Property Management Software - is there anything like this?

[Jason Barnett]

For quite some time now I have been thinking about writing my own property management software for my properties. Unfortunately life gets in the way and I haven't been able to do this. (Actually I could have done it, but it would have taken away from my other more PROFITABLE ventures) So now I am here to get some opinions from people about what is already available.

Currently I am considering buying a package called LandlordMax. It's a very reasonable $147 and looks like it might do what I want. Anyone have any experience with this software?

Anyways, I am really looking for a program with the following specs:

- Reasonable license. I don't mind paying for the right to use the software if it's good quality, but I don't want something that will put too many restrictions on the number of properties that I can manage with the software, the number of companies that I can manage, etc.

- Extendible. I want something that I can customize to suit my needs and to let me do the things you didn't think about. My past experience has shown that open source projects (usually written in PHP or Java) are great because you just look at the source code and modify it to do whatever you want. However, I might be willing to use a closed-source program if it has a lot of solid tools to customize reports, manage mailing lists, create web pages and so on.

- Continued support. It would be nice to buy in to a program that already has a strong user base, but this isn't necessary so long as the developers are actively maintaining the product.

- Non-proprietary data storage. I want to be able to easily export all of the data into a new tool if that's what I want to do. XML-based data storage is good for this. So is text data (CSV). So is any open source database.

- Web enabled. This isn't a must-have feature for me, but it's the direction that I'm going and it would be nice if the program integrated nicely with a web front end of some kind. Major bonus points if this is integrated to the design of the property management software (e.g. written in PHP).

In short: win me over with superior features, a reasonable license and reasonable pricing. Anyone have any suggestions?

[Jeff Takle]

In doing market research for my own company (which is developing property management software for individual investors who own only a handful of properties--which may not be a good fit for what you are doing), I developed a spreadsheet listing out 27 different property management products accessible on the market in the US. They range from being oriented to huge management companies, down to several who claim to service 'individual investors'. If you would be interested, I'd be happy to send the Excel spreadsheet to you. It has hyperlinks, descriptions of each product, prices, which ones have web interfaces, the plusses and minuses (from my company's perspective, of course), etc. No strings attached.

No reason not to share, seeing as how the work has already been done. Not sure the best way to do it; maybe send me a private message? or tell me where to post it, etc. Whatever works for you.

[Jeff Takle]

I tried the other email and it appeared to go through. Please let me know if you didn't get it. Also, we are starting our final product testing after a long time in development. Would you be interested in participating? I would rather join forces and team up rather than both attack this from different angles.

What do you think?

R/ Jeff
Email: [email protected]

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