How does online property management work?

Managing property, buying and selling real estate, letting and renting homes — these are activities that have been around for decades. The principle has existed for years, but the rules and legislation have changed many times, making it increasingly complex. Fortunately, there are companies that develop property management software so you spend less time and earn more from your investment.

What is online property management?

The name says it all. With online property management, you use programmes and software on the internet. In technical terms, we call this a [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop solution, or Software as a Service. This means you pay a monthly fee to use the programme, wherever and whenever you want, including on your smartphone. This type of software usually has no installation costs. You do not need to pay for an installer to come and set up the programme on your computer. Instead, SaaS solutions typically work with subscription plans. These can be monthly or annual subscriptions. Want to cancel your subscription or does it expire? Then you can no longer use the software.

How it works in practice

Suppose you take out a subscription (or start a free trial), what happens then? Initially, you will need to handle the setup yourself and enter all your properties into the system. This intensive work pays off afterwards, because from then on you will hardly need to look after your property. Based on the data entered, property management software can in just a few clicks send a reminder to a tenant who paid late, automatically calculate the [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop, send registered letters, and more. Sometimes there are extra features that are not directly related to property management but can still come in handy. For example, SNDQ's software has an all-in-one inbox where you can track your text messages, emails and WhatsApp messages at the same time without constantly switching from one app to another.

Is property management software expensive?

The cost of online property management is usually calculated based on your usage. This can, for example, be based on the number of properties you manage. [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop's property management software uses this type of pricing. You pay per property you manage with the software, and the more properties you have, the lower the cost per property becomes. If you manage one property, you pay a monthly fee of €5. If you manage more than 500 properties, the price per property drops to €1. Additional costs are sometimes charged. With [@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "span", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop, for example, you pay for certain actions you perform with the software, such as creating a lease. Finally, watch out for setup costs: some programmes hide those costs in the fine print and are less attractive if you manage few properties. So always read the terms carefully so you are not surprised on your first invoice.

Free property management software

Everyone loves free things, and that is why free property management programmes exist too. However, these free software packages are often incomplete and/or work with a paywall. In some cases, this is sufficient if you have one or two properties, but if you have dozens of properties, paid software is usually the better choice. Most property management software also offers free trial periods. With SNDQ, for example, you can try the software for two weeks with no further obligations. Also pay close attention if you are asked to enter credit card details upfront. This often happens with software that automatically moves you to a paid subscription when your trial period ends.

Check which regions are supported

When choosing property management software, always consider the supported regions. Do not assume, for example, that an app in Dutch can always be used in Flanders. There are significant differences in legislation and rules between countries. Pay particular attention to this when looking at international players. You can usually find information on their website about the countries where their software can be used. If in doubt, contact customer support before you are fully committed to a programme you cannot use at all.