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Sales FAQ
(Frequently
Asked Questions)
Click on a
question listed below to see the corresponding answer.
If you do not
see your question listed here, please contact our sales department:
sales@propertysidekick.com
Frequently Asked Sales Questions
General Info
What are your business hours?
What is included in free technical support?
How much does Property Sidekick cost?
What is the definition of a unit?
What if I need to add more units later?
What is your return policy?
Do you have a user’s manual?
Do you charge sales tax?
Can the program be shipped to me?
What happens if I switch computers?
Getting Started
Can I download Property Sidekick directly from the web site?
Does the trial version do everything that the purchased program
does?
How do I buy the program?
After I purchase the software, how do I activate my program?
What is a computer ID and how do I find it?
Program Functions
Can I export data into Microsoft Excel?
Can I import or export my financial information into
QuickBooks?
Can I create custom reports?
Does the program calculate Common Area Maintenance?
Can I keep all of the data for a tenant that moved out?
Does Property Sidekick automatically back up my data?
Can I pay bills electronically using the banking information in Property
Sidekick?
Can I merge my tenant’s information directly into a letter?
Do I have to use special checks to print from Property Sidekick?
Can I e-mail reports?
Can I use this program to manage my residential apartment units?
Technical Info:
Remote Access, SQL Database,
Installation
Can my employees and managers all access Property Sidekick?
Do I have to purchase a separate computer or server just for this
program?
How many network computers can access a single server?
How do I setup my router so client computers can dial into the Property
Sidekick server?
Why is Internet access a system requirement?
If several users are working in the same database,
how do I limit what information they see?
What is Microsoft SQL Server and why is it running on my computer
when I use the program?
Where is my data kept?
Do you have a version of Property Sidekick that is compatible with a
Mac?
Answers:
What is included in free technical support?
Free e-mail technical support comes with the program, even if you
are using the 30-day trial. This means you can send unlimited
questions via e-mail to our tech support department. We will do our
best to respond to your e-mail within 2-3 hours of the time we
receive it (please allow for our regular business hours). Other free
(and FAST!) options include our Frequently Asked Questions, User’s
Manual, and Free Video Demonstrations. (return to top)
How much does Property Sidekick cost?
The program cost depends on how many units you will be managing. There are four program levels to choose
from. See our
Pricing page to find out more.(return to top)
What is the definition of a unit?
A unit is any space that you rent or assign to a tenant in your commercial property, such as a
space, a storage area, parking space,
etc. Property Sidekick is purchased and activated by the number of units
only, which means you are never limited to the number of tenants in
the program. This is especially helpful when you need to keep
records for tenants that have moved out- just give them an inactive
status. You can always purchase more units later if you need to.
Keep in mind that any units you make inactive (such as a property
you have sold) will still be counted towards your total unit amount. (return to top)
What if I need to add more units later?
You can always buy more units, and you’ll only pay the difference to upgrade to the next program unit level. There will be nothing new
to download-- we will just give you a new activation code. (return to top)
What is your return policy?
You can return the software program for a full refund within 60 days of
original purchase. We do not offer refunds on training or technical support purchases. (return to top)
Do you have a user’s manual?
The manual for Property Sidekick is built right into the software program. To
access it, click Help, then choose Sidekick Help. You can
search the manual by keyword, find a specific topic, or read it
chapter and page. You can print the manual if desired by opening the
PDF version. To access this, right-click on the desktop icon, choose
Open File Location (or Find Target) and double-click PropertySidekickManual.pdf.
It can also be downloaded from our web site. (return to top)
Do you charge sales tax?
Only
Ohio orders will be charged 6.00% sales tax. (return to top)
Can the program be shipped to me?
We always recommend that you download the software program for free from our
web site. But, if you would prefer that we physically ship the
program to you, there are a few options. We send U.S. Priority Mail
for $10.00. (return to top)
What happens if I switch computers?
If you move your program from one computer to another, you will
first need to backup your data (File, Backup Database) and save the
database on an external memory device (such as CD or flash drive).
Before uninstalling the software program on the original computer, install
Property Sidekick on the new computer by downloading the free trial
version of our program from our web site or from the CD we sent you.
