In the property management world, tech solutions are abundant. There are so many different players on the market, and sometimes, that wealth can make it tough to navigate.
When it comes to property maintenance software, single-family property managers have to first identify how they approach maintenance and, second, what tech solution will best support their team, workflows, and operational structure.
It’s a daunting task! So, today, we’re going to look at some of the best approaches you can take and the best software available to you for property maintenance.
Property maintenance software solutions come in two basic categories:
- Platform Solutions: Property management operations platforms or accounting software that include maintenance support, among other full-service property management solutions.
- Dedicated Point Solutions: Property management software designed to tackle one specific problem – in this case, maintenance.
We’ll explore solutions that fit into both of these categories and how to weigh the pros and cons of each.
Related: Best Single Family Property Management Software
1. SecondNature
Of course… we had to mention ourselves. (Our house, our rules!)
While Second Nature isn’t necessarily a property maintenance software, it is a leading resident experience property management solution. We reduce maintenance needs through preventive maintenance strategies and take work off the property manager’s plate.
For instance, our filter replacement service ensures that residents get convenient service, lower energy costs, and higher air quality. The result is that property managers and investors see a reduction in HVAC maintenance requests and costs.
Other maintenance features included in our solution include on-demand pest control and utility setup.
2. Property Meld
Property Meld is a leader in the small to medium-sized property management business space. It’s a maintenance point solution to optimize work order management, response time tracking, vendor and resident communication, scheduling, and analytics. Its built-in “Owner Hub” helps provide the right amount of transparency to your clients. Perhaps the best feature is the Insights Tool, which helps you track metrics like the median speed of repair, average resident satisfaction, vendor health score, total spend per unit, and more.
Pros:
- The user interface is intuitive for PMs and residents
- Opening repair tickets take just minutes
- Tracking repairs and resident satisfaction is easy and transparent
- Powerful analytics help you see your success at a glance
Cons:
- If you’re looking for a full-service operations platform, Meld won’t be the solution for you.
3. Rentvine
Rentvine is a full-service property management platform that focuses on communication support between PMCs, residents, and clients. The platform streamlines application and tenant screening, inventory management, accounting with a manager’s ledger and client money tracked separately, marketing, leasing, and – of course – maintenance. The app tracks all your work orders from start to finish and supports communication between residents, property managers, and vendors throughout.
Pros:
- Easy to use with excellent customer support
- Owner and tenant portals work seamlessly
- Excellent accounting process
Cons:
- Has fewer features than some competitors but is continuously improving
4. Lula
Lula is another dedicated point solution focused on property maintenance technology. They leverage a network of vetted contractors to make finding the best technicians easy. Lula’s team becomes an outsourced extension of your property management company, troubleshooting, coordinating, and managing maintenance tasks. They operate in over 30 markets in the US and boast results like 80% one-trip resolutions and a net promoter score of 80.
Pros:
- They do the work to vet and provide the vendors
- You can bring your own vendors in if you want to
- Integrates with any software
- Customizable plans for self-service or full-service
Cons:
- May not yet be available in your market
- Only focuses on maintenance
5. Buildium
Buildium is a popular all-in-one solutions platform and property accounting software with excellent management features. The web-based solution and app provide support in accounting and invoicing, communications, leasing, and maintenance activities. Their portals provide tenant support, maintenance management, and templates to make every part of property management easier.
Pros:
- A near-complete solution for property management
- Excellent tenant and owner portals and communication hubs
- Analytics and tracking to streamline operations and results
- A 14-day trial helps you evaluate if it’s a fit
- Customizable packages
Cons:
- Lack of transparency for owners
- Expensive if all you need is a maintenance point solution rather than a full platform.
6. Mezo
Mezo is an AI-driven, cloud-based property maintenance management software. The aim of the app is to take work off your plate by automating maintenance ticket responses, resolutions, and insights. Mezo takes requests directly from residents and uses conversational AI to ask questions in real-time, identify problems, and diagnose the issue. It will support residents in resolving the issue on their own or integrate with your management system to get work orders quickly sent.
Pros:
- Residents can get help immediately when they have issues and potentially resolve themselves with Mezo’s chatbot support
- Technicians arrive with Mezo’s analysis and diagnosis, allowing them to come prepared and resolve issues quicker
- Integrates with most PMS options
Cons:
- Doesn’t integrate with all other PM tech solutions
- As a newer technology, still has some bugs and gaps
7. Lessen
Lessen, formerly SMS Assist, is an enterprise-level solution providing tech-powered renovations and maintenance at scale. It’s an end-to-end platform for maintenance operations with a vetted vendor network and provides everything you need for maintenance or turning projects. PMs simply use the app to request projects, deploy Lessen network pros, track progress and checklists, check for quality control remotely, and process payments – all in one slick tech solution.
