Founded in 2010, On Q Property Management is a software application that caters to the needs of both rental property owners and tenants and renters. Property managers will find this software useful in order to screen tenants, manage rent and maintenance works, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Their business is based in Arizona and Texas. In Arizona, they offer services in Phoenix, Dallas and Tuscon. Those who are searching for a rental property can surf through On Q’s inventory of homes available for rent and create and push applications through the system. Additionally, On Q also provides services for people who are managing a real estate finance portfolio.
For renters/tenants
On their rental website, they have displayed a list of available properties, along with their address, pricing, and a virtual tour video. Interested applicants can submit their application and schedule a viewing through the website. They also have a toll free number on which renters can reach out for help with their property search.
They also have a webpage that offers resources to tenants, like information about fair housing practices. It is aimed at educating people about their right to be treated equally, what action they can take in cases of discrimination, etc. Important notices and regulations about property ownership are displayed for different states respectively.
For property owners
Consultation
On Q offers a free consultation for property owners or managers who want to start renting out their space. First, you have to contact the On-Q team, using the contact information mentioned on their website. According to their website, the free consultation involves going over the features of the property and analysing its market value in terms of rent. The objective is to assess whether the property is eligible to be advertised and managed through On Q.
Marketing
Once the free consultation is done, the next steps are to prepare the property for renting out, and marketing it. You will meet their staff in person, so that they can take pictures of your property and collect necessary information about it. They also claim that they will give suggestions to improve in order to make your property more appealing in the market.
Once the property is ready, they work on marketing it in order to find a suitable tenant. Based on the information provided in the website, it seems that their customers are not actively involved in the marketing process. The entire marketing strategy is designed and implemented by the On Q team, and they keep giving periodic updates to the customer.
They may post the advertisement on popular rental websites, host showings, give virtual tours, etc. Their team also answers the applicants’ queries about rent, lease, maintenance, etc. Customers receive real time feedback about their viewings, prospective applicants, etc.
Applicant screening
Once an applicant has been shortlisted and selected, the property can be rented out. On-Q conducts background checks on tenants. Background checks typically include rental history, credit score, criminal record, income and employment verification, etc. But what kind of information is included in On-Q’s background check reports is not clarified on the website.
Daily task management
The team will help you with procedures drawing up the lease agreement, communicating between both parties and getting everyone onboard. Once the property is rented out, you will be assigned a personal property manager who takes care of tasks like rent collection, fixing maintenance issues, legal compliance, tax returns, etc.
Finally, if the renter decides to vacate, or has been asked to vacate by the homeowner, the move-out process has to be managed efficiently. The property has to be inspected for damage or need of repair, the keys have to be returned to the property owner, and the security deposit has to be returned to the tenant.
The On-Q team also assists with this moveout process, in order to make it smooth, hassle-free and as quick as possible. They ensure that the transition is not stalled, and no potential rental income is lost.
Resources
Apart from property management assistance, On-Q has a collection of online resources for property managers to learn more about the industry and improve their business practices. For example, they host a podcast called Real Talk Rentals, wherein they discuss tips and tricks of efficiently managing a rental property.
Some of the topics they have discussed in the past include evictions, maintenance management, importance of customer feedback, checklists for assessing readiness of the property, etc. This website offers a list of 30 episodes arranged in careful sequence to educate listeners about nitty-gritties like allowing pets on the property, working with unhappy tenants, etc.
What should you look for in a good property management software?
User friendly website
The central function of a property management software is to make your tasks easier and smoother. That won’t happen if the interface is difficult to understand and navigate. Read reviews about the user experience of the app. If it is intuitive and easy to use, you won’t have to spend much time getting used to how things work in the app.
Customer support
Standard features and FAQs can only help you so much. At some point, you will need to reach out to a customer support representative to solve specific problems. It is important that the customer service portal is responsive and active. Chatbots and automated emails can’t replace the presence of human operators.
Legal compliance
It is important to look at the company’s legal history to screen for any compliance issues in the past. Lawsuits, complaints, and consumer rights issues are not a good look for any company. Issues with legal compliance should be seen as red flags, and you should be careful while entering into contracts and agreements. Make sure you read all terms and conditions before putting your signature anywhere.
To conclude, On Q, as a property management software, is useful for both property owners and renters. It offers services like consultation, marketing, applicant screening, daily task management, and providing resources for learning.
The important things to be considered before choosing any software company, are user interface, customer support, and legal compliance. If you are a property owner or renter looking for support from a property management software, we hope this review helped you get a better idea of On Q and their products
