May 8, 2024
Last Updated
I don’t know about you, but one of my biggest frustrations at work is trying to keep everything organized and trying to find the time to get everything done. There never seems like there’s enough time and I needed help; that’s when I discovered property management software. I wanted to share with you a head-to-head competition between two of the best software options available: Rentec Direct vs. Buildium.
I’ve been a property manager for years and haven’t found something that helped quite as much as this software has. I have tested out several of the top options available and wanted to share with you an in-depth comparison of Rentec Direct and Buildium because they’re both popular property management software options that are available today.
These software programs can get a ton of jobs done and help you achieve more, while doing less. Who doesn’t want that? Before you open your wallet and fork out your hard earned money for property management software, make sure you choose the one that will work best for you.
If you own property, manage property, or you’re a landlord, you’ll get a lot out of knowing which software program works the best for your needs. We’ll chat about the major differences between the two and which one is the overall winner. Speaking of winning, let’s talk about my top choice.
A Table Of Contents For Rentec Direct vs Buildium
Overall Winner
When you put two amazing software programs head to head, there’s bound to be one to come out on top. Both Rentec Direct and Buildium are amazing software options, but Buildium wins overall!
Buildium is more user friendly, has plenty more features, and has a 96% approval rate from people who’ve already used the software. Buildium is also much more cost efficient and easier to use for people who don’t have a lot of experience with technology or software.
With Buildium, you’ll get 50 different template options that can be used for a number of things, including writing a lease agreement. One thing that pushed Rentec Direct out of the winners circle is Buildium’s amazing academy.
Buildium Academy has a portal available if you own the software where you can take courses about property management to become even better. There are quizzes after each course to test you on the knowledge you’ve accumulated throughout the course. There is a ton of great information to help you be the best landlord you can be!
Rating Criteria
You’ve read a bit about why Buildium is the overall winner, but how did I go about choosing which software won? What are the features that Buildium and Rentec Direct have in common? What sets them apart from one another? There are a ton of questions you may have in mind and I hope to answer them all!
I wanted to share with you which of the key features of these two software programs have in common so it’s easier for you to compare the two. Below you’ll find a list of the features you’ll be reading about today in order:
- Free Trials
- Rent Paying and Maintenance
- Mobile Capabilities
Buyer’s Guide And Reviews
It can be difficult to find the perfect property management software for you. There are a plethora of programs available, but some of them are so different, how do you know which one to choose? I decided to compare Buildium vs. Rentec Direct to help you narrow down your choices.
Just because two software programs have the same features, doesn’t mean they’ll work the same way. Some software options have unit requirements, others have a higher price and some only work with specific types of properties. Let’s talk a bit more about each of these property management software options to find your overall winner!
Free Trials
One of the first things you should be looking for when you’re trying to find the perfect property management software is one that offers a free demo or trial. If you’re interested in software that doesn’t offer either of those options, I’d toss that one aside and go with software you can take for a test run.
So, what’s the difference between a free trial and a free demo? Well, for starters, a free trial is when the company allows for a certain about of time for you to use the software. Depending on which software you’re looking at, the trial periods tend to vary between one day and an entire month.
To allow yourself to really get to know the software, you may want to choose one that has a trial of at least five days. This gives you the chance to explore the software and see if it has the features you need it to have in order for it to be worth your money.
The other option that may be available is a free demo. A free demo is a quicker but less in-depth approach to learning the software. Someone from the company’s customer service team will reach out to you to schedule a demo session.
During this session you, which usually lasts about 2 hours, you’ll be shown the way the software works and how to access key features. A lot of the time there with be a question and answer portion at the end of the demo to help you with any questions you might have.
Even though a trial and a demo are both great features, I have to say a free trial is so much better. You get to use the software – instead of seeing, you’ll be able to use it. You get more time and can explore it on your own. If you’re a busy person, which you probably are, try finding software with a free trial.
Rentec Direct Free Trial/Demo
Rentec Direct has two different tiers: Rentec Direct Pro and Rentec Direct PM. Both of these options come with a 14-day free trial. You do have to sign up for a tier and pay a monthly fee before getting the free trial, but if you decide Rentec Direct isn’t for you, you won’t be charged if you cancel within the two week trial period.
Buildium Free Trial/Demo
Buildium also offers a free trial. It is 15 days long and you don’t have to provide any credit card information to receive the free trial. You’ll be able to download and use Buildium as if you already owned it.
Winner
When it comes to which free trial is better, I have to go with Buildium. Signing up is really easy and should take you less than a minute. You’ll get to use the software for a day longer than the Rentec Direct free trial. What really sets Buildium’s free trial apart is that if you don’t have the time for a free trial, they also offer a free demo!
Rent Paying And Maintenance
Out of all the features property management software can have, I have to say that the ability to check on all things maintenance and that tenants are able to pay rent online make these features stand out.
Most software programs will come with a portal for both the renter, the landlord, and sometimes even the maintenance staff! You may be wondering what it can do for each group of people, so I wanted to dive a bit deeper into rent paying and maintenance features.