Pros:
- Excellent, seamless tech that’s easy to use and deploy
- A fully vetted vendor network takes that work off your plate
- An established brand that has worked out the “kinks” in service
Cons:
- More ideal for more enterprise companies who need scale (rather than smaller SFR PMs)
8. AppFolio
AppFolio is a full-service rental property management platform solution that is very popular with single-family property management companies. The web-based app streamlines and automates every stage of real estate management, including management, training, marketing and leasing, maintenance, accounting, reporting, and communications. For maintenance, AppFolio includes workflow automation, work order management tools, online maintenance requests, mobile inspections, and more.
Pros:
- Easy-to-use technology with great UX
- Fully mobile and automated
- Customizable dashboards and advanced reporting
Cons:
- An expensive platform if all you need is a maintenance point solution
- Customer service is not always available for maintenance line
9. DoorLoop
DoorLoop is another full-service property management software that provides all the features a property manager needs to manage their portfolio. You can handle accounting, maintenance, listings, marketing, client success, and more, all from the app. For property maintenance, their software helps manage work orders, handle vendor payments, and track the process from start to finish.
Pros:
- Intuitive, streamlined UX that’s user-friendly
- Great customer service
- Excellent integrations
Cons:
- Ideal for landlords and smaller property management companies
- Expensive if all you need is a maintenance point solution rather than a full platform
- Some functionalities are still being developed
10. FTMaintenance
FTMaintenance is a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) point solution platform designed for maintenance managers, executives, and technicians. While it’s not specifically designed for property management, the software streamlines work order management, vendor payments, tracking, and more. For some PMs, this could be the added solution they need to focus simply on complex maintenance jobs.
Pros:
- Robust work order tracking
- Excellent mobile app for vendors and maintenance managers
- Analytics and organization
Cons:
- Not designed specifically for residential property managers, focused more on commercial properties
- Complex if you are not tech-savvy
11. Latchel
Latchel is a property maintenance point solution that helps automate maintenance communication, scheduling, work orders, etc. Your residents message the Latchel team directly on the Latchel platform and get an immediate response to begin troubleshooting the issue. If the problem requires a maintenance visit, the Latchel team will deploy that and follow up with the resident.
Pros:
- Fast response times
- Easy to use for maintenance communication
Cons:
- Many reviews say the issues didn't get fixed correctly
- App is great for communication but sometimes requires the PM to step in and manage
Key Features of the Best Property Maintenance Software
When choosing property maintenance software, consider the key features below to make sure you’re selecting the most efficient and effective solution for you.
Tenant maintenance requests
The software should allow tenants to easily submit maintenance requests through a user-friendly portal or mobile app. This feature ensures that all maintenance issues are reported promptly and tracked efficiently.
Tenant communication
Effective communication with tenants is crucial for maintaining good relationships and ensuring that any issues that come up are resolved quickly. Look for software that offers built-in messaging systems, automated notifications, and communication logs.
Vendor management and payments
Managing vendors and processing payments can be time-consuming. The best property maintenance software should streamline vendor management by including vetting, scheduling, and paying contractors. This helps ensure that maintenance tasks are completed by reliable professionals in a timely manner.
Work order management and history
A robust work order management system is essential for tracking the progress of maintenance tasks. The software should allow you to create, assign, and monitor work orders, as well as maintain a detailed history of all maintenance activities. This is particularly helpful for identifying recurring issues and planning preventive maintenance.
Mobile app and cloud features
With the increasing reliance on mobile devices, having an iOS and Android mobile app for property maintenance software is a must. The app should offer the same functionality as the web-based platform, allowing property managers to manage tasks on the go. Cloud-based features ensure that all data is accessible from anywhere, providing flexibility and real-time updates.
Key Benefits of Property Maintenance Software
Property maintenance software offers several advantages that streamline day-to-day operations and enhance efficiency.
Most notably, it helps simplify communication. A user-friendly platform helps tenants, property managers, and vendors stay connected. Clear communication reduces misunderstandings, speeds up response times, and keeps everyone updated on the latest information.
Other benefits include:
- Improved accountability and transparency: Maintenance software logs every task, from request submissions to work order completions, making it easy to track the progress of maintenance requests. This visibility assures that nothing falls through the cracks, which helps foster trust and accountability.
- Time savings for routine tasks: Features such as work order assignments, vendor payments, and updates minimize the need for interventions and constant follow-ups, freeing up time for property managers to focus on more value-added tasks.
- Improved resident satisfaction: Prompt responses to maintenance requests are key to resident satisfaction. When residents can easily report any new issue and track its progress, they feel more valued, which helps improve retention rates.
- Better planning and cost management: With the ability to track recurring issues and repairs using maintenance software, property managers can plan preventive actions that save time and money in the long run.
How We Selected Best Property Management Maintenance Software
Our team has extensive experience in both property management and technology, allowing us to accurately assess how any given software aligns with the needs of property managers.
Our SMEs have taken a deep dive to evaluate each solution based on practical usability, reliability, and specific features that benefit scattered site and single-family property management operations.
By focusing on functional capabilities as well as user feedback, we’ve curated a list that genuinely enhances efficiency and simplifies maintenance operations.
The bottom line: This isn’t just a random list. Each recommendation we’ve discussed has been reviewed for confirmation by our team and SMEs so that it meets high industry standards.
Topics:
October 10, 2024
