Story by JP Morgan Chase Alternatives for Independent Landlords
Azibo offers a comprehensive, free property management platform as an alternative to the soon-to-be-discontinued Story by JP Morgan Chase. The article details Azibo's features, including rent collection, tenant screening, lease management, and accounting tools, and explains why landlords should consider switching to Azibo.
The property management landscape is shifting. Story by J.P. Morgan, a tool many landlords have relied on, is set to close in September 2024. This change has property owners exploring new options to manage their rentals effectively.
Azibo emerges as a strong alternative in this changing market. It's a comprehensive platform designed specifically for independent landlords, offering a range of features to streamline property management tasks.
Azibo stands out by offering a wide range of services designed to simplify the lives of independent landlords. From online rent collection and tenant screening to lease generation and financial management, Azibo provides an all-in-one solution that caters to various property types and portfolio sizes.
What makes Azibo particularly appealing is its versatility. Whether you're managing single-family homes, multi-family units, apartments, or even commercial properties, Azibo has tools tailored to your needs. The platform works equally well for those with large portfolios and landlords with just one or two properties.
As we explore Azibo's features, you'll see why it's becoming a go-to choice for landlords looking to streamline their operations and optimize their rental business. Whether you're transitioning from Story or seeking to upgrade your property management tools, Azibo offers a compelling suite of services worth considering.
What is Azibo?
Azibo is a comprehensive property management software designed to simplify the lives of independent landlords. Our platform offers a complete set of tools to help you manage your rental properties efficiently, save time, and optimize your rental business operations.
Here's what makes Azibo stand out:
All-in-one solution
Azibo combines essential property management tasks in one user-friendly platform. From finding tenants to collecting rent and managing maintenance requests, Azibo streamlines your entire rental process.
Rent collection
Our system offers landlords a flexible and comprehensive rent collection system that simplifies the process and enhances tenant satisfaction. Through Azibo, landlords can provide their tenants with multiple payment options, including free ACH bank transfers and credit or debit cards (with a 2.99% convenience fee).
Tenants can also opt to pay by paper check, and landlords benefit from automated tools like payment reminders and real-time payment tracking to reduce late payments.
The platform allows tenants to set up autopay, ensuring timely payments every month, and gives landlords the flexibility to block or allow partial payments, depending on their needs. Another key feature is automated late fee collection, so landlords can manage late payments effortlessly.
Azibo’s system is designed to save time and make rent collection more efficient, providing security with bank-level encryption for all transactions.
Learn more about rent collection
Tenant applications and screening
Azibo’s tenant screening services allow landlords to conduct comprehensive checks on potential renters, helping them make informed decisions. The platform provides detailed reports, including credit checks, criminal background checks, and eviction history. This information gives landlords a complete picture of the applicant’s financial responsibility and past rental behavior.
One standout feature of Azibo is its support for compliance with legal requirements. For example, the platform can automatically generate Adverse Action Notices (AANs), which are required when a landlord denies an application based on screening results. These notices ensure transparency and help landlords adhere to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Additionally, Azibo enables landlords to cover part or all of the screening fee, which is essential in states like New York where there are limits on how much tenants can be charged for applications .
Landlords can also set their own screening criteria and even make conditional offers, such as requiring a higher deposit or a co-signer if the tenant doesn’t fully meet the criteria. This flexibility ensures landlords can secure the best tenants while staying compliant with state laws
Learn more about tenant screening
Lease management
With Azibo’s lease management feature, landlords can generate state-specific lease agreements that comply with local laws and handle e-signatures directly through their account. This streamlines the process, making it convenient for both parties to review and sign leases electronically.
Leases are securely stored within your Azibo account, allowing for easy access and management. Landlords can track lease status in real time, from sending to signing, and get notifications as actions are completed. Automated reminders can also be sent to tenants for outstanding signatures.
