Question 1

What is PropertyFlow HQ?

Accepted Answer

PropertyFlow HQ is an all-in-one, automation-first property management platform built for independent landlords and property managers who are tired of juggling spreadsheets, chasing rent, and manually creating leases. Unlike traditional platforms, PropertyFlow HQ was designed from the ground up to eliminate the busy-work — so you can own rental properties without it consuming your life.

Question 2

How does tenant onboarding work?

Accepted Answer

When you invite a tenant, they receive a branded onboarding link. They fill out their profile, upload their ID, sign their lease electronically, and set up their payment method — all in one guided flow. Once complete, they're automatically activated in your dashboard, their portal goes live, and you get a notification. No back-and-forth emails, no paperwork.

Question 3

How does automatic rent collection work?

Accepted Answer

Tenants set up autopay during onboarding and rent is automatically charged on the due date. Payments process via ACH bank transfer or credit/debit card through Stripe and deposit directly into your bank account — no manual invoicing, no chasing. If a payment fails, the tenant is automatically notified with a retry link.

Question 4

How are leases automatically generated?

Accepted Answer

Upload your lease template once to your Documents Center. When you add a new tenant and unit, the platform auto-populates the lease with the tenant's name, property address, rent amount, start/end dates, and any custom clauses you've saved. The tenant receives it for e-signature instantly. Signed copies are stored in both the landlord and tenant portals automatically.

Question 5

What is the tenant portal?

Accepted Answer

Every tenant gets their own secure portal where they can pay rent, view payment history, submit maintenance requests with photos, download their lease, and message their property manager. Everything is mobile-friendly and accessible 24/7 — tenants never need to call you for basic information.

Question 6

How do investor reports get updated automatically?

Accepted Answer

Your investor reports pull live data from your properties — rent collected, vacancies, expenses, net income, and maintenance costs. Every time a payment is processed or an expense is logged, the reports update in real time. You can share a read-only investor report link with your partners or download a PDF at any time. No manual spreadsheet updates ever.

Question 7

How do checklists and move-in/move-out work?

Accepted Answer

PropertyFlow HQ includes digital inspection checklists for move-in and move-out. You or your tenant complete them on a phone with photos attached to each item. The completed checklist is timestamped and stored permanently in the tenant's file, protecting you in any security deposit dispute.

Question 8

How does the Documents Center work?

Accepted Answer

The Documents Center is your central hub for all property-related files — leases, addendums, inspection reports, insurance certificates, vendor contracts, and more. Upload a document once and it's accessible to the right people automatically. Lease templates stored here are used to auto-generate new leases for every new tenant.

Question 9

What automations run behind the scenes?

Accepted Answer

PropertyFlow HQ automates: rent collection and late fee notices, lease generation and e-signature routing, tenant onboarding flows, maintenance request routing to contractors, investor report updates, move-in/move-out checklists, payment receipts and confirmations, and lease renewal reminders. Most landlords report spending less than 30 minutes a week on property management after setup.

Question 10

How is PropertyFlow HQ different from AppFolio?

Accepted Answer

AppFolio is built for large property management companies with hundreds of units and charges $1.49–$3/unit/month with a minimum monthly fee — pricing that punishes small landlords. PropertyFlow HQ is a flat subscription ($39–$199/month) with no per-unit fees, no setup costs, and no minimum commitments. We also include a built-in contractor marketplace, investor portal, and AI-assisted lease generation — features AppFolio charges extra for or doesn't offer at all.

Question 11

How is PropertyFlow HQ different from Buildium?

Accepted Answer

Buildium starts at $55/month and charges per unit beyond your base tier. Their interface is complex and takes weeks to learn. PropertyFlow HQ is designed to be operational within an hour, with guided onboarding, smart automations, and a modern UI that doesn't require a training manual. We also don't charge extra for e-signatures, resident portals, or online payments — it's all included.

Question 12

How is PropertyFlow HQ different from MagicDoor?

Accepted Answer

MagicDoor is a newer platform focused on simplicity, but it lacks the depth of automation and the contractor marketplace ecosystem that PropertyFlow HQ offers. We go beyond basic rent collection with automatic lease generation from your own templates, investor reporting, escrow-protected contractor payments, and a full API for power users. MagicDoor is a starting point — PropertyFlow HQ is a complete operating system for your rental business.

Question 13

Do you charge per-unit fees like other platforms?

Accepted Answer

No. PropertyFlow HQ uses flat-rate subscriptions: Starter ($39/month, up to 24 units), Pro ($99/month, up to 100 units), and Enterprise ($199/month, unlimited units + team features + API access). You always know exactly what you're paying — no surprises, no per-unit penalties for growth.

