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Otter Property Management built its business on being tech-forward. So when its former software stopped keeping pace, the team made a move.
The Philadelphia company, which manages about 750 rentals, switched from AppFolio to Rentvine. The goal: put Rentvine's open API and AI tools to work across every part of its operation.
Done playing it safe
Otter launched in 2020 as a paperless, technology-driven company. That focus kept the team lean and organized as it grew a portfolio of single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes across Philadelphia.
Over time, owner and operations manager Kevin Moyer felt Otter needed more from its software to stay true to that identity. As an active member of the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM), he watched as more and more of his peers expanded their AI capabilities. He decided it was time for Otter to jump in with both feet.
"We got too comfortable on AppFolio, and that's not who we are as a tech-forward company. AI is changing how property management works, and staying comfortable means falling behind. Rentvine moves fast and keeps us ahead, which made the upheaval of switching worth it."
Kevin Moyer, Owner and Operations Manager, Otter Property Management
An open API that connects the whole operation
Rentvine's open API lets property managers connect the tools they already rely on, from CRMs to AI assistants. Information moves between systems on its own, instead of being re-entered by hand at every step.
For Moyer, that connectivity was the deciding factor. He wants a piece of information captured on the first sales call with an owner to flow through the entire lifecycle of Otter's relationship with that client. With Rentvine, his systems can talk to each other to make that happen.
He sees AI-assisted integrations as the key to keeping Otter accurate and efficient as the industry shifts. Rentvine's open API is how Otter plans to stay ahead.
Maintenance that doesn't slip through the cracks
Maintenance had become Otter's biggest operational weakness as the company grew. It was also the main reason Moyer started looking for a change.
Moyer points to a simple example. When a new owner signs on with Otter, they might mention that their HVAC filter is hard to find because it’s tucked behind a corner in the ventilation system. Two years later, an HVAC work order comes in. The technician who shows up needs that note in hand so they know exactly where to look.
That's what Rentvine gives Otter. A detail captured on day one can follow the property through its entire lifecycle, connecting owners, residents and vendors along the way. Automations make sure nothing gets missed.
For Otter, that means fewer callbacks, faster resolutions and, in Moyer's words, "more bang for their buck" for owners on every maintenance job.
Lower fees, bigger returns
Cost also factored into the decision. Rentvine’s team compared Otter’s existing invoice against Rentvine’s pricing and found that Rentvine’s standard offering includes features other providers charge more for including API calls, MCP skills, and custom fields. Still, Moyer expects the larger return to come from the operational efficiencies Otter will gain by connecting its systems through Rentvine.
Worth the switch
Otter's move reflects a bigger shift among property managers who refuse to let their software hold them back.
"Property managers are noticing what sets Rentvine apart, and teams like Otter Property Management show that the benefits are worth the switch. We've built the platform that keeps property managers ahead, and when you consider the time and resources Rentvine saves, it's an easy decision."
Nat Kunes, CEO, Rentvine
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