RealPage vs SimplifyEm

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Our analysts compared RealPage vs SimplifyEm based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Property Management Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

SimplifyEm Software Tool

Product Basics

RealPage is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline property management tasks. It caters primarily to property managers and real estate professionals, offering a suite of tools that facilitate the management of residential and commercial properties. One of the key benefits of RealPage is its ability to enhance operational efficiency through automation of routine tasks, such as rent collection, maintenance requests, and tenant screening. Its popular features include accounting and financial reporting, lease management, and utility billing, which collectively contribute to its reputation as a robust property management platform. When compared to similar products, users often highlight RealPage's user-friendly interface and the depth of its features as significant advantages. However, pricing considerations, which can vary based on the number of units managed and the specific services required, are an important factor for potential users to consider. Payment for RealPage services typically follows a subscription model, with fees charged on a monthly basis.

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SimplifyEM is a cloud-based solution that provides online rent collection, expense tracking, digital lease signatures, bookkeeping and access to a communication portal. Tax management, reporting, work order management and billing are some of its offerings. Users can choose packages, which include live support and unlimited data storage, based on the number of units to be managed. The vendor offers a free trial or test drive on their website so prospective customers can see it in action before purchasing.

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$7.30/10,000 Square Feet, Monthly
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$35 Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
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Product Insights