Question 14

Do you charge tenants fees to pay rent?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlike platforms that charge tenants $2–$5 per transaction, PropertyFlow HQ charges tenants nothing to pay rent via ACH or card. Your subscription covers payment processing. This means tenants are happier to use autopay, which means you get paid on time — every month.

Question 15

Is there a long-term contract?

Accepted Answer

No contracts, no lock-ins. PropertyFlow HQ is month-to-month. You can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel at any time from your dashboard. We earn your business every month.

Question 16

Who can use PropertyFlow HQ?

Accepted Answer

Our platform is designed for landlords, property managers, tenants, contractors, and homeowners. Each user type has access to features tailored to their specific needs.

Question 17

Is there a free trial?

Accepted Answer

Yes — every plan includes a 14-day free trial. We collect your card at checkout so the moment you decide to keep going there's no interruption, but the first charge happens on day 15. Cancel anytime during the trial and you're not billed at all.

Question 18

What are the subscription tiers?

Accepted Answer

We offer three tiers: Starter ($39/month for up to 24 units), Pro ($99/month for up to 100 units), and Enterprise ($199/month for unlimited units with team features).

Question 19

Are there any transaction fees?

Accepted Answer

No platform fees on any transactions - your subscription covers everything. Tenants pay rent with no added fees, and payments go directly to your bank account.

Question 20

What payment methods do tenants have?

Accepted Answer

Tenants can pay rent via ACH bank transfer or credit/debit card. No fees are charged to tenants - your subscription covers payment processing.

Question 21

How do I receive rent payments?

Accepted Answer

Rent payments go directly to your bank account via Stripe. Complete a quick onboarding process (about 5 minutes), and payments will automatically deposit to your bank - typically within 2 business days for card payments or 5 days for ACH.

Question 22

Can I manage multiple properties?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can add unlimited properties and units based on your subscription tier. Each property can have multiple units with individual lease tracking.

Question 23

How does the contractor marketplace work?

Accepted Answer

You can post work orders and hire verified contractors directly through our platform. Payments are handled securely with escrow protection.

Question 24

How do I pay rent?

Accepted Answer

Log into your tenant dashboard and click "Pay Rent". You can pay via bank account (ACH) or credit/debit card - no fees either way.

Question 25

Can I set up autopay?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can enable automatic rent payments from your dashboard. We'll charge your saved payment method on your rent due date.

Question 26

How do I submit a maintenance request?

Accepted Answer

From your tenant dashboard, go to Maintenance and click "New Request". Describe the issue, add photos if needed, and submit. Your landlord will be notified immediately.

Question 27

How do I get hired for jobs?

Accepted Answer

Create a contractor profile, list your services and service areas, and you'll appear in search results. Landlords and homeowners can then hire you for work orders.

Question 28

How do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Payments are released to your connected Stripe account once the job is marked complete. Funds typically arrive in 2-3 business days.

Question 29

What fees do contractors pay?

Accepted Answer

No platform fees for contractors. Payments go directly to your connected bank account when jobs are completed.

Question 30

Do I get API access as a contractor?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on the Enterprise plan ($199/month). Contractor API keys start with pfhq_c_ and give you programmatic access to your jobs, invoices, and customers. You can also set up webhooks to receive real-time notifications when jobs are completed, invoices are paid, reviews come in, and more. Manage everything from Settings → API & Webhooks in your dashboard. Full docs at /docs/api/contractor.

Question 31

What is the difference between the PM API and the Contractor API?

Accepted Answer

They are completely separate systems. The Property Manager API (pfhq_ keys) gives access to properties, units, leases, tenants, and rent payments — for landlords managing their portfolio. The Contractor API (pfhq_c_ keys) gives access to jobs, invoices, and customers — for contractors automating their business. Both require the Enterprise plan on their respective accounts.

Question 32

How does the ranking system work? How do I show up higher in search?

Accepted Answer

Your position in search results is based entirely on merit — a composite score out of 100 points. Here's exactly how it breaks down: Average Rating (25pts, Bayesian-weighted so one review can't game the system), Review Volume (15pts, log scale so new contractors aren't buried), Completed Jobs (15pts, log scale), Response Rate (15pts — reply to messages fast!), Profile Completeness (10pts — fill in your photo, bio, tagline, location, and rate), Trust & Verification (10pts — get identity verified and insured), On-Time Rate (5pts), and Recent Activity (5pts — stay active). The best way to rank higher is completely free: get reviews, complete your profile, respond quickly, and get verified.

Question 33

Can I pay to rank higher in search results?

