The “Open Secret” Risk To Property Managers

The “Open Secret” Risk To Property Managers

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If You Heard the Chatter, Here’s the Story

You may have seen a few conversations online this week about Buildium and Vendoroo.

Here’s what happened: Buildium temporarily cut off Vendoroo’s access to our mutual clients’ accounts. That created real headaches for property managers who rely on our AI teammates to handle maintenance coordination.  Immediately afterward, Vendoroo received a wave of messages from clients asking how to move off Buildium to preserve the unique value they get from Vendoroo’s AI teammates.

The good news: Buildium and Vendoroo talked, collaborated, and found a path forward.

That cooperation has already helped ease concerns for teams who depend on both platforms. And we want to share why this moment matters for the whole industry.

Peter Lohmann Said It Best

“It’s an open secret that half the SFR ecosystem relies on vendors and consultants using customer logins for AppFolio, Buildium, etc. If they begin to crack down on this more broadly, it will be fairly devastating for the average PM operator.”
- Peter Lohmann, via Peter Lohmann’s Newsletter, Issue #162

Peter’s right. Property managers need trusted partners (and trusted access) to keep their businesses running.

The shift we’re all seeing right now is bigger than one integration. It’s about how property management will operate in the age of AI.

A Turning Point for the Industry

Every year, over 3 billion hours are spent on maintenance coordination in the U.S. alone. Across 45 million rental units, those hours translate into burnout, bottlenecks, and bandwidth limits.

The traditional “fix” has been to throw people at the problem. But human headcount can’t scale fast enough.

That’s why the industry has been searching for a new way… and why Agentic AI is such a breakthrough.

This isn’t software that needs another login or dashboard. These are AI teammates. They communicate, coordinate, and resolve tasks end-to-end. But to do that safely and effectively, they need permissioned access (the same way a trusted team member does).

Why Openness Matters

Openness isn’t just a philosophy. It’s how real progress happens.

When software platforms allow integrations and publish fair, secure APIs, property managers get to choose the best technology for their business.

That’s how innovation accelerates: when PMS platforms, vendors, and AI partners can all collaborate around the same client goal: freeing property managers to focus on what matters most.

We’re grateful to work with platforms like Buildium and RentVine that are prioritizing access and interoperability. Their willingness to collaborate helps everyone win.

About the “Unbelievable” Results

Let’s be honest - the pace of AI innovation feels almost unbelievable.

Most AI in the market today works like cruise control. It automates 30 to 40 percent of the work, but you’re still watching the road, ready to take over.

Vendoroo’s AI teammates operate more like self-driving cars. They are currently handling 90 to 95 percent of the maintenance workflow for many of our clients, freeing them to focus on residents, owners, and growth.

That leap from partial automation to true ownership is what transforms maintenance from chaos into calm.

Property Managers: Use Your Voice

If you want innovation, ask for it.

Ask your PMS providers and partners for:

• Permissioned service accounts for trusted integrations
• Published APIs with clear scopes and fair limits
• Portability without penalty
• Auditability that protects residents and owners

Thank the teams that meet this bar, and keep encouraging the rest to follow.

When property managers speak with a united voice, the industry listens, and together, we all move faster.

Our Commitment

At Vendoroo, we’ll continue building AI teammates that right-size the job for the human scale - curing burnout, protecting your time, and helping the entire ecosystem rise together.

Progress takes partnership. And we’re grateful to be building this next chapter alongside platforms like Buildium and the property managers who push all of us to be better.

—

Pablo Gonzalez,

Chief Evangelist at Vendoroo

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