  • Work in One Place: Manage the entire portfolio’s marketing, maintenance, and accounting workflows from a unified platform. 
  • Eliminate Paper Files: Digitize documents, store them in a central library and use the search bar for quick navigation. Reduce manual data entries and minimize human errors. 
  • Increase Digital Engagement: Design branded portfolio websites and generate unique multimedia content. Prospects can use a unified platform for discovery, application and leasing. 
  • Enhance Resident Experience: Add value to the living experience with resident portals, community events and rewards, insurance options, smart homes, and more. 
  • Improve Decision-Making: Gain real-time insights and drill down on opportunities by localizing operational data and creating unique visualizations with business-specific metrics. 
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  • Streamlined Operations: SimplifyEm automates routine tasks such as rent collection, lease tracking, and maintenance requests, freeing up property managers to focus on more strategic activities.
  • Financial Management: Offers comprehensive tools for tracking income and expenses, generating detailed financial reports, and simplifying tax preparation, ensuring financial health and compliance.
  • Improved Tenant Relations: Provides a portal for tenants to pay rent, submit maintenance requests, and communicate with property managers, enhancing tenant satisfaction and retention.
  • Accessible Anywhere: As a cloud-based platform, SimplifyEm allows property managers and owners to access their property information from anywhere, at any time, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the needs of both small landlords and large property management firms, allowing for seamless management of a few units to several hundred, supporting business growth without the need for additional software.
  • Reduced Errors: By automating and centralizing property management tasks, the likelihood of human error is significantly reduced, leading to more accurate and reliable operations.
  • Enhanced Decision Making: Provides real-time data and analytics on property performance, enabling property managers to make informed decisions to optimize profitability.
  • Cost Savings: Reduces the need for additional staff and minimizes costly errors through automation, ultimately leading to lower operational costs and increased net income.
  • Customizable Reports: Offers a variety of customizable reporting options that can be tailored to the specific needs of property managers, aiding in strategic planning and reporting to stakeholders.
  • Improved Maintenance Management: Streamlines the maintenance request process, ensuring timely repairs and maintenance, which contributes to property value preservation and tenant satisfaction.
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  • GoDirect Marketing: Drive qualified traffic directly to personal property websites instead of indirect leads generated from internet listing services. Optimize marketing strategies and unify customers’ online journey. 
  • Digital Content Services: Increase engagement and drive online traffic with quality digital content. Streamline marketing efforts with centralized storage, manage media from the dashboard, and review and analyze data to elevate online visibility. Some of the unique content creation tools available are: 
    • Video Call Tours: Remote leasing agents can conduct virtual property tours with interactive walkthroughs and professional photography. Prospects can schedule tours on demand. 
    • Matterport Tour: Provide an interactive VR tour of high-definition photographs of up to 20 locations within a unit, including click points containing unique information. 
    • 3D Virtual Tour: Create an animated virtual tour from the property’s 2D or 3D floor plan; viewers can take control of their tours from inside the unit. 
    • Storybooks Digital Brochure: Arrange a mix of photographs, graphics and music to highlight the property’s best amenities. 
    • Lifestyle Video: Include premium quality videos shot on location with professional filming techniques. 
    • Drone Video: Offer a high-definition aerial view video with stunning visuals, providing a broader perspective of the location.  
    • Copy Service: Hire professional writers and editors to produce customized blogs, articles and listings to attract target demographics. 
  • Contact Center 3.0: Leverage an AI-backed 24/7 augmented solution to maximize conversions through on-time information delivery. Manage sales calls, leasing queries and maintenance requests. 
  • Personalized Website: Design professional websites and create unique touch points between the brand and renters with assistance from marketing reps. Increase engagement with mobile-friendly website templates. 
  • Leads to Lease: Make informed business decisions by tracking leads and integrating marketing data with revenue data. Draft customizable e-leases with personalized terms and clauses, and renew leases with new additions. 
  • Deposit Alternatives: Tackle bad debts and avoid losing leads due to requiring a high security deposit upfront. 
    • Deposit Insurance: Generate ancillary revenue; instead of paying a hefty security deposit, residents can set up an affordable and non-refundable monthly premium payment. 
    • DepositIQ: An upfront, non-refundable surety bond that ensures lease obligations, can be used in place of a hefty security deposit. 
  • Insurance Solutions: Mitigate risks for both residents and landlords, and enhance revenue with these unique and customizable solutions: 
    • Renter’s Insurance: eRenterPlan offers residents comprehensive insurance coverage of rental and personal assets. Optional RenterProtection provides coverage for vacant units or uninsured residents. 
    • AssetProtect: Offers property owners and managers an insurance program that protects rental assets, drives ancillary revenue and maximizes compliance. 
  • AI Screening: Access the industry’s largest rental payment database, screen for criminal background information and perform credit checks through top credit reporting bureaus. Verify identities and detect fraudulent applications using machine learning, equipped with behavioral data. 
  • Building Operations: Residents get keyless smart access to every door, use popular third-party applications for smart apartments and leverage high-speed internet access through the CommunityConnect integration. They can also submit maintenance requests with multimedia attachments to substantiate their claims. 
  • Payment Portal: Accept payments for rent, bills and other expenses through check, money order, credit and debit cards online. Integration with LockBox allows residents to mail checks to designated P.O. boxes. From there, checks are scanned, converted into digital transactions and routed to the owner’s account. 
  • Vendor Credentialing: Reduce liability and increase visibility by choosing pre-verified vendors who meet personal compliance requirements. The Credential Key Program thoroughly assesses each vendor’s background, success metrics and insurance and liability coverage to clear those eligible for same-day approval. 
  • Utility Management: Increase efficiency through a platform for billing ancillary costs. Manage and track property energy consumption and reduce waste. The submetering feature allocates utility costs among residents based on actual consumption. Reduce expenses through automatic cost allocation and avoid deploying on-site staff. 
  • Community Rewards: Offer residents digital reward points for engagement with the property?— from surveys and contests to online bill payments, renewals and more. Encourage engagement to increase loyalty and online reputation assessment scores, which helps cut lead tracking expenditure and cost-per-lease. 
  • Accounting Suite: Automate data entry, streamline workflows, record company financials, maintain general ledgers and manage and track bills. Outsource tasks to the SmartSource accounting team instead of staffing and training new accountants. 
  • Analytics: Gain critical insights into performance, track risks and opportunities, and maximize profitability. Optimize pricing through accurate demand and supply balance management. Receive detailed analysis of revenue management and market conditions. 
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  • Property Management: Manage all properties in a portfolio under one comprehensive platform. Track income and expenses, create and monitor workflows, receive customized worksheets for each property, and get notified in case of multiple entries or erroneous information. 
  • Marketing: Advertise properties on listing websites for a fee per listing. Provide prospects with state-specific application forms on demand, available at a cost per template. 
  • Tenant Screening: Choose suitable tenants for units by screening their criminal background and eviction history. Available at a cost per background check. 
  • Forms: Save time by using state-specific templates for various forms, including vacation notices, lease agreements, notices to quit, rental inspections, eviction notices and more. 
  • Online Payment: Automatically bill tenants and collect rent. Residents can choose to pay via ACH or credit cards. Available at a charge per transaction. 
  • Tenant Management: Maintain history and records for every tenant, receive notifications for lease renewals, track late rental payments and automate late fee payments. 
  • Expense Tracking: Track income and expenses with customized worksheets and organize according to IRS categories to maximize tax savings. Receive expert advice on recurring income and expense items, and eliminate repetitive data entry using customizable automation. 
  • Tenant Portal: Residents can check bank balances, receive rent reminders, communicate with owners and managers, and pay rent securely through the portal. 
  • Document Management: Store and manage unlimited documents for every transaction. 
  • Bookkeeping: Automate data entry of recurring income and expense items. Generate cash flow statements, tax reports and schedule e-reports seamlessly. 
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Product Ranking

#11

among all
Property Management Software

#48

among all
Property Management Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Marketing
Platform Capabilities
Business Operations
Leasing
Dashboards and Reporting
Business Operations

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

RealPage
SimplifyEm
+ Add Product + Add Product
Accounting & Financial Management Business Operations Dashboards And Reporting Leasing Maintenance Marketing Platform Capabilities 86 96 94 96 85 98 97 75 89 65 84 68 17 55 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

38%
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87%

User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 168 reviews
Great User Sentiment 243 reviews
83%
of users recommend this product

RealPage has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 168 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

83%
of users recommend this product

SimplifyEm has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 83% when considering 243 user reviews from 3 recognized software review sites.

