Protown Properties Efficiently Manages 500+ Homes with Help of DIY’s True Rental Property Software

With 500+ properties located throughout greater Joliet, IL, Protown Properties needs the best tools to ensure efficiency. When Kim Pierce of family-owned Protown was looking for a new business software solution, finding a provider that understood the specific needs of the rental property industry was, therefore, a critical consideration.

Pierce of Protown explains: “Other systems we reviewed were not geared to a rental property business. What we saw were basically accounts receivable tools. A rental business is much more than that – and with their years of expertise, DIY understands that.

“We were looking for a system that we could tweak to meet our needs. We wanted the ability to easily manage late fees, due dates, and the like, and DIY accommodates that. A major wish list item was the ability to print five-day notices from the system. Again, DIY was able to support our processes. In the end, we are significantly more efficient because DIY has built its features around the needs of our industry,” affirms Pierce.

Web access with control over data also helps Protown be successful. Says Pierce, “A web-based system fits perfectly because all of our employees can access the system and data from anywhere. Access from any Internet connection has worked out great; it definitely saves time. The different levels of user access have also been helpful. We can limit access to viewing information only. It is much easier to control the data this way and ensure data integrity.”

“Another real bonus is that DIY maintains the system,” she says. “I do not worry about updates, patches, or backups. DIY understands that small companies do not always have IT departments, and with DIY, no technical experts are required. That’s great news for rental property owners. “It's a relief to know our data is safe, and always available,” says Pierce, “and that DIY will be there to take care of it, so we can focus on our business.”

Pierce also appreciates DIY’s pricing model. “Some other systems charged a per user license, DIY does not. Budget is always a concern, so this is a huge plus,” she says. “In addition, it was a selling point to us that many extra features are available but not mandatory. As our business grows, we can add more features as time and budget allow.

“Further, and again with budget in mind, DIY includes support in the monthly fee. Training is not necessary, you can teach yourself, and the DIY support team is extremely helpful. Their great customer service clearly adds value,” she says. “We took advantage of the free trial offer, and during that time I realized how user friendly the system is,” says Pierce, who’s been using DIY for nearly two years. “Now we have easy access to efficiency tools, features geared to our business, and great service standing behind it.”