Properties include real estate such as buildings, apartments, houses, shopping malls, and theater complexes that can be rented for residential or commercial purposes. In the last two decades, the real estate industry has witnessed growth that has never been seen before. However, growth was limited only to properties that were well maintained and properly managed. Therefore, it is clearly evident that property management is extremely important to get the most value from your assets.
Property management involves handling issues such as renting properties, communicating with tenants, paying rent, and aspects related to building maintenance and installation. For an individual or a management company, managing all of these issues on a routine basis can be frustrating and cumbersome. The best way to avoid such hassles is to subscribe to any online property management software that allows users to manage their property portfolios efficiently, thereby saving a great deal of time, money, and energy.
When initially developed, the first generation property management software was originally based on the DOS platform. One disadvantage of these systems was that users found them extremely difficult to use, could only be used for accounting purposes, and were inflexible. Furthermore, the software was not compatible with standard hardware and software components available on the market. Users even had to compromise on data storage as they had limited storage facilities. Real estate investors even found it difficult to import and export data between systems.
As the technology has evolved, the software has also undergone phenomenal changes. The second generation property management software, which was based on Windows-OS or Linux-OS, came to the market equipped with better features and enhanced capabilities to provide a better property management experience for users. These programs were easy to install, convenient to use, and promised increased functionality. Furthermore, they allowed customers to customize their applications and organize data according to their needs and requirements. It was now possible to integrate various components and different modules into a single system, allowing the software to provide solutions to all important aspects of property management, including accounting, marketing, tenant management and leasing issues, maintenance, financial administration and communication. However, a disadvantage of these systems was that they were expensive. Users had to buy the software from the manufacturer and have it installed on their systems. Many times, users even had to update their systems to make them compatible with the software.
With the advent of advanced concepts like the Internet and electronic commerce, software has further evolved to support these concepts. Now, property management solution providers are developing property management software based on a special platform called ASP (Application Service Provider) to integrate them with the web and can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Compared to traditional programs, web-based programs are advantageous in many ways. These are extremely flexible and provide users with unlimited data storage space. These programs are easy to use, have wide compatibility, and are easy to maintain. Since they are web-embedded, users can access real-time information, allowing them to respond quickly according to market fluctuations and reap maximum profits. In addition to these benefits, web-based programs are extremely profitable and allow users to have full control over their properties.
The whole goal of any software is to integrate technology with everyday life processes, thus making it easier for users to define their tasks and successfully achieve their goals along with optimal utilization of resources. In this regard, property management software fits the bill as it helps property managers plan, organize and handle multiple tasks related to their properties efficiently and effectively. There are many types of property management software available on the market today. However, one must be a little careful in choosing the right one. There are many helpful resources available on the Internet that provide valuable advice on how to choose good property management software.