Add Properties

Adding a Single-Family Property to Rentec Direct only takes a few minutes. You can enter basic information when you add it and update additional details later as needed.

If you are adding a duplex, triplex, apartment building, or another property with multiple units, see adding Multi-Unit Property instead.

Before You Begin

Only a few fields are required to create a property. However, completing as much of the property profile as possible helps Rentec Direct automatically populate information throughout the software, including reports, marketing, online applications, tenant move-ins, and accounting.

Tip: Hover over the ? icon next to any field for more details about the field.

Add a Property

In your Rentec Direct account: 

  1. Click Properties

  2. Click + Add Property 

    Add a Property to Rentec Direct

  3. Enter Property Information


  4. Enter Rental Details

    The Default Rent and Default Security Deposit will automatically be applied throughout the software when moving tenants into properties, marketing syndication, and in reports.

  5. Under Managers & Owners (Only available in Rentec PM Accounts). Selecting Managers allows the software to work for you. Assigned managers and owners will be used throughout the software in reports, as contacts, to receive notifications, manage tasks, and make payment disbursements.
    1. Use the dropdowns to select the assigned Property, Marketing, and Maintenance Manager  
    2. Use the dropdown to select the owner.

  6. Enter Financial details

    Tips:

    * Income and Expense Accounts will serve as the default ledgers for all property-linked transactions, including income such as rental payments and owner contributions and expenses like vendor payments, management fees, and owner disbursements.

    * Payable To: Enter the name that should print on tenant invoices for payments to be made out to

    * Renter's Insurance Required - If renters' insurance is required, use the dropdown to select the amount required

    Tip: Renters can easily purchase renters insurance through their tenant portal. Click here to learn more about renters insurance with Rentec Direct: Renters Insurance

    * Linked Asset Account/Opening Balance: Checking this box will automatically create a Linked Asset Account for the property.

    Learn more about Setting Up Categories | Chart of Accounts

  7. Enter Insurance information

    1. Track property and/or landlord insurance

    2. View an estimate based on information entered for the property. Click on the link to obtain a quote and even purchase landlord insurance that can be tracked and viewed in a Property Insurance Report using the steps below.

      Tip: If you do not want the property to show on Property Insurance Reports, enter Exempt in the Carrier Field

      Learn more about Steadily Landlord Insurance and Rentec Direct.

  8. Under Fee Structure (PM Accounts Only)

    This section allows you to set up automated management and placement fees for each property.

    1. Management Fees default to 6100 Management Fee Expense and can be changed if needed.

      You can select your management fee structure from:

      * Flat Rate (monthly)

      * Percentage of Tenant Payments

      * Percentage of Charged Rent

      * Not Less Than and Not to Exceed (for minimum and maximum Management Fees)

    2. Placement Fee amount that should automatically post when a tenant is moved into a property. (Placement Fees default to 6150 Commissions Expense and can be changed if needed.)

      Learn more about Automated Management Fees

  9. Custom Info is any information you want to track and can be made searchable in your Rentec Direct account. Once Custom Info is added, there will be a new Data Field to include the information in Message Templates, Forms, and Mailing Manager.

    Learn more about using Data Fields

  10. Click on Add Property

    The Marketing Info page for the property will automatically pop up, and you can complete it now or at any time when you are ready to market your properties.

  11. Click Save Changes

Property Insurance Report

Easily track insurance coverage for all of your properties using the Property Insurance Report.

In your Rentec Direct account:

  1. Click Reports


  2. Under Miscellaneous, select Property Insurance
  3. Select the Property/Properties to include
  4. Choose the Insurance Status you want to display
  5. Click Submit

Reports can be:

  • Printed
  • Downloaded
  • Saved as a PDF or CSV
  • Emailed

Click the ⭐Favorite icon to save the report to your favorites for quick access.

Tip: You can schedule the report to be emailed to you on a weekly or monthly basis. See  automating scheduled reports to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important to set up the account in the order of Basic Setup Steps?

Rentec Direct is designed so information entered during setup works together throughout the software.

For example, adding your bank account before creating properties allows you to:

  • Select the account as the property's default income and expense account.
  • Automatically post transactions to all linked ledgers simultaneously.
  • Reduce duplicate data entry.

When tenants are moved into the property, payments automatically post to the tenant, property, and associated bank ledgers, helping keep your records accurate.

Can I customize my Chart of Accounts?

Yes, you can modify the default categories to match your accounting practices or your accountant's preferences.

Learn more about Setting up Categories | Chart of Accounts

How do I market my property?

Your Rentec Direct account includes a property website and syndication to many major rental listing sites.

Learn more about Marketing Your Rental Through Online Listings 

What other features use information from the property profile?

Information entered in the property profile is used throughout Rentec Direct, including:

Why can't I add properties?

If you don't see the +Add Property button, your account may not have permission to add properties.

Managers and subusers have permissions that control which features they can access. If your permissions do not allow adding properties, the option will not be available.

If you're having trouble adding a property, reach out to your account admin to review your permissions.

Learn more about: Customizing Manager and Users Permissions

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