By KEVIN OGUOKO

When Hannington Mambo started marketing real estate management software two years ago, he had no idea how the products would be received. “They never knew that such software existed,” says Mambo.

Today, he attests that property management software is the most popular among the range of software his company provides.

In the real estate world, customer relations management software is now in vogue. Such software can range from a simple address book, to more detailed programmes that allow one to categorise and retain communication history.

Experts say that a good customer relation management programme should also offer the ability to sync your database with your phone, as an agent’s life is increasingly mobile.

There is also software that provides real estate investment programmes. Real estate is seen as an attractive investment throughout the world as property values seldom depreciate. Nevertheless, some investors have lost their hard-earned money in real estate-related ventures for one reason or the other.

For instance, Buru Buru Phase One did not live up to expectations, according to Patrick Wameyo, an investment lecturer at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies. According to Wameyo, the buildings in this area have over the years lost their value due to the mushrooming of informal settlements around the area.

Which is something that could have been avoided by a proper analysis and stricter controls on the estate’s development.

Is there a scientific solution to making sound investment decisions in real estate? Finding quality investment properties requires skill, knowledge and having the right analysis tools. React real estate investor software supports investors in evaluation and management tasks that are routinely performed by successful real estate investors.

Whether you are a light commercial or residential real estate investor, the software contains real estate investment analysis tools, marketing support, a library of support documents, detailed help documents, tutorials, a real estate dictionary, and over 250 real estate related contracts.

Even, in the architectural field, there is home designing software. The internationally recognised Chief Architect Home Designer Suite has sophisticated tools for designing and remodelling houses, kitchens, baths, decks, landscapes, and interiors.

The software has over 1,500 sample plans. One has the option to design their plans with a few clicks and can change colours, styles, and materials, and generate 3D views of your project.

choosing a software

Buying software that best suits a real estate entity can prove to be an uphill task for individuals new to the information and technology field.

Besides the cost, one needs to consider a number of things before buying a software. International softwares have a bias with the country of origin. American software developed in the United States may be best suited for American users.

For example, in the case of accounting software, the tax filing module maybe be based on United States’ Internal Revenue Service regulations and not the Kenya Revenue Authority’s regulations.

You need to find out when the software will be out of date because as time goes by, some software features become obsolete.

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