• Posted On: June 26, 2024
• Posted By: admin

Introduction

Did you know that the right property management software can significantly ease your business processes? Find out how to build customized property management software for your business.

So you are planning to create your own customized property management software. You have a great idea & plan but do not know how to bring that classic idea to life, we understand it is hard to build something from scratch that’s why we are here to assist you.

App Development is not a simple process but the good news is that it can be made simple with the expertise of expert app developers in developing complex custom applications.

Every SaaS application development property should start with deep research & planning.

According to multiple researchers, a lack of clarity in researching, planning, understanding requirements & problem-solving abilities are among the most common reasons for property failures.

Steps to Turn Your Custom Property Management App Development Idea into Reality

Define Your Goals

What are the problems you want to solve through a customized property management app development? First of all identify your goals with the application. What issues do you or other users face with ready-made property management software? What is missing that you could solve for your business or for potential customers? Answer these questions to know your goals with the application.

Research Your Competitors

Before directly jumping to the development phase, start by researching your competitors thoroughly. Figure out whether you are developing a property management app for internal use only or if you want to sell it as a SaaS product. 

Check what are the strengths & weaknesses of similar applications in the market. Are there any gaps in the market that your app can fill? What are the common complaints users have? This competitive analysis will provide complete insights which will help you position your app in the market.

Define the USPs (Unique Selling Points) of Your Property Management App

After analyzing the competition thoroughly it is time to outline the unique selling points of your application. What will be unique about your application? What specific value will it offer to its users that they are missing in existing applications? 

Is it a more attractive user interface, efficient better collaboration tools, smooth integration with other software or a unique feature that addresses a common pain point in a new way? Clearly articulating these USPs to give an outline to the development process & marketing.

Choosing the Right Technology for Your Property Management App

Select the best technology for your application development. The technology stack you choose will directly affect the performance & scalability of your app.

Front-end Development

React

• Developed by Facebook
• Component-based architecture
• Efficient in handling dynamic data & complex interfaces

Angular

• Developed by Google
• Full-featured MVC framework
• Suitable for building large-scale applications

Vue.js

• Progressive JavaScript framework
• Easy to integrate with other properties & libraries
• Focuses on the view layer

Back-end Development

Node.js

• JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine
• Non-blocking, event-driven architecture
• Suitable for building scalable network applications

Django

• High-level Python web framework
• Suitable for rapid development & clean, pragmatic design
• Includes built-in admin interface & ORM

Database Choices

PostgreSQL

• Open-source relational database
• Known for its robustness and standards compliance
• Supports complex queries & transactions

MySQL

• Widely-used open-source relational database
• Known for its speed & reliability
• Suitable for web-based applications

MongoDB

• NoSQL document-oriented database
• Stores data in flexible, JSON-like documents
• Suitable for handling large volumes of unstructured data

Designing Your Property Management App

 

After selecting the technology according to your needs now it is time to start your property management app development.

Outlining the User Journey

Understanding the users, their requirements & pain points to map out their journey. Creating the steps they will take to complete their tasks & goals. This logical flow will ensure that each feature & buttons are easy to find. 

Onboarding

• Users register and set up their accounts.
• Initial configuration of property details & preferences.

Dashboard Overview

• Users get an overview of properties, vacancies & tenants.
• Other details & alerts should be easily accessible.

Property Management

• Adding & editing property details should be straightforward.
• Users can manage property photos, descriptions & amenities smoothly.

Tenant & Lease Management

• Users can easily add new tenants & lease agreements.
• Tracking lease terms, renewals & expirations is intuitive.
• Should have an in-app messaging facility for communication.

Maintenance Requests

• Tenants can submit maintenance requests easily.
• Property managers can quickly assign tasks to maintenance staff.
• Progress & completion of maintenance tasks can be tracked.

Wireframing

Once you have a clear user journey, start working on wireframing. Wireframes are simple, black-and-white layouts that outline the structure of your app. They help you plan the placement of elements on each screen and ensure that the app’s flow makes sense before you start on the visual design. 