The platform allows for customization of lease terms, such as updating rent amounts, pet policies, or security deposits, and supports easy renewals. These features integrate seamlessly with Azibo’s other tools, like tenant screening and rent collection, to create an efficient, all-in-one property management experience
Learn more about lease creation
Maintenance and messaging
Azibo’s maintenance and messaging tool streamlines the way landlords handle property upkeep by offering a dedicated portal for tenants to submit maintenance requests. This portal allows tenants to provide detailed descriptions, upload photos, and communicate directly with landlords about the issue. From the landlord’s side, all requests are tracked in real-time, allowing for quick response and updates.
The platform improves communication by centralizing all maintenance-related interactions, ensuring both tenants and landlords stay informed. This efficient system helps reduce response times and ensures nothing gets overlooked, contributing to smoother property management
Learn more about maintenance and message
Accounting
Azibo’s accounting tools are designed specifically for landlords to simplify rental property financial management. The platform offers features like income and expense tracking, real-time financial reports, and tax preparation tools tailored for real estate. With a built-in real estate-specific chart of accounts, Azibo provides the tools for landlords to categorize transactions by property, making it easy to monitor income and expenses across individual properties or an entire portfolio.
Azibo also provides Schedule E reports for tax purposes, ensuring landlords are prepared for tax season with accurate records. The system allows for easy bank reconciliations, automates rent collection, and integrates seamlessly with other property management tasks, such as lease management and tenant screening, all within a single platform.
For landlords managing multiple properties or LLCs, Azibo supports separate bank accounts for each entity, further simplifying financial tracking and compliance. All of these features are offered for free, making it an affordable solution compared to traditional accounting software like QuickBooks
Banking
Azibo’s banking services are specifically designed for real estate investors and independent landlords, integrating financial management directly into the property management platform. With Azibo banking, landlords enjoy no monthly fees, no minimum balance requirements, and unlimited transactions, making it a cost-effective solution for managing property finances. Key features include:
- Rent collection, bill pay, and expense management all in one place
- Integrated accounting, allowing you to streamline inflows and outflows into your bookkeeping
- Real-time reporting on transactions, including ACH transfers, bill payments, wires, and checks
- 1% cashback on purchases with the Azibo Mastercard® Debit Card
- Same-day ACH transfers, along with wire services
- FDIC-insured checking accounts offering an APY of 0.15%
Azibo banking is free, with no hidden fees or subscription costs, helping landlords maximize their returns without unnecessary charges. All accounts are FDIC-insured and provided through Piermont Bank
Learn more about Azibo banking
Document storage
Azibo’s document storage feature is a comprehensive solution that allows landlords to securely upload, organize, and access important property-related documents all within their Azibo account. You can store a wide variety of file types, such as leases, insurance documents, permits, receipts, and tenant applications, and categorize them by property, tenant, or vendor. This ensures easy retrieval when needed, enhancing both organization and efficiency.
The tool also includes advanced search and filter options to quickly find documents based on name, property, or file type. Additional features like bulk actions, editing, and archiving make document management even more streamlined. All files are securely stored, reducing the need for physical copies or third-party storage systems.
Learn more about document storage
Team collaboration
Azibo’s team collaboration feature allows property owners to streamline property management by assigning roles to different collaborators with specific permissions. Currently, the platform supports two main roles: Assistant and Accountant.
- Assistants can handle day-to-day tasks like tenant screening, rent collection, lease management, and communication with renters. They can initiate maintenance requests, update payment terms, and communicate with renters on behalf of the owner. However, assistants have restricted access to sensitive information like bank accounts or bookkeeping.
- Accountants have access to financial tasks, such as creating and categorizing transactions, managing reports, and bookkeeping, but they do not have permissions to manage leases, rental applications, or insurance policies.
Each collaborator can only access the properties and portfolios assigned to them, ensuring security. Future updates will allow for more customizable roles, giving landlords the flexibility to further tailor permissions.
Additional renter benefits
Azibo provides renters with several key benefits to enhance their rental experience. Renters can pay rent using various methods, including free ACH transfers, credit/debit cards, and even cash options like Cash App. Azibo’s Credit Boost feature helps renters build their credit by reporting on-time rent payments to major credit bureaus for a small monthly fee.
