Before you make any major purchase, it’s wise to read customer reviews. Property management software is no different. Reviews can tell prospective users much about what a software platform values and prioritizes.
When choosing free property management software, landlords should look to reviews for a variety of information. The software company’s website is a good place to start, but landlords who have actually used the software are often a better resource for information about quality and performance.
Here are a few more reasons why reviews are essential when choosing property management software.
Identify Bugs and Issues
If a software platform has a lot of reviews, it’s probably for a good reason. Popular property management software is used and trusted by many landlords and is likely to have solidified its core features.
However, if you’re looking at newer platforms, these companies might not yet have many reviews. For these platforms, it’s critical to use the reviews they do have to determine whether bugs or other technical issues are going to be a problem.
Because you’ll rely on your property management software for everything related to your rental business, you don’t want pesky bugs or malfunctions to interfere with your management. Minor bugs can be quickly addressed by the software company, but be on the lookout for any complaints about larger structural or functional problems.
You can’t use your property management software to work on your business unless your software works for you.
Compare Features
Reviews are also a great way to compare features across platforms. For instance, let’s say you’re interested in maintenance management. You have multiple maintenance staff members and would like them to be secondary users of the software.
To find a software company that will accommodate your needs, reviews are the best place to look. See what other landlords have to say about maintenance features on various platforms. How easy is it to submit a request? Can tenants add pictures or videos of the problem? Does the platform support multi-user management?
By asking yourself these questions for each software option you encounter, you can quickly decide whether it looks promising or whether it isn’t worth your time.
First, identify your priorities for features and functions. Then, use reviews to narrow your choices based on which platforms meet your expectations.
Observe How the Platform Handles Negative Reviews
Reviews offer critical insight into the software company’s quality of customer support. Even highly-rated software will have some disappointed users and negative reviews. As a landlord evaluating property management software options, these reviews should attract your attention.
As you read, try to get a general idea of how the company handles negative reviews. Do they respond to the issues being addressed? How quickly? Was the reviewer happy with the software itself but frustrated about a particular problem, or was the negative review directed at the entire platform?
Questions like these can help you ascertain how that software company will handle your concerns in the future.
Identify Recent Trends
When shopping for property management software, you might to know what the most recent developments in the niche are. What are the newest features available? What are landlords currently raving about? Again, reviews are the place to find this kind of information.
Trusted review sites like G2 or Capterra will have the most up-to-date information about recent trends. However, feel free to browse as many others as you want. The key is to find out what landlords especially love about their software and decide whether those features could benefit your business too.
Read Success Stories
Looking for inspiration? Reviews are the place to find it. Another reason to read reviews is to witness the stories of hundreds of other landlords who’ve found success with property management software.
Many landlords post positive reviews about their experiences using property management software. These reviews are more than simply inspirational, but might also give you insight into how you can upgrade or maximize your own rental business. Property management software is the landlord’s number one tool—and looking at reviews, it’s easy to see why.
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Utilize Reviews for Property Management Success
If you want the best property management software option for your business, you can’t skip reviews. Reviews are the most direct way to learn about what to expect from a software platform, straight from other landlords like you. Based on these five benefits and others, you can’t go wrong with reading reviews before making that final decision.
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