When you have access to Property Sidekick on both computers, contact our
sales department during normal business hours and we can help you
de-activate your software on the original computer and activate it on
the new one. Then you can restore your database into the program on
the new computer. (return to top)
Can I download Property Sidekick directly from the web site?
Yes, the download available on our web site is the trial version of
the Property Sidekick software. After you have used the trial software for 30
days, the program will lock and you will then be required to
purchase and activate. You will not lose any of the information you
have entered in the trial version. You will not need to download it
or install it again, as the trial version on our web site is the
same thing as the purchased program.
If you are reinstalling Property Sidekick or moving the program to
another computer, you can download this same trial version and then
contact us to re-activate your software. (return to top)
Does the trial version do everything that the purchased program
does?
Yes, you will be able to access each and every feature in the trial
version that you would have in the purchased version. The only
difference is that the trial version will lock up after your 30 day
trial has expired. Then, just contact our sales department to buy
and activate the software. Any data you entered during the trial
period will still be there. (return to top)
How do I buy the program?
Contact us during normal business hours or
purchase online using the
Online Order Form available on the
website. We also have a
Printable Order Form available on our Order
page if you prefer to fax or mail your order. All transactions are 100% secure. (return to top)
After I purchase the software, how do I activate my program?
You will need to enter an activation code that is generated by our
order system. To get this code, please email:
sales@propertysidekick.com. You will need to have your computer ID ready
(see the next sales question). (return to top)
What is a computer ID and how do I find it?
The “computer ID” is used by our order system to generate an
activation code specific to your computer. This ID can be found only
in the Property Sidekick software program by clicking on Help, then Activate. If
you are requesting an activation code from us, we will need to know
this computer ID. (return to top)
Can I export data into
Microsoft Excel®?
Yes, Property Sidekick does allow you to export data from an existing
Property Sidekick report into Excel®.
(return to top)
Can I import or export my financial information into
QuickBooks®?
Property Sidekick does not yet have an export or import feature
compatible with
QuickBooks®. However,
most users of our software who want to continue
to use
QuickBooks®
to pay bills online etc,
will take the total rents collected
and enter this number as a total deposit amount into
QuickBooks®. (return to top)
Can I create custom reports?
Property Sidekick does not offer a feature to create custom reports. (return to top)
Does the program calculate Common Area Maintenance for my Commercial Properties?
You can set up CAM charges separately in each tenant’s
recurring charges tab.
(return to top)
Can I keep all of the data for a tenant that moved out?
After a tenant moves out, you should change their status to
inactive. Property Sidekick will store all of their information, including
payment history. You can have as many tenants (active and inactive)
in the program as you need. (return to top)
Does Property Sidekick automatically back up my data?
Yes, Property Sidekick will backup your data automatically each day the
software program is used. This happens the first time each day that you open
the program. You can also do a manual backup by opening the program
and choosing File, Backup Database. (return to top)
Can I pay bills electronically using the banking information in Property
Sidekick?
Electronic Bill Payment is not an available feature in Property
Sidekick. (return to top)
Can I merge my tenant’s information directly into a letter?
Yes, the Letters to Tenants section allows you to choose and/or
create a letter that merges all of your tenant’s information
directly into the letter. You can also use this feature to send a
letter to several tenants at a time. Microsoft Word® 2003 or higher is required for
this feature to work. (return to top)
Do I have to use special checks to print from Property Sidekick?
Property Sidekick was designed with special check and invoice templates.
To use pre-printed checks and forms in your printer, please contact
Mid-Central Business Forms, Inc. at 309-692-9090. We guarantee that
their checks and forms will work with Property Sidekick software. The
check template is also compatible with QuickBooks® checks (3 checks
per page only). (return to top)
Can I e-mail reports?
Yes, you can e-mail reports, statements, and receipts
from the program by using your computer's default e-mail client
(such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Windows Mail,
Thunderbird, etc.) This e-mail client will have to be configured
correctly in order to use the Property Sidekick e-mail function. (return to top)
Can I use
this program to manage my residential apartment units?
Property Sidekick was designed specifically for managing commercial, retail, or industrial properties. We do not endorse the use of this software
program for
anything relating to the management of residential apartment units. (return to top)
Can my employees and managers all access Property Sidekick?