Sketch, Figma & Adobe XD are top preferred tools for creating wireframes.

Visual Design

In this phase you will add colors, fonts & images. Your design should align with your brand’s identity & should be visually appealing to your target audience. Buttons & icons should be consistent throughout the app.

Prototyping

Before you start development, it’s helpful to create a prototype. A prototype is a clickable version of your app that allows you to test the design and user experience. It doesn’t need to have all the functionality, but it should give a good sense of how the app will work. Prototyping tools like InVision or Marvel can help you create an interactive mockup.

Testing the Design

Test your prototype with real users & listen to their feedback. Closely observe their interaction with the application, note any areas where they are getting confused or need any assistance in navigating your application. 

This feedback is invaluable for checking any flaws & adjusting the application before the development process.

Finalizing the Design

Based on the feedback from user testing, refine your design. Make the required changes to give a better user experience . Once you are satisfied with the design create a document which should include all important elements like –

• Type of fonts
• Color Palette
• Spacing between the elements & 
• Any other design elements

Testing & Deployment of Your Property Management App

Once your app is designed & developed, it is time to move on to the important phases- testing & deployment.

In this phase we will test the application through a number of application testing methods.

Functional Testing- This will test the proper functioning of all the features included. Every button, link & form should be functioning their task without errors.

Usability Testing- Testing the app with real users to check the smoothness of the application. Taking user feedback on user interface & user experience. Based on this feedback we will make adjustments to fulfill their requirements.

Performance Testing- Checking application functionalities under various conditions like high user load & low network speed.

Security Testing- Apps security measures should be secure. Ensuring that user data is protected & any vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) & data leaks are thoroughly tested.

Compatibility Testing- Testing the compatibility of apps on different devices, screen sizes, operating systems & browsers.

Beta Testing- Release your app to a select group of users outside of your development team which will help to detect any remaining bugs that might have been overlooked.

Deploying the Application

Ensure that your app follows the guidelines & requirements of the app stores (Google Play Store for Android & Apple App Store for iOS).

Prepare all necessary documentation which are required for publishing the application.

1. For the Google Play Store

• Create a developer account
• Complete the app listing with required details
• Upload the APK & submit it for review

If your application is rejected, consult with expert Android developers for Android to address the issues you are facing.

2. For Apple App Store

• Create a developer account
• Fill out the app listing
• Upload the app using Xcode & submit it for review

Again here if you are facing any issue in publishing or taking approval from apple play store, take help from professional iOS developers.

Both Google and Apple will review your app & this process can take a few days to a couple of weeks.

Taking Professional Help for the Development of Property Management App

For a customized property management app development, you will either have to assemble your own development team or hire a professional app development company.

App development companies have years of experience & expertise in custom app development which will save your time & effort. Their expert developers will handle everything from design to coding to testing by understanding your specific requirements, pain points & desired features for the app.

On the other hand, assembling your own development team will give you more control over the development process. This approach can also be more budget friendly especially if you are able to find talented mobile app developers at low cost. But remember, assembling a team can be time-consuming & managing the property yourself requires expertise in the field.

Ultimately, the decision will depend on your preferences, needs & budget of your business.

FAQs

How to design a property management system?

First of all, identify user needs, map out features & create Designing a property management system involves identifying user needs, mapping out features, and creating a user-friendly interface. It requires collaboration between developers, designers, and stakeholders to ensure it meets all functional requirements.

What are the basic functions of property management software?

Basic functions include tenant & lease tracking, maintenance management & financial reporting. Advanced features might include rent collection, vacancy handling & communication with tenants.

Who uses property management software?

Primarily, property managers, landlords & real estate professionals use property management software. It is also used by property management companies & housing associations.

Is a property management system a CRM?

A property management system is not a CRM, but it can include CRM-like features. CRM is used for managing customer relationships while a property management software is used for managing properties & tenants.

Do real estate agents use property management applications?

Yes, some real estate agents use property management applications to smooth their operations, manage properties & communicate with clients.