At Rentec Direct, our goal is always to improve communication and streamline property management tasks, making your responsibilities as a landlord or property manager simpler, quicker, and more efficient. Rentec Direct actively works on product updates and feature enhancements to make you successful at rental management. You learn more about the product updates made live in Q3 of 2024 and get highlights of what’s to come in Q4 of 2024 in your Rentec Direct account.
The Rentec Direct Development Team is committed to enhancing your property management experience using Rentec Direct property management software. Thanks to your feature requests, feedback, and collaboration with the Rentec Direct success team and first-contact Account Setup Specialists, over 200 new features, enhancements, and helpful fixes were delivered in Q3. This report highlights a majority of all the updates to your software. Scroll down to find a summary of the major releases that went live in Q3.
A sample of some smaller enhancements include:
- Drag and drop the image upload option on the Marketing info page
- Automatically assign a new property expense account when archiving a bank account
- More filter and sorting options in reports with a quicker load time
- Property performance report now displays occupancy rate and average turnover
- Owners can view reports in the Owner Portal without the need to download
- Tenants can now view their security deposit balance in the Resident Connect mobile app
We are delighted to present our quarterly reports showcasing the latest features, enhancements, and upcoming developments. You can easily access information about these updates and previous reports in the System Updates and News & Tips sections on the Summary page of your Rentec Direct account, keeping you well-informed and in control of your property management. For added convenience, you can subscribe to the Rentec Direct Blog to have these updates delivered directly to your email.
In-house, the team refers to smaller updates as a bug fix, QuickFix, HotFix, or issue reports, and large updates as Features or Enhancements. While we don’t report every fix or update to you, you can be assured that your success and development teams work together to evaluate helpful updates that will improve your workflow and save you time.
Here’s a look at what the Development Team has been working on during the third quarter of 2024.
Rentec Direct Feature Updates, Fixes, and Enhancements
*Features/Enhancements*
- Enhancement 243 – Enhanced Chart of Accounts to include Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Security Deposit improvements, and a true Balance Sheet
- Enhancement 491- Owners Statement reports automatically sort by address
- Enhancement 670 – Closed Work Order report order based on date closed
- Enhancement 687 –
- The Managers & Users list now displays the number of properties assigned to each individual and the total balance on the properties.
- The Property Manager Rents report now includes “self,” rent income, and management fees organized by property and grouped by the manager.
- Enhancement 2597 – Check Register Report load times reduced and enhanced sorting options
- Enhancement 2637 – Preview button displays on mobile devices with a built-in PDF viewer. Forms can be downloaded to be viewed on devices without a viewer.
- Enhancement 2682 – Enhanced Work order management system expands notes, messaging, reports, and filter options
- Enhancement 2709 – Added security deposit balance in Resident Connect mobile app
- Enhancement 2714 – Automatically reassign property expense accounts when archiving a bank account
- Enhancement 2744 – Drag-n-drop images and files to Marketing info
- Enhancement 2771- Owner reports now open in a preview window in the Owner Portal
- Enhancement 2784 Improve subunit order in remodeled owner statement A
- Enhancement 2789 Reorganized the Settings page (removed the “People” section)
- UI Changes enhancement: Return to property and tenant list easier after filtering by multi-plex or primary renter.
- UI Changes enhancement: If logged out, going back to the last page allows bookmarks to work through the login process
- UI Changes enhancement: Rentec Pro clients have the option to transfer the security deposit balance to a property ledger
- Enhancement: Archive and reactivate all associated units when archiving or reactivating the primary property of a multi-unit complex
- 0710 Enhancement: Allows scheduled reports to self as the only recipient
- 0715 Enhancement: Remove the link to use old websites for new users
- 0715 Enhancement: Provide helpful hints for system-generated messages
- 0725 Enhancement: Hide legacy reports for new users
*Bug Fixes and Issues*
- Issue 218 Fix: Remove setting for PRO users that has no effect
- Issue 2503 Fix: Change the “All Properties” filter in 1099 Tax Assistant to include expenses without any associated property
- Issue 2504 Fix: Add the name of CAM Pool in renter Notes & History
- Issue 2520 Fix: Property Performance report displays the correct Occupancy Rate and Average Turnover
- Issue 2659 Fix: Cancel Insurance button functions in Firefox when editing insurance
- Issue 2680 Enhancement: Expand all check and reference number fields to a consistent max length of 45 characters
- Issue 2718 Fix: Use more reliable service to prevent prospect-notification emails from ending up in spam folders
- Issue 2727 Fix: Remove the Owner field for PRO users on remodeled reports
- Issue 2738 Fix: Show credits in remodeled PM Payment Report as negative amounts
- Issue 2743 Fix: Leave “Daily Late Fee” unchecked when the default value is set to “0.00”, not just “0”.
