Rentec Direct Reviews

Easy and Integrated Property Management

Back in 2007, Rentec Direct LLC came to life as an innovative way to ditch the old-fashioned rental management. The idea was to create a more elaborate software that is specific to landlords and encompasses a broad range of features beyond accounting. 

Rentec Direct reviews classify it as one of the top property management software, and for a good reason, with the platform supporting small, midsize, and large property management communities offering nifty features that get things done. It’s web-based so you can access it from anywhere via a browser. The Rentec Direct app (Owner Connect) meanwhile enables property managers to share with their clients, as well as a mobile app of the tenant portal (Resident Connect). Both Rentec direct mobile app solutions are available for Android and iOS. 

Continue reading this Rentec Direct review to find the complete overview of the software’s features and an in-depth analysis of their customer care and pricing plans, as well as our unbiased view on how it stacks up against the competition.

All-Inclusive Property Management Software

Rentec Direct offers a variety of features that make daily operations easy and streamlined. In the following section, we’ll take a look at some of the most prominent functionalities and uncover what users love the most and what areas need improvement.

Accounting

Rentec Direct offers prime accounting with all the tools needed to run things smoothly. It is beginner-friendly, which makes it one of the most-loved Rentec Direct features, with users saying that it adds a great value to their business.  

Rentec Direct is trust account certified which adds another layer of security and confidence that you won’t have compliance issues. All transactions between Rentec Direct and your bank can be downloaded and synced so you always have the most accurate information on hand. 

Reviewing and printing ledgers for properties, owners, tenants, and bank accounts is streamlined. The Rentec property management software further allows you to accept payments online via ACH, credit cards, or physically at one of the 20,000 payment locations that are part of its cash payment network. Property managers meanwhile can pay owners via ACH only. The process is user-friendly, simple, and hassle-free. 

Reviews of Rentec Direct rave about the robustness of the software’s reporting system. You have access to a variety of simple, client-friendly, and detailed reports. Virtually any report needed for accounting can be easily generated. Everything is exportable to PDF or Excel and can be printed or shared via email. One thing that users would like to have though is freedom for more customization of the reports. And we agree that this would be a nice addition too. 

Rentec Direct provides e-file for 1099-MISC, ensuring error-free operation. 

Operations

Both owners and tenants have access to some amazing tools that simplify business operations. 

You get a free website for marketing purposes. Tenants can use it to apply or log in to view their portal. On the downside, more than one Rentec Direct review says that the customization is quite limited and the visual appearance is average. Also, users reckon that the website could use more functionality and offer better templates, or maybe even an advanced website at an additional fee. If the website is your priority, TenantCloud reviews show that their marketing site is excellent so you might want to consider it. 

The owner portal is а great addition to the software if you trust Rentec Direct reviews on the web. As an owner, you get easy access to important data and track in real-time all the activity of the property management firm in one place. Only property managers can control what information will be displayed. 

The integration with DocuSign allows accepting electronic signatures — you can add signature fields for tenants when editing a form. Documentation is another great feature of the Rentec Direct software. It enables sharing important documents with owners and tenants. While Buildium reviews point to issues when attaching larger documents, Rentec Direct users didn’t face such an issue. 

Thanks to the work order management system, you can keep track of maintenance and repairs. Rentec Direct reviews suggest that users would appreciate an SMS notification in addition to the email when a work order is created. They also point to the lack of calendar integration within work orders, as well as the inability to email work orders to the vendors. 

The software integrates with zInspector so you can conveniently complete inspections on the go and access inspection reports that can be shared and stored. This functionality speeds up the move-in and move-out process with no fuss. The service comes at no additional fee. Plus, zInspector is free for less than five units. 

Leasing & Management

The Rentec Direct tenant portal is one of the software’s most useful features. Easy to use and intuitive, the portal enables easy rent collection, sends automatic reminder notices, and streamlines the communication with tenants, keeping the things current. One potential downside is that you would have to pay a $200 setup fee in order to allow your tenants to use the portal for paying rent. 

Deemed the most accurate tenant screening service, Rentec Direct really lives up to the expectations. Many Rentec Direct tenant screening reviews praise this functionality and rightfully so. All background checks (nationwide criminal search, credit report, nationwide eviction search, SSN verification, prior address search) are generated within 60 seconds. Although it comes at an additional fee, it’s definitely worth it. 

Users also find the automatic syndication feature very useful as it allows you to unify the status of your vacancies to the top property listing pages including  Zillow, Trulia, and HotPads.

Easy, Accessible, and Reliable

Rentec Direct is a web-based software compatible with Windows, iOS, and Android. Rentec Direct reviews describe the platform as easy to use, accessible, and reliable. Even users that are not tech-savvy found the platform user friendly. Its interface is intuitive, the design is clean and simple, and the info is clear and organized. 

Rentec offers free setup assistance and video training materials that cover a wide variety of topics to get you started. 

Superb Customer Support

Customer support is one of the things that Rentec’s clients particularly praise. In fact, they say it’s the best support they have received from any company. 

The Rentec Direct customer service is available via phone, email, or live chat. The team is knowledgeable, friendly, and responsive, ready to guide the client through any issue to ensure operations run efficiently at all times. They have backgrounds in property management and industry experience needed to provide insights on how to make the most out of Rentec Direct. 

You can expect a fast response regardless of the channel you use. The staff takes every matter seriously and they are always on top of their game. Live customer service is available Monday-Friday from 6 am to 6 pm PST.

Rentec Direct Pricing — Affordable for All Budgets

The Rentec Basic plan is a free version of the software for up to 10 properties. The first paid package — Rentec Pro — starts at $35/month and caters to landlords and apartment owners. It offers a variety of features, including automated rate increases and fees, HelloSign integration, and a property management website, among others. The Rentec PM plan (starting at $45/month) targets property managers and ups the ante with more features, most notably an owner portal, and trust account management and reporting. The final pricing of both plans depends on the number of properties but you can get an instant quote on the vendor’s website. 

A Rentec Direct demo and free trial are available upon request. 

The company further offers tenant screening to its subscribers, with separate pricing packages. The Basic plan costs $7 and includes nationwide criminal, SSN validation, and sex offender check. The Enhanced screening package comes in at $10 and ups the Basic package with a nationwide eviction search. The Premium package further includes Transunion credit and FICO score reports. The setup of the Rentec Direct tenant screening is free. 

We couldn’t find an active Rentec Direct promo code but the vendor does offer them occasionally so make sure to check on their website or follow them on social media. 

Comparing Rentec against competitors, the software seems affordable and works great for property management of all sizes. While on the face of it the pricing can be a bit confusing with the two sets of packages, it provides extra flexibility if you’re on a tight budget. There is also the free version which helps the vendor stand out from the crowd. When evaluating Rentec Direct vs Buildium, for example, we reached the conclusion that while both platforms offer great value for money Rentec is more affordable compared to Buildium; therefore, it might be a better option if you are a small or medium-sized organization. 

The Verdict

Rentec Direct is an affordable property management software that caters to property managers of all sizes. Users particularly love the customer support and ease of use. While some Rentec Direct reviews suggest that the platform could benefit from a few extra functionalities, the vendor continuously improves so we are confident that we’ll see some upgrades soon.

If you’re a landlord, property manager, or owner, chances are you’ll find that Rentec Direct provides good value for money, regardless of the size of your portfolio. The software can be a great asset to ensure your business success.