There is no limit to the number of people that can access Property
Sidekick from any computer in the world. You will need a router at
your main location and a high-speed Internet connection on both the
server computer and the client computer(s) to make this work. Please
see the section called “Accessing Property Sidekick from Remote
Locations” in the user’s manual to learn more. You will be able to set up user login IDs and passwords for each
user that will be accessing Property Sidekick. By default, the software program
allows access by any one registered user at any given time. To allow
more than one user in the program at a time, you will need to
purchase additional user licenses. (return to top)
Do I have to purchase a separate computer or server just for this
program?
You can install Property Sidekick on any normal computer.
Here are the
system requirements for the program:
Memory: 512 MB or more recommended
Available Hard Disk Space: 350 MB or more recommended
Operating System: Windows Vista®
(32-bit versions only), Windows XP® (Service Pack 2 or
later),
Windows 2000® (Service Pack 4 or later)
Internet Access: required for software updates, technical support, and
client/server access
(return to top)
How many
network computers can access a single server?
There is no limit to the number of users that can access your server
computer. If you have multiple property managers, each one can
have access to the program at no charge. Keep in mind that the program automatically limits the
number of people in the program at one time to a single user. If you
need more users to access the program simultaneously, you can
purchase additional user licenses. (return to top)
How do I setup my router so client computers can dial into the Property
Sidekick server?
Property Sidekick’s user manual contains instructions on setting up the
program for use from remote locations. Open the manual by choosing
Help, then click Sidekick Help. Click the plus sign to the left
of the second chapter entitled “Installing and Updating Property
Sidekick”. A new sub-chapter appears called “Accessing Property Sidekick
from Remote Locations”. Use these instructions and the corresponding
page called “Router Setup” to find out more about remote access
setup. If you cannot set up the router on your own, we have an
arrangement with a company called Progent that can set everything up
for you over the phone. Please understand that Progent has a
separate charge and billing for this service. (return to top)
Why is Internet access a system requirement?
If you are on the server computer, the program itself can be used
without Internet access. However, all software updates, technical
support via e-mail, and the Frequently Asked Questions section of
the Property Sidekick Help feature do require Internet access. Also, if
a remote client computer will be dialing into the server to access
the program, both the server computer and the client computer must
be logged onto the Internet continuously. (return to top)
If several users are working in the same database,
how do I limit what information they see?
The program administrator can set up the security feature of Property
Sidekick to create a separate login and password for each user. When
setting up user logins, the administrator can also change each
user’s permissions so that upon logging in, that user can only see
those functions, locations, and/or tenants that he or she has been
permitted to view. (return to top)
What is Microsoft SQL Server™ and why is it running on my computer
when I use the program?
Microsoft’s SQL Database Server is a database engine installed in
many different software programs to hold the data that is used by the
program. Property Sidekick uses Microsoft SQL Server Express 2005, which
is a free and distributable version of this database engine. SQL
Server is part of the Property Sidekick installation and you do not
have to purchase it, nor do you have to download it separately. This
feature of Property Sidekick allows for very fast access to virtually
unlimited amounts of data. All Property Sidekick
data is stored in the Microsoft SQL Server folder
in your computer's Program Files.
If you delete the SQL Server program and its folders, your data will
be lost.
(return to top)
Where is my data kept?
All data is kept by default in the Microsoft SQL Server™ database,
which is installed on your computer with the Property Sidekick software program.
You can find the automatic data backups by opening the Microsoft SQL
Server™ folder in the Program Files folder on your hard drive. Open
the folders called MSSQL. Data backups should be in the folder
called Backup, unless you have manually saved them elsewhere.
Please remember that your data is not located here at Property Sidekick
headquarters
and it is not stored on the Internet. It only resides on your
computer and on any external backup devices on which you have saved
your data. In case of a hard drive failure, flood, fire, or other
computer catastrophe, we recommend frequent backups to multiple
external memory devices to ensure against total data loss. You can
also e-mail a database to yourself to add an extra measure of
external data storage. (return to top)
Do you have a version of Property Sidekick that is compatible with a
Mac®?
Property Sidekick is a Windows-based program only. We do not have a
version available for Macs®. (return to top)
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