4.2 (17)
n/a
3.9 (56)
4.6 (14)
n/a
4.1 (122)
4.3 (95)
4.2 (107)

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated RealPage and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Marketing.

Marketing Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Centralized Communication Hub: RealPage serves as a central hub for resident communication, maintenance requests, and online rent payments, streamlining property management operations.
Accounting Features: The platform offers robust accounting tools, including accounts payable and receivable management, budgeting, and financial reporting, simplifying financial management for property managers.
Marketing and Leasing Tools: RealPage provides tools to create and manage property listings, screen tenants, and process lease applications, aiding in attracting and securing new residents.
Maintenance Management: The platform facilitates efficient maintenance management by allowing residents to submit requests online, tracking work orders, and managing vendor relationships.
Reporting and Analytics: RealPage offers comprehensive reporting and analytics capabilities, providing insights into property performance, resident trends, and financial metrics to support data-driven decision-making.
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Streamlined Accounting: Users praise SimplifyEm for its intuitive interface that simplifies complex accounting tasks, such as tracking income and expenses, generating financial reports, and reconciling bank statements. This makes it easier for property managers to stay organized and make informed financial decisions.
Efficient Tenant Management: The platform offers robust features for managing tenants, including online rent collection, lease tracking, and communication tools. This allows property managers to streamline tenant interactions and reduce administrative overhead.
Improved Communication: SimplifyEm facilitates seamless communication between property managers, tenants, and owners through automated email and text message notifications. This helps keep everyone informed about important updates, such as rent payments, maintenance requests, and lease renewals.
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Customer Service: Users frequently report challenges in getting timely and effective support from RealPage's customer service team. This can lead to frustration when encountering technical issues or needing assistance with the platform's features.
Usability: The platform's interface can be complex and challenging to navigate, especially for new users. This complexity can lead to a steep learning curve and hinder efficient use of the software's capabilities.
Cost: RealPage's pricing structure can be a significant concern for property management companies, particularly smaller businesses or those with tighter budgets. The cost of the software may outweigh its perceived benefits for some users.
Integrations: Integrating RealPage with other software systems can be a complex process, potentially requiring additional development work or custom solutions. This can create challenges for property management companies that rely on multiple software platforms to manage their operations.
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Limited Customization: Users express frustration over the lack of flexibility in tailoring the software to their specific workflows. For example, options for customizing reports are limited.
Basic Accounting Features: SimplifyEm primarily focuses on property management tasks, and its accounting capabilities are considered rudimentary by some users. They desire more advanced features for financial reporting and analysis.
Customer Support Concerns: Some users report difficulties in getting timely and effective support from SimplifyEm when encountering technical issues or needing assistance with the software.
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RealPage has emerged as a prominent contender, offering a suite of features designed to streamline operations for property managers of all sizes. Let's delve into the feedback from users over the past year to uncover the strengths and weaknesses of this platform and determine if it aligns with your unique requirements. RealPage has received accolades for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionality. Users appreciate the ability to efficiently manage rent collection, maintenance requests, tenant communication, and financial reporting all within a single platform. The software's automation capabilities have been particularly well-received, as they save property managers valuable time and effort. However, some users have expressed concerns about the software's pricing structure, finding it to be relatively expensive compared to some competitors. Additionally, a few users have noted that the software's customization options could be more robust, limiting their ability to tailor the platform to their specific workflows. RealPage distinguishes itself through its extensive range of features and its focus on providing data-driven insights. The platform's analytics tools empower property managers to make informed decisions based on real-time data, optimizing property performance and maximizing revenue. Furthermore, RealPage's integration with various third-party applications enhances its versatility and adaptability. Considering its comprehensive feature set and data-driven approach, RealPage is best suited for property management companies seeking a robust and scalable solution to manage their portfolios effectively. It is particularly well-suited for larger organizations with complex operations that require advanced analytics and automation capabilities.

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Is SimplifyEm simply the best, or are there simpler options out there? Users praise SimplifyEm for its user-friendly interface, especially compared to more complex software like AppFolio. One user raved about SimplifyEm's intuitive design, saying even those who aren't tech-savvy can easily navigate the platform. This ease of use is crucial for property managers who need to quickly access information and complete tasks. Users also appreciate SimplifyEm's robust features, including online tenant portals, automated reminders, and mobile access, which streamline communication and management tasks. However, some users have expressed concerns about SimplifyEm's customer support, finding response times to be slow and occasionally unhelpful. While SimplifyEm boasts affordability, some users feel the limited customer support makes it a less attractive option compared to competitors with more responsive support teams. Overall, SimplifyEm seems best suited for individual landlords or small property management companies who prioritize ease of use and affordability over extensive customer support. Its intuitive design and comprehensive features make it a solid choice for those who need a straightforward solution to manage their properties efficiently.

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