Additionally, renters can manage maintenance requests through Azibo’s portal, track progress, and communicate directly with landlords. For extra protection, resident benefits offer coverage for unexpected rental expenses, providing peace of mind for renters dealing with unforeseen challenges
Learn more about renter benefits
Whether you’re overseeing a single property or managing an extensive portfolio, the platform is adaptable to fit your unique needs, helping streamline property management tasks efficiently. By integrating all key features into one platform, Azibo ensures landlords have a comprehensive and scalable solution for all aspects of property management.
10 reasons why you should choose Azibo as Story by JP Morgan Chase alternative
Now that you've seen what Azibo offers, let's explore why it stands out as an excellent alternative to Story by JP Morgan Chase for your property management needs:
- Long-term stability: Unlike Story's impending closure, Azibo is committed to long-term growth and support for independent landlords.
- Comprehensive solution: While Story focused primarily on rent management, Azibo provides a full suite of tools covering the entire property management lifecycle.
- Versatility for all landlords: Azibo offers a robust platform that adapts to the needs of all property managers and owners. Whether you're an independent landlord or overseeing a large portfolio, Azibo provides a comprehensive suite of tools at no additional cost. This versatility ensures that regardless of your portfolio's size or complexity, you have access to professional-grade property management features without tiered pricing or limitations.
- Cost-effective: Azibo offers a wide range of features at no cost to landlords, potentially providing significant savings compared to Story's pricing structure.
- Seamless transition: Azibo's user-friendly interface and dedicated support make switching from Story a smooth process, minimizing disruption to your operations.
- Continuous innovation: With regular updates and new feature rollouts, Azibo ensures you're always equipped with cutting-edge property management tools.
- Flexible portfolio management: Whether you're managing a single property or a diverse portfolio, Azibo scales to meet your needs without requiring upgrades or additional fees.
- Enhanced tenant experience: Azibo's tenant-facing features can improve satisfaction and retention, potentially reducing vacancies and turnover costs.
- Data security: Built with bank-level security measures, Azibo ensures your sensitive property and financial data remains protected.
- Future-proof platform: As the real estate market evolves, Azibo's adaptable platform ensures you're prepared for changes in property management practices and regulations.
By choosing Azibo, you're not just replacing Story - you're upgrading to a more comprehensive, flexible, and future-oriented property management solution tailored for independent landlords.
How Azibo can help with your transition
At Azibo, we are dedicated to making your transition smooth and hassle-free. Whether you are moving from Story by JPMorgan Chase or starting fresh with Azibo, our customer support and onboarding teams are here to assist every step of the way:
- Dedicated onboarding specialist: When you switch to Azibo, we’ll assign a personal onboarding specialist to guide you through the process, ensuring that you’re up and running before your next rent cycle.
- Support channels: For technical help, you can reach our customer success team via email at support@azibo.com or call +1 (855) 920-9907 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm PT). For onboarding inquiries, email onboarding@azibo.com or call/text +1 (855) 920-3565.
- Personalized demos: We also offer free personalized demos tailored to your property size to help you understand how to maximize Azibo’s features.
For further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us and experience a smooth transition to Azibo.
Take control of your property management with Azibo
As Story by JP Morgan Chase phases out, Azibo stands ready to meet your property management needs with a comprehensive, user-friendly, and innovative platform. From streamlined rent collection to advanced accounting tools, Azibo offers a robust solution for landlords of all portfolio sizes.
The transition to a new property management system doesn't have to be daunting. With Azibo, you're not just finding an alternative to Story - you're upgrading to a future-proof platform designed to grow with your business.
Ready to experience the Azibo difference? You have several options to get started:
- Set up your free Azibo account today and explore the platform at your own pace.
- Have questions? Our support team is ready to help. Reach out to support@azibo.com for personalized assistance.
- Want a guided tour? Book a demo with our team to see Azibo in action and learn how it can transform your property management approach.
Don't let the closure of Story disrupt your property management. Make the switch to Azibo and discover a more efficient, cost-effective way to manage your rental business. Your future in property management starts here.
Important Note: This post is for informational and educational purposes only. It should not be taken as legal, accounting, or tax advice, nor should it be used as a substitute for such services. Always consult your own legal, accounting, or tax counsel before taking any action based on this information.
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