Customer Story
Rent Right: Moving Beyond Tasks to Deliver True Results
Rent Right
Established: 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Portfolio: Multifamily, Single-Family
Units Under Management: 730+ Units
Rent Right has relied on AppFolio for over a decade, using our performance platform to streamline operations, support their team, and deliver exceptional experiences for residents and owners. From AI-powered workflows to centralized tools and seamless onboarding, see how AppFolio helps Rent Right’s CEO, Michael Yarnes, operate efficiently, scale smarter, and focus on what matters most.
99%
2013
“With AppFolio handling the routine tasks, my team can focus on what really matters: renewals, resident interactions, and market strategy. It lets us spend time on the human side of property management — the part that’s actually fun.”
Michael Yarnes
CEO, Rent Right, 730+ units
A People-First Approach to Property Management
Michael Yarnes entered the real estate industry in 2007, driven by a combination of opportunity and curiosity. He was drawn to the belief that real estate, at its core, is about customer service. Coming from the service industry, the people-first nature of the work felt familiar, even if he never imagined becoming a property manager.
Rent Right was founded on April 1, 2013, a date Michael jokes about often, noting, “Rent Right was founded on April Fool’s Day because only a fool would go into property management.” But the business quickly became serious work. Today, as CEO and Designated Broker, Michael stays closely involved in day-to-day operations, focusing heavily on onboarding new properties and ensuring they’re set up correctly from the start.
As Rent Right has grown, the biggest milestone has been gaining choice and clarity around values, clients, and Rent Right’s direction. Above all, Michael is most passionate about helping his team grow, succeed, and build lasting futures for themselves.
Performance Going Beyond the Numbers
For Michael, performance at Rent Right is both measurable and deeply human. On paper, it’s defined by clear KPIs across every department, allowing the team to track results, benchmark against the industry, and continuously improve. But true performance goes beyond numbers:
“Performance isn’t just the nuts and bolts or the money in the bank. It’s whether people enjoy working here, whether residents want to stay with us, and whether we’re well-received in the community. Our Google reviews reflect that people see us as real people who care, and that’s a good position to be in.”
Rent Right manages roughly 730 units across Prescott and the surrounding Quad Cities, supported by a 13-person management team and an in-house sales division. What sets Rent Right apart is a disciplined operational approach and the fact that they use AppFolio:
“We’ve been with AppFolio for a long time, and one of the biggest things we emphasize is working out of one shared system. Everything is structured the same way, so anyone can open AppFolio, see what the last person did, and immediately understand what’s happening.
If the phone rings, it shouldn’t matter what department you’re in; everyone should be able to step in and help. This creates accountability because everyone can see who’s doing great work and where support is needed, and that transparency makes us better as a team.”
What Real Performance Looks LikeInnovation That Delivers Over the Years
Rent Right joined AppFolio in 2013, and nearly a decade later, they’ve never felt the need to switch. From the very beginning, AppFolio stood out due to its user-friendly interface and the breadth of integrations and features the platform offers.
“I demoed as many platforms as I could back then, but AppFolio stood out because it was intuitive, it had all the bells and whistles, and it just felt like AppFolio was built to grow with us.”
And what keeps Rent Right loyal today is our constant evolution and innovation:
“AppFolio isn’t stagnant. It’s always being upgraded and improved, keeping pace with the changes in property management and now with AI. We can submit suggestions, request help, and AppFolio keeps pushing forward.
It would be a massive lift to switch, and honestly, I haven’t seen anyone challenge AppFolio at the level they’re performing. They just keep innovating.”
Recently, Rent Right upgraded to AppFolio Property Manager Plus, and the decision has already made a difference:
“We’re new to the AppFolio Plus tier, but I’m excited about how the workflows and automation will help move repetitive tasks off my team’s plates so they can focus on what they’re good at.
Seeing the new Realm-X Performers and other AI and automation tools at the FUTURE conference made me excited. It’s going to catapult our productivity and let us focus on growth and serving our clients better.”
AI That’s Built In, Not Bolted On
At Rent Right, success isn’t measured by checked boxes; it’s measured by outcomes. Michael has transformed Rent Right’s team approach, shifting from task-based execution to a performance-focused mindset where people, processes, and technology work together to drive results:
“Before, it was all about checking boxes, making sure everything got done. Now, with AI and automation built directly into AppFolio, the system handles the repetitive tasks so my team can focus on what really matters: conversations with owners, resident retention, and delivering a better experience.”
For Michael, simplicity drives success. By keeping AI fully integrated within AppFolio, his team avoids the pitfalls of multiple systems and maximizes every tool, turning streamlined workflows into tangible, measurable performance. Michael emphasizes the advantage of a single, integrated platform:
“Having AI native to AppFolio keeps everything in one system, fully leveraged, and eliminates the complexity and underuse that comes with a separate tech stack. It’s how we turn efficiency into measurable performance.”
Experience Agentic AIEfficiency, Accuracy, and Performance in One Platform
From managing inspections to attracting residents and reporting to owners, AppFolio’s tools are integral to how Rent Right operates. Michael points to the features that make the biggest difference in efficiency, accuracy, and team performance.
Inspections
“When someone comes to me with a problem, like a resident being out of compliance, I can review past inspections and see the full history. Having that reference, with photos and records, makes sure we’re operating consistently and setting the team up for success.”
AppFolio Sites
“AppFolio Sites lets us set up marketing when we onboard a property, with photos, descriptions, and pricing all templated. When a resident gives notice, we can quickly post the next availability without hunting for details. It’s almost a set-it-and-forget-it process.”
Data and Reporting
“Between the dashboards and reporting tools, we can pull data on anything. Different owners want different insights, and AppFolio lets us generate exactly what they need. Sometimes they’re surprised by what we can show, but that’s what makes it so powerful.”
Resident Screening
“Using AppFolio to pre-qualify residents based on our criteria removes a lot of manual steps. We can verify the information, but the system does the heavy lifting, letting us focus on what matters most: human interaction.”
FUTURE : Where Ideas Become Action
When Michael attended the FUTURE Conference, he brought the Rent Right team along to learn, connect, and explore new ways to elevate operations:
“Going to AppFolio’s industry conference is never just about sitting in sessions. It’s about learning from peers, seeing integrations in action, and discovering new ways to improve our workflows.”
Rent Right was also honored as a runner-up for the AppFolio FUTUREist Community Award, contributing $5,000 to a local teen center:
“Seeing our name on the screen during the opening keynote, knowing the donation would make a real impact, was an incredible moment. AppFolio recognizes that success isn’t just about properties but about connecting with people and building community.”
Join the Waitlist for FUTURE 2026A True Partner From the Start
For Michael, the partnership between Rent Right and AppFolio has been the backbone of the business for the past 12 years. Every process, standard operating procedure, and training video is integrated with the platform, making it inseparable from how Rent Right operates:
“You can’t call us ‘just partners’ with AppFolio because Rent Right wouldn’t function without it. Every process, every standard operating procedure is integrated with the system. Even our training videos are based on using AppFolio. To separate the two at this point would be next to impossible.”
Looking ahead, Rent Right is entering an ambitious growth phase, expanding into multiple locations while maintaining efficient operations. AppFolio plays a central role in enabling that growth, providing the tools to scale without adding unnecessary complexity or overhead:
“We’re in a growth stage, and AppFolio gives us the scale to grow smartly. I can have leasing, accounting, and maintenance centralized while people in other locations handle inspections, move-outs, and business development. It allows us to expand without bigger offices or extra staff. AppFolio makes