- Issue 2748 Bug fix: Add Print Receipt to deposited renter-payment context menu
- Issue 2774 Big fix: Custom field labels are now searchable on property and tenant pages
- Issue 2780 Bug fix: Restore Bank Account, Owner, and Property fields to remodeled Cash Settlement report
- Issue 2812 Bug fix: View reports with draft Work
- Issue 2815 Bug fix: Allow subusers with permission to access a Work order to view the Work order report
- Issue 2816 Enhancement: Work orders default sort order changed to descending order from date received
- Bug fix: ESignatures that were not working for some clients restored
*Internal Enhancements & Fixes*
- Enhancement: Leads page info box now has actionable links
- Enhancement: Set default invoice early setting to a maximum value of 95 days
- UI Change: Change “Void” to “Deleted” for Delete action in Transaction History for consistent messaging
- Bug Fix: Include credit card payments from co-renters in Credit Card Settlement report
- Bug Fix: Always show Category Select when viewing work orders
- Enhancement: Add Print Text to View Report Button when editing a Work order
- Bug fix: Sub-users with full access can create Work order notes
- Enhancement: Prioritize showing the Property column over the Status column on the Work order list
- Bug fix: Form preview for inactive tenants now loads
*Hotfix*
- 0920 Hotfix: Include Security deposits in bank reports
Notable Product Update Recap
We are always excited to review the latest New Features and Enhancements released with you every quarter, as many result from client requests. However, we always like to highlight a few of the more significant changes that will improve your Rentec Direct experience.
Full Accounting
Rentec Direct now offers a full accounting platform to manage your Real Estate portfolio.
- Track your Assets, Liabilities, and Equity with new accounting and journal entries
- Quickly balance your account with a true Balance Sheet and Balance
Discrepancies report - Strict Accounting option to enforce accounting standards with an expanded Chart of Accounts
- Enhanced Security Deposit options
Learn more: New Feature | Full Accounting Options: Assets, Liabilities, and Equity with a True Balance Sheet
Work Order Enhancements
Enhancements made to Work orders in your Rentec Direct account have redesigned the appearance and functionality to one that complements the modern updates and features throughout Rentec Direct software with:
- Automated and streamlined communications directly through Work orders
- Strengthened Notes & History for Work orders and communications
- New data input fields to better document and track Work order activity
- Restructured Work order list, report, and search options
- New Work order info card with essential information associated with each Work order
Learn more: Feature Update | New Work Order Enhancements Streamline Communication
Enhancement to Automated Email
The Automated Email feature previously released was such a big success that it has been enhanced to save landlords and property managers time and help stay on task by scheduling important reports to automatically email out to yourself with current information weekly or monthly, such as:
- Lease Renewal reports
- Payment Settlement reports
- Scheduled Move Out reports
Learn more: Feature Update | Schedule Renter and Property Management Reports to be Delivered to Your Email
Notable Features for all of 2024
Major feature updates and products always get announced on the Rentec Direct Blog and shared in the System Update section of your Summary page when you first log into the software. In case you missed any announcements, here are some highlights of what came out of the Rentec Direct developers’ office so far in 2024.
- January 24, 2024 New Feature | Void Online Payments
- March 12, 2024 Feature Update | Properties Page Improvements
- March 14, 2024 Modern Property Management Websites Now Available for Rentec Direct Clients
- March 20, 2024 New Feature: New Owner Portal Option to Hide or Display Tenant Names
- Apr 23, 2024 New Feature | Introducing the New Property Management Mobile App
- Jun 5, 2024 New Feature: Tenant Portal Bulletin will Permanently Display Notices and Disclosures to Your Residents
- Jul 17, 2024 Feature Update | Schedule Renter and Property Management Reports to be Delivered to Your Email
- September 16, 2024 New Feature | Full Accounting Options: Assets, Liabilities, and Equity with a True Balance Sheet
- September 25, 2024 Feature Update | New Work Order Enhancements Streamline Communication
Have questions?
Your amazing Rentec Direct success team is here to help. If you have any questions, call 800-881-5139, click on the Live Expert Help Link in your Rentec Direct to chat or email, or send an email directly to success@rentecdirect.com.
Have a feature request?
Most software updates result from valuable feedback and input from our awesome clients. If there is a new feature or software enhancement you would love to see added to Rentec Direct, send your ideas and suggestions to success@rentecdirect.com.
Upcoming New Features:
The Rentec Direct Development Team has several exciting new features that will be released soon. You might even recognize a feature or two as one you requested! For example:
⭐ Automated notice and letter mailing with the new Mailing Wizard tool and PostGrid integration. A tool for sending messages in bulk, via email or physical mail, to tenants who are behind on their rent or about to move out.
Learn more: Coming Soon | Automate Mailing Notices to Tenants With New PostGrid Integration
About Rentec Direct
Rentec Direct provides industry-leading property management software and tenant screening solutions for real estate professionals. Key features include online rent payments, tenant and owner portals, vacancy listing syndication, accounting tools, and tenant background reports. Founded in 2007, Rentec Direct is the third-largest software in its sector and is consistently the highest-rated by investors, landlords, and property managers. Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies for eight consecutive years, Rentec Direct was also named Real Estate Company of the Year in the 2024 American Business Awards and listed among the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Top 100 Small Businesses. www.rentecdirect.com