As a property manager, you know the importance of offering top-tier self-touring and seamless home automation options to attract and retain residents. While Rently pioneered self-touring technology for rental properties, it might not be the best option if you’re looking for device flexibility or robust smart home automation functionality.
The good news is you’re in the right place to find the best Rently alternatives. In this article, we’ll walk you through the top three options and guide you in choosing the right one for your properties. Before diving in, let’s examine what Rently does (and doesn’t) do well.
What is Rently?
Rently is a leasing automation platform that offers self-guided tours and smart home solutions for a wide range of users.
What is Rently good at?
Rently’s software and proprietary hardware make it easy for prospective renters to view properties via self-guided tours—no agent or property manager is required. This powerful feature enables potential renters to schedule and tour properties on their terms, all while helping property managers save time and streamline the leasing process.
Rently also offers enterprise smart home automation with access control for improved security and easy management of devices like lights and thermostats to enhance resident experiences.
Additionally, Rently equips property managers with lead management tools, including applicant screening, intelligent matching of applicants to suitable properties, a call center to manage prospect inquiries, and assistance for leasing agents.
Where does Rently fall short?
Although Rently has expanded beyond its self-touring technology, this remains its core focus. As a result, its other offerings are far less comprehensive and don’t provide the full range of features needed for an end-to-end leasing platform.
While Rently offers some smart home automation features, it lacks property management capabilities and tools like tenant communication, vendor management, and HVAC analytics, making it less viable if you seek an all-in-one property management platform.
Since Rently doesn’t offer middleware functionality, it can’t improve or extend the capabilities of your legacy systems, which may be a dealbreaker if you’re looking for a solution that integrates seamlessly with your current setup.
Lastly, Rently’s device compatibility is limited. Its self-touring service requires proprietary hardware or a select lockbox, and its smart home automation only supports Z-Wave devices or its branded products. If your properties use devices that rely on other protocols, you’ll need to replace them to use Rently, which can be costly and make it more difficult for users to switch.
Essential Features to Consider When Choosing an Alternative
Choosing the perfect platform to enhance your property management operations can be overwhelming. Let’s explore critical factors to consider when selecting the ideal Rently alternative.
Comprehensive Platform
Instead of adopting multiple tech solutions, look for a comprehensive platform that does everything you need, including self-guided tours, smart home automation, guest/resident communications, and maintenance management, and billing capabilities. An all-in-one platform will help you maximize efficiency, streamline your processes, and save money.
Robust Offerings
Choose a software platform with robust features to keep pace with your evolving needs and support your growth. The ideal platform should offer advanced smart home integrations and sophisticated property management tools, enabling you to manage the requirements of various property types effectively.
Device Flexibility
Changing devices throughout your portfolio is expensive and time-consuming. Look for a solution that offers seamless integration with various protocols, ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing operational disruptions.
Security Features
Offering security during self-guided tours should always be top of mind. Look for a platform that easily integrates with smart locks and security systems. Motion sensors will help detect unauthorized access or trespassers, and geo-location tracking and facial recognition technology offer yet another layer of security, ensuring a safe and seamless experience for prospects.
Modular Capabilities
As your business grows, you’ll want to add new modules or features to your software without switching to a completely different platform. Opt for a platform allowing you to select and pay for only the needed features. When your requirements evolve, adopt or remove modules as needed.
Responsive Support
Smart home automation and self-touring tech can be complex. Even the most user-friendly programs encounter unexpected issues from time to time, which is why responsive support is so important. A good support team will be proactive and prioritize resolving issues quickly, ensuring you promptly address issues.
Finding the Right Alternative to Rently
No need to research—we’ve done it for you! Here are the top-rated platforms that offer exceptional self-touring and home automation features designed to simplify your property management process.
BeHome247
BeHome247 is an enterprise smart home automation and property management platform that seamlessly manages every aspect of operations, from maintenance and communications to self-guided tours, all within a single application. As a device-agnostic platform, BeHome247 offers the flexibility to work with various devices, giving you more freedom in managing your properties.
Use Cases:
- Single-family
- Multi-family
- Short-term rentals
- Student/military housing
Top Features:
- End-to-end property management platform
- Device-agnostic smart home automation
- Wide network of integrations
- Middleware for legacy tech
- Responsive support
- Guest communications app
Like Rently, BeHome247 offers self-guided tours and smart home automation, but it goes a step further by working with your existing hardware. Whether it’s locks, lights, thermostats, or other smart devices, BeHome247 supports them all—regardless of protocol—so you don’t have to worry about replacing your current technology.
BeHome247’s comprehensive property management platform also provides a cloud-based solution that automates all your day-to-day operations, including inspections, maintenance, vendor invoicing, guest and tenant apps, messaging, digital rental agreements, and more—all from a single application. Enterprise-level reporting tools uncover opportunities to save time, reduce costs, and boost revenue streams.
BeHome247 excels as a middleware solution, allowing you to enhance and extend the life of your existing legacy systems. Whether you want to add new features like EV charging stations or maximize your current tech’s potential, BeHome247 seamlessly integrates with existing software.
Final Word:
BeHome247 is the best Rently alternative because it provides comprehensive smart home automation and end-to-end property management capabilities on a device-agnostic platform.
SmartRent
SmartRent provides smart home automation and property management solutions that streamline access control, energy management, and maintenance requests.
Use Cases:
- Multi-family
- Single-family
- Student housing
Top Features:
- Self-guided tours
- Smart apartment automation
- Parking management
- Resident communications app
Like Rently, SmartRent is a smart home automation and self-guided tour solution. In addition to smart device control, SmartRent offers centralized community access control, parking management, and reliable community WiFi connectivity.
Final Word:
While SmartRent doesn’t have property management capabilities, it has more robust smart home automation features and a more comprehensive device integration than Rently.
TurboTenant
From advertising listings and screening tenants to collecting rent, tracking expenses, and managing maintenance requests, TurboTenant offers a comprehensive suite of tools with free and premium service options for different needs.
Use Cases:
- Multi-family
- Single-family
- Room rentals
Top Features:
- Rental advertising
- Applications and screenings
- Lease agreements and document storage
- Rent collection
While TurboTenant can be a valuable tool for landlords, its primary focus is streamlining the rental process. It lacks advanced features like self-guided tours, smart home automation, and middleware solutions, making it more challenging for property managers to offer a comprehensive solution.
Final Word:
TurboTenant is a good option if you’re looking for basic property management software, but it lacks self-guided tour technology and smart home automation features.
Wrapping It Up:
While Rently excels at self-guided tours and streamlining leasing functions, its limitations in property management solutions and smart home automation may leave some users seeking alternatives.
BeHome247 provides robust smart home automation, self-guided tours, and comprehensive property management features. Its device-agnostic platform is compatible with nearly every device, offering a complete property management solution. To see how BeHome247 can transform your property management, request a demo today and experience the full range of features for yourself.