If you’re a tenant, you’ll be able to quickly and easily pay your rent each month online via the portal or mobile app. In general, companies do not charge a tenant to pay their rent if they’re using an ACH transfer. On the other hand, if they decide to pay rent with a personal debit or credit card, there is usually a 2.75% fee charged to the renter.
Paying rent online isn’t the only benefit tenants get out of this; they’ll also be able to submit maintenance requests or pay extra fees your properties may have for things like parking spaces or a monthly fee for a furry friend. People are often too busy these days to add anything else to their plate, so this feature saves the tenant a trip to the ATM or bank!
But what will these features do for you? Since this software is something you’ll be using and paying for, it’s important that it has features that benefit you and your properties. Rent collection and maintenance features are some of the biggest time saving features you’ll find on property management software programs.
You and I both know that maintenance requests often come in at odd hours or on weekends or holidays. You can’t be available 24/7, but the software can be! You’ll be able to view live requests as they’re sent in, along with any photos or videos that may help you assess what needs to be fixed.
This helps create a better work life balance and will keep you from getting interrupted when you’re off the clock. If necessary, you can often use the portal to communicate with your renters to set up a time to handle the maintenance issue. Some property management software programs even offer the ability to assign maintenance tasks to employees!
Rentec Direct Rent & Maintenance Features
Rentec Direct is a great choice when it comes to the rent and maintenance features it has. It can do all of the things you just read about and more. Easily, it has to be one of the best features this software has!
Buildium Rent & Maintenance Features
One thing Buildium is known for is the ability to have tenants pay rent online and help you with your long list of maintenance jobs. This software stands out from others due to the option for tenants to upload photos or videos of the maintenance issue they’re needing help with, which can help you assess the issue without needing to be there in person.
Winner
This is a category that has Buildium vs. Rentec Direct neck and neck. The thing that separates them is that if you have Rentec Direct, you’re able to send out work orders and reach out to your maintenance staff via the software. This is why Rentec Direct is the overall winner for this feature.
Mobile Capabilities
Have you ever been on your way to work only to realise you’ve forgotten your phone? I know I have and it almost sends panic through my body. Yes, I could drive all the way back home and then all the way back to work, but that wastes so much time and not every landlord can just drive back home right away.
Nowadays, having a cell phone has pretty much become a necessity. It’s how we connect with the world around us and keep in contact with those most important to us. Whether you’re needing to call potential renters to set up a showing or you need to take notes during an inspection, property owners and landlords use their phones a lot during work.
This is the area where most property management software programs lack. Some have amazing apps that run smoothly on all mobile devices, while others have websites that barely work on mobile. If you use your phone a lot on the job, this feature can be crucial when choosing which software to get.
Rentec Direct On Mobile
Rentec Direct is the king of property management software when it comes to mobile friendliness (you’ll see below that they win this category). There are a total of four apps available, two for renters and two for landlords.
Renters will be able to complete maintenance requests and easily communicate with their landlord with the app. The apps for the tenants can be found for iOS devices on the App Store and for Android devices, it’s available on the Google Play Store. If you’re a landlord or property manager, you can find the iOS app here and the Android app here.
Buildium On Mobile
With Buildium, you’ll be able to easily collect rent via your mobile device or look at maintenance requests live as they come in. They have an app available for any mobile device which can come in handy if you have multiple properties.
If you have an Apple device, you’ll be able to download their mobile app from the App Store. If you use an Android device, you’ll find the same app on the Google Play Store!
Winner
I have to give the crown to the king here and go with Rentec Direct! You won’t find another property management software that has two apps for renters and two for landlords and property managers.
This company clearly knows how important communication and working on-the-go is for everyone, so they’ve made incredibly convenient mobile apps!
Now you’ve read a bit about which features that Rentec Direct and Buildium have in common. They’re both incredible property management software programs that will offer something beneficial for you and your properties. They each work well, no matter if you have commercial properties, residential properties, or even student housing!
Both of these software programs work on mobile devices, laptops, desktops, and tablets. You’ll be able to use these features to make your job a lot easier and who doesn’t want that? One may have been the overall winner, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the best property management software program for you.
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Final Words
Have you decided if you’ll go with Buildium or Rentec Direct yet? Either one you choose, your work life will improve drastically! Though both of these software programs are pretty different from each other, they can both tackle tasks that you don’t have the time for such as marketing all of your vacant properties across multiple sites with just the click of a button!
In my opinion, Buildium is the better property management software overall. I enjoy that it is packed with features and it’s relatively inexpensive. Over the course of the time I’ve been using it, Buildium has saved me money from having to hire extra help and I have so much more free time now. Why wouldn’t I want you to have the same experience?
Having multiple properties is enough work already, from collecting rent, screening potential renters and more, you don’t have time to spend weeks learning the ins and outs of a new software, which is why the quick free trial options are amazing! If neither of these software options sound like what you’d like, there are plenty more out there to choose from!
If you find yourself tired of trying to tackle every chore on your list or you just want a little more time for yourself during the week, adding property management software to your daily routine will help with a myriad of things and since they’re so inexpensive, I don’t see a reason why you shouldn’t be using one! Good luck on your software search!