Accepted Answer

No. Money cannot change your organic rank — that is always based on merit. What you can purchase is a Visibility Boost, which increases how many people see your card. Boosted cards appear in clearly labeled "Sponsored" slots (max 3 at a time) that rotate daily so no one locks the top forever. Packages start at $2.99 for 500 impressions, up to $9.99 for 3,000 impressions. Credits never expire.

Question 34

What is the Visibility Boost and how does it work?

Accepted Answer

A Visibility Boost is an optional purchase that gets your contractor card shown to more people. You buy impression credits ($2.99–$9.99), and your card rotates into one of up to 3 "Sponsored" slots at the top of the marketplace. The rotation changes daily using a random seed, so even if many contractors have boosts, each gets fair exposure over time. Your organic rank is never affected — this is purely about reach, not rank. You can purchase boosts from your dashboard under Business → Marketplace Visibility.

Question 35

Do new contractors get any help getting noticed?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Every new contractor automatically receives a free 30-day visibility boost when they create their profile. This gives you time to complete your profile, get your first reviews, and build your job history before competing purely on merit. After 30 days, your ranking is based on your actual quality signals.

Question 36

What does "Verified" mean on a contractor card?

Accepted Answer

The green "Verified" badge means the contractor has completed both identity verification and insurance verification. This is worth 10 points in the ranking algorithm and signals to clients that you're a trusted professional. You can complete verification from your contractor dashboard.

Question 37

Why does my specialty filter not show me even though I offer that service?

Accepted Answer

Make sure your specialties are listed in your profile under Business → Public Profile → Specialties. The filter matches against your listed specialties. If you offer Roofing and Electrical, you'll appear in results for both filters. The system matches regardless of capitalization.

Question 38

Is my data secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We use industry-standard encryption, secure payment processing through Stripe, and follow best practices for data protection. We never store sensitive payment information on our servers.

Question 39

How do I contact support?

Accepted Answer

You can reach our support team via the Contact page, or email us directly. Enterprise customers have access to priority support.

Question 40

Do you offer an API?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Both Property Managers (Enterprise $199/month) and Contractors (Enterprise $199/month) have access to their own REST API and webhooks. Property Managers can automate properties, units, leases, tenants, and payments. Contractors can automate jobs, invoices, and customers. API keys are created from your dashboard under Settings → API & Webhooks. Full documentation is at /docs/api.

Feature	PropertyFlow HQ	AppFolio	Buildium	MagicDoor
Flat-rate pricing	✅	❌ per-unit	❌ per-unit	✅
No tenant payment fees	✅	❌	❌	✅
Auto lease generation	✅	✅ (extra cost)	⚠️ limited	❌
Built-in contractor marketplace	✅	❌	❌	❌
Live investor reports	✅	✅	✅	❌
Escrow-protected payments	✅	❌	❌	❌
Full REST API + webhooks	✅	✅ (enterprise)	⚠️ limited	❌
Month-to-month, no contracts	✅	❌	❌	✅
Setup time	< 1 hour	1–2 weeks	1–2 weeks	< 1 hour

Feature	PropertyFlow HQ	AppFolio	Buildium	MagicDoor
Flat-rate pricing	✅	❌ per-unit	❌ per-unit	✅
No tenant payment fees	✅	❌	❌	✅
Auto lease generation	✅	✅ (extra cost)	⚠️ limited	❌
Built-in contractor marketplace	✅	❌	❌	❌
Live investor reports	✅	✅	✅	❌
Escrow-protected payments	✅	❌	❌	❌
Full REST API + webhooks	✅	✅ (enterprise)	⚠️ limited	❌
Month-to-month, no contracts	✅	❌	❌	✅
Setup time	< 1 hour	1–2 weeks	1–2 weeks	< 1 hour

The operating system
for your rental business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PropertyFlow HQ & How It Works

Why PropertyFlow HQ vs. AppFolio, Buildium & MagicDoor

General

Pricing & Billing

For Landlords

For Tenants

For Contractors

Security & Support

The operating system
for your rental business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PropertyFlow HQ & How It Works

Why PropertyFlow HQ vs. AppFolio, Buildium & MagicDoor

General

Pricing & Billing

For Landlords

For Tenants

For Contractors

Security & Support

The operating systemfor your rental business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PropertyFlow HQ & How It Works

Why PropertyFlow HQ vs. AppFolio, Buildium & MagicDoor

General

Pricing & Billing

For Landlords

For Tenants

For Contractors

Security & Support

The operating systemfor your rental business.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is PropertyFlow HQ & How It Works

Why PropertyFlow HQ vs. AppFolio, Buildium & MagicDoor

General

Pricing & Billing

For Landlords

For Tenants

For Contractors

Security & Support

The operating system
for your rental business.

The operating system
for your rental business.