Most Property Management Software pricing starts at $500.00 and goes up from there - WAY UP. What you may not realize is that over the years, you will pay many times the original cost in 'hidden charges' with other real estate management software. Here are some 'hidden charges' in Property Management Software to look for:
 

Online Software: There are a lot of things that are better online. Property Management Software isn't one of them. That is the reason the Tenant File is not an online software - it is a 'desktop software'. By the very nature of the word, that means your sensitive business information is sitting on 'your' desktop, not somewhere else in the world.

Here are the top reasons why you should buy a DESKTOP software for your Property Management business:

#1 Security - All of the financial information for your Owners and your Tenants are in YOUR possession.  Can you really trust that there won't be a breech of security wherever your data is located? Do you know where it is? At least if it is on your computer you can insure that your precious data is in your trust, not a stranger's. It is just too valuable to take a chance!

#2 Down time - Ever think about what happens when power goes out? Your business is dead. No accounting for Tenants or Owners. At least when you control the data, you can run on a generator. But you can't control what happens in India or San Francisco or wherever your data is located. When the Internet goes down, your business is at a standstill. Could you accept that for days or weeks?

#3 Speed - The secret you are not told about web based software is that is works slower than desktop software. Sometimes much slower. Every bit of information stored has to be transferred to what ever state or country your data is located in, then sent back to you. It is frustrating.

#4 Cost - A 'small' monthly fee sounds good, huh? Well, add it up. If you are paying the 'minimum' of $50.00 per month, you are really paying $600 PER YEAR, and you never even get to own the software! Throw in a another 3 years and you will have paid $1800.00 for the 'use' of the software, and the rates will probably go up after you are 'locked' into the purchase.  They say you can cancel at any time, but what happens to your data?

What is the research on the safety of your data?
Not as secure as you are being told. According to Forrester Research, a whopping 27% of companies using cloud computing had at least one disaster within the past 5 years! You

may think that you only have to worry about earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, fires and tornadoes, but the truth is that most business data disasters happen without warning and

are devasting to your company. The primary cause? Mainly IT and network failures and power failures at the server banks hosting your valuable data. Some of these data banks are managed overseas and sustable to hacking and intrusion.

A Forrester Research article (updated 11/21/2011) says "Clients/customers should understand that cloud computing also can fail and result in major disaster for the business. The notion that it is absolutely safe on cloud is wrong."

Numerous reports have stated that the US power grid and IT infrastructure is vulnerable to terrorist attack. Imagine what would happen if all of the sudden your business data is

not accessable, with tenant, vendor and owner records, banking information, all gone in the blink of an eye?

There are many other reasons why your business should rely on a stable, tested, desktop software. You valuable data is the backbone of your business. Don't take a chance on your business with a web-based software that has only been in business a few years!

Updates are required purchases to receive support: Some companies REQUIRE you to purchase all updates to continue support. These updates can cost into the hundreds of dollars. At Tenant File, our policy is simple - we will notify you of all major updates, and if you pass on the new added features, you can purchase another update later on. We will provide free support for all users with the latest 3 updates.

Missed Updates must be purchased at full cost: If you miss an update and decide to update your software later on, many companies require you to separately purchase 'each' update through the current one at full cost. With the Tenant File, all previous updates are included at a 50% discount. 

Expensive update costs: The Tenant File has never had an update that cost more than $130.00 in it's 14 year history. Compare that with hundreds or thousands of dollars for others.

Technical Support costs: One of the biggest fees you will pay with software is the tech support fees. Each time you call with a question, be ready to pull out your credit card before speaking with someone. Many companies charge $1,000 plus per year or $100.00 per hour for calls! Phone is free for 60 days, and email/fax support is free for all users with any one of the last 3 versions.

Training Costs: Many companies require attendance at costly seminars. We feel that if extensive 'training' is required, the software is poorly designed and too difficult to use. Most people need no training for the Tenant File, however, if you would like a phone training session with a Tenant File expert, we offer that for a nominal fee. You'll call us at a designated time and we can even work with your own data that you send us ahead of time. You'll receive valuable tips and shortcuts in using the program.

Options: Many programs charge 'extra' for options that should be part of the software in the first place, such as check writing. We at the Tenant File have only 3 options, which are items our users may not always need and shouldn't have to pay for. They are the Work Order Option (creates Work Orders for your contractors), the 1099 MISC Option (prints on forms for your Owners and contractors), and the Word Processor (uses the Tenant File database in a Word Processor with pre-designed letter templates).

Networking Options: Perhaps the most expensive of all, many Property Management Software companies add on hundreds or thousands of dollars to use the program in an office network environment. The Tenant File can be used by multi-users without any additional costs. You can have simultaneous users on different parts of the program at the same time.  

Save yourself time and money now and in the future. Get America's Favorite Software - the TENANT File!