Property Automation Software Corp. ' Tenant Pro

Tenant Pro ‘ Version 7.0 is a fully integrated property management software product from Property Automation Software Corp. Tenant Pro comes in four distinct sizes and is well suited to residential management.

EASE OF USE – 5 Stars
Setup and navigation in Tenant Pro is easy. The main screen has a drop-down menu at the top and brightly colored icons beneath. The main menu organizes tasks, which includes the Manager menu where all unit, tenant, move-in, move-out and maintenance work order information is maintained. Also included is the Income feature (where tenant payments are processed) and the Accounting function (where bills are paid, bank reconciliation completed and invoices entered). As mentioned earlier, Tenant Pro comes in a variety of sizes: 25 unit, 50 unit, 250 unit, 500 unit and unlimited.

Setting up Tenant Pro is quick. User preferences, chart of account information, bank account information, properties and vendors are entered using the system setup feature. The Fast Start Guide gives you checklists for entering General Information, Property, Unit and Tenant information. Templates can also be used when entering repetitive information.

FEATURES – 5 Stars
Tenant Pro can handle a variety of property types, including single and multi-family homes, condos and commercial properties. Unit information includes a detailed property description, unit type, lease start date and deposit information. Tenant/unit data screens cross-reference, so data can be accessed from either screen. You can also add unit notes, detail unit features and enter information you want posted to your web site. Unit prices can also be monitored from this area. The tenant screen is just as comprehensive, with in-depth lease information, including lease type, start date, roommates (if any), access to the tenant ledger, tenant notes and a communications log. An area for CAM charges is also available. The Work Order feature has areas for descriptions, parts and labor; the option to create a vendor invoice; and the option to add tenant charges. Writing checks is easy using the check template where you can choose vendor, owner, tenant or one-time payee options. You can view lease information, NSF information or use the tenant payment wizard when paying tenants. Wizards are also available for move-ins and move-outs.

INTEGRATION – 5 Stars
Tenant Pro will automatically transfer financial information to QuickBooks files. Many add-on products are designed to integrate with Tenant Pro, as well, including e-Pay Plus, CAM & Utility Billing, Payroll for Windows, Online Vacancy Listing and Crystal Reports. An Applicant Screening module and a Data Import utility are also available. All Tenant Pro reports can be exported to Excel, Word, *.PDF or HTML.

REPORTING – 4 Stars
Over 120 standard reports are available and are divided into five groups: Financial, Maintenance, Management, Transaction and Vendors. Clicking on a category lists the available reports for that particular group. You can select reports by property, tenant, lease, owner, back account or work order. You can also choose to run summary or consolidated reports. Also available are several list reports, including tenant, lease expiration, work order and reminder lists.

HISTORY & SUPPORT – 5 Stars
Property Automation Software Corp. has been producing property management software solutions for companies large and small since 1992, and currently estimates its current client base at over 16,000.

Support options vary. Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum level support plans are available, as well as a ‘pay-as-you-go’ plan. E-mail support, a knowledgebase, e-notes, and a user forum are also available to Tenant Pro customers.

RELATIVE VALUE – 5 Stars
Tenant Pro 7.0 is a user-friendly software product. Detailed data screens, a good work order system, and the ability to integrate with Word, Outlook, QuickBooks and e-Pay Plus makes Tenant Pro particularly well suited to all types of property management. The estimated cost for Tenant Pro (250 Units) with two add-on modules and free value training runs under $2,000.

2005 OVERALL RATING: 5

This review will hopefully answer some of your questions or at least point you in the right direction. We chose six areas to focus on for this review: Ease of Use, Features, Integration, Reporting, History & Support, and Relative Value.

Ease of Use is important, particularly for new users. How quickly can the system be set up? Is it easy to install? System Features gives readers information about the modules included with the system, whether there is an integrated accounting function, and whether or not there is an applicant module or a work order/maintenance module. Integration is also an important issue, particularly for large management companies running multiple software products. Reporting covers report processing ease, a summary of available report types, and whether customization or third-party reporting is an option. History & Support is another area to consider when making a software purchase. How long has the company been in business? What kind of customer support options are available? Is support included in the price of the software? Relative Value assesses whether the features that are included in the product are worth the cost?