Using Your Own Domain For Your Website
Rentec Direct property management software provides free website hosting when using provided templates.
With that website, you can point your own domain (ie. www.yourcompany.com) to our servers and have that domain hosted free by Rentec Direct. Our free website hosting does not include a security certificate, however, all payment processing screens are redirected to our secure HTTPS website.
2024 UPDATE: Rentec Direct property management software presents an interface with a new, modern design with an easy-to-use editing tool. The new website works excellently for visitors on any mobile device. Learn more here: Modern Property Management Websites now Available for Rentec Direct clients
System Note: If you would like to add a link to a video walkthrough of your available property, enter the following code to the description in the marketing page of a property. Replace https://example.com with the url to the video you've saved. You may want to reach out to your website designer for assistance <a href="https://example.com">link text</a>
Domain Settings Configuration
There are two quick steps to point your own domain name to the Rentec Direct server so that your customized Rentec Direct website displays when visitors type in your domain name:
Step One -- Add your domain to your Rentec Direct account Website & Branding settings
In your Rentec Direct account:
- Click on Settings
- Under Program, click on Website & Branding
- Under Advanced Options, enter your Domain
System Note: Enter only your actual domain name (example.com) in this field -- do not include the www. - Click on
- Save Draft if your website has not yet been published or
- Publish
Step Two -- Edit the Domain Settings with your Current Host
After you have entered your domain in Rentec Direct, you will need to edit the DNS for your domain and create a DNS CNAME that points to userweb.rentecdirect.com.
Caution: These are advanced settings that a professional web designer would usually configure for you. Your registrar (the company you purchased your domain name from) should also have support representatives to help you make changes to your domain's DNS records.
When you log in to your account with your registrar and change the DNS settings, it should look something like this:
With WWW: After you save your changes it could take up to 48 hours before your professional website is published and can be seen online. When a visitor types in your domain name (www.yourdomain.com) on their computer, they will see the professional website that you've created.
Without WWW: If a visitor types in yourdomain.com without adding www in front of it, they will not be able to see your website unless another DNS change is made. If you would like visitors to be able to see your website by typing your domain without the www in front of it, you will also need to point an A record to our IP address (52.39.5.90). When you make this change in your DNS settings, it should look something like this:
Note: If you're not sure what your IP address is, you can use the following link to verify: What's my IP address
When you have finished making all of the DNS changes for your domain, your settings should look like this:
Important Note: If you've already invested in a search engine optimization (SEO) company or done extensive SEO work, be sure to consult your SEO expert before making any website changes. Even small changes can dramatically impact your search rankings.
After you have pointed your domain to the Rentec Direct servers, you can customize the built-in website template available in your software. More information on how to customize the pre-built template can be found here: Build Your Own Enhanced Website
What about email hosting?
Would you also like to send and receive email from yourname@yourdomain.com? While Rentec Direct does not provide email hosting, we have created a partnership with Cevado and would encourage you to take a look. You may also consider looking into Google Apps for Business. Google will provide you the necessary settings to provide to your DNS administrator.