AppFolio Property Manager

The biggest issue my company had was advertising vacancies. We were relying on walk-in tenants, which has not been a good source for 5-10 years. AppFolio is one-click to post to multiple free websites and syncs with Apartments.com if your company goes that route. Ease of use and great training/help files will keep us with them for years to come.

Avantages

First and foremost, the value of the product. You get everything you need for cheaper than most of the other products out there. For my company, we transitioned from Buildium to AppFolio and instantly reaped the rewards. AppFolio provided us with an inexpensive company website, a quick and easy tool to post our vacancies to multiple websites, and great assistance during set-up.

Inconvénients

I know some of the more expensive options offer more competitive pricing tools and a little more automation. Also, AppFolio had a few issues (like maintenance personnel not being able to see pictures on work orders using their mobile devices) that took AppFolio a while to start addressing.

It is a tough call because the product is good. We migrated from Yardi and don't regret it BUT if I knew how weak the support team and the nightmare that we would have (for 7 months we couldn't reconcile bank accounts and the "boarding team" simply vanished) I would most likely have stayed with Yardi.

Avantages

The software is definetly the right product. It is intuitive and very easy to use. Having used Yardi for 10+ years this product is simply outstanding. It is definitely not even close to what you can do in Yardi, but for 90% of what most of us do, it is allot easier and quicker then Yardi.

Inconvénients

The company is suffering from a very bad support team. When they sell you the product it almost seems that these guys mastered the art of eSupport and you can solve problems with a click. This couldn't further from the truth. For most of the "how to" problems they are quick to respond and usually send you a quick article on how to. The problem becomes when you have a real problem, like late fees simply not posting the correct amounts at the wrong dates, or bank account balances don't add up...in general bigger problems call for a "we will put our head in the sand and hope it goes away" mentality.

I am in a living situation where this is a convenient tool. AppFolio Property Manager seems to have so much it could offer, but I am just a user and don't put more effort in to it. Since December, there have been a few times where I really had to be on top of my payments,postings,account itself. I'd say way too stressful minus the fact that it is electronic and easy. And my glitches can be seen on both ends, I can save images, I have reference numbers and such. So, if this is a standard in Property Management, perhaps the systems have multiple ways to be used and such. I don't lose money, or have safety issues or anything lie that. I do love the convenience when it works. 65% of my 6 months has been error free. It is here to stay to my knowledge so I will keep using and monitoring my account for my monthly transactions. If it is a one size fits most, I encourage Administrators to provide hard copy instructions to people who might wish to use this method to pay rent or communicate to their Landlords. If it is tailored to fit needs, then truly walk your clients through. I sense my housing company switched over to it before I moved in, so it's a work in progress. It beats paper checks or aperwork period.

Avantages

This app/web software is fantastic at accepting my monthly payments electronically for rent, plus I get to keep my renters insurance on there along with direct messaging to find maintenance and such. It is easy to use and the technical side seems safe and secure.

Inconvénients

I had to chose this service as I moved in December and this is the online Portal my Realty company uses. I am all about making it easy, being able to go back and review,see my info, transactions and such. Well, I have had more glitches than I care to speak of. I have had payments applied to the wrong people, major discrepancies, and the one thing is I don't know any better. It has been a learn as I go system. If you are on top of things, then fine. If you think it's press a button and all is solved, I would be a little cautious. I am not faulting the software and program itself, but suggesting that its main users might need a little help at times.

Potential is good, staff is nice and patient. Unfortunately, accounting and reporting capabilities of the software is extremely limited. As a result, the staff has difficulty keeping up with issue resolution and you wait days to speak with someone that can help.

Avantages

Search function and integration with most online posting services is good. Staff is nice and try hard to answer your questions and navigate around limitations of the software. Unfortunately, they are overworked and the issues with the software (e.g. reporting and accounting primarily) make it very difficult for them to service their customers effectively. Mobile app is good (considering the accounting and reporting issues).

Inconvénients

Accounting features are limited. Examples: Management Fees for non rent items (e.g. parking, storage, commercial rent) are deducted from income rather than calculated as an expense. It makes it look like you are hiding fees from owners. Option is to enter a series of JE's each month to correct.

Reporting capability is very poor: You can not set up batch reports that update monthly. You can set up owner reports, but, they do not necessarily update (e.g. prior month and YTD rolling). Extremely limited in formating reports. GL's for year are over 400 pages due to spacing and limited control on what to report. Example: P&L Options are only "Detail" or "Summary". Summary lumps all utilities into one line items and Detail prints "Non Posting" items.

Increased application fee cost within first year by 30% with virtually no notice and no options. Response was to "pass it on to your customers". I just received another notice 14 months after conversion that my web services fee was increasing 98%. Again, virtually no notice and no options.

Unfortunately, the staff is stretched so thin, I can not get a response to an issue logged over a week ago. I call daily, text and email. The response is: "We will expedite and prioritize. I will notify your case worker." Unfortunately, no call or email follows to help. I had to hire CPA's to force my financials to be accurate in order to get reports to my Federal Investor. Still waiting on that expedited call.....

I love the software, I hate how much it cost me. Please adjust for the small end user

Avantages

Easse of use and how everything is tied in from advertising the unit to renting it, leasing and collecting the rent then finally moving them out :)

Inconvénients

Cost, I think it is too expensive. I do not understand why when you have more and more users my bill keeps going up. for God's sake scottie send this small business owner a line..we are drowning in the cost but can't compete without the software....so I pay..