Tenant-Pro for the last 13 years.  There are free 15 day and up trial periods offered by many, so you'll get the chance to sample before you buy, and the web is full of product reviews...  

We didn't have these many choices when we began!    

Apr 01, 2009 03:40 PM
Niman Singh
SimplifyEm - Fremont, CA
Property Management Software

Hi Cindy,

Try Simplify'em! (www.TReXGlobal.com)

It's a web-based property management software and it's extremely easy to use. It's free for anyone with up to 4 units.

Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV2Bwy3eMlI

After you try it out, please share with all of us what you thought about it.

Apr 01, 2009 07:34 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

Buy nothing until you check out PROMAS as it interfaces with HomeRentals.  If you are doing SFR rentals, you do not want a website with multi-unit apts on it and you want to be able to upload owner/tenant financial statements to the web for their review.

Check out FARPM and there will be PROMAS classes at their convention in May in Orlando!!

Apr 01, 2009 11:36 PM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

We've used TenantFile for years, and are pretty happy with it. The initial cost was less than most, and it fits our needs.

Apr 03, 2009 06:24 AM
Cindy Oglesby
Southeast Realty Group - Macclenny, FL

Thanks so much for all the suggestions and tips. I plan on going to the next chapeter meeting of Narpm on the 16th of this month. It will be my first meeting. Seems like most everyone prefers Promas. I downloaded a trial version and it seems a little complex. Did any of you who use it have to go to a training class to learn it or was it pretty easy to learn on your own?

Apr 14, 2009 01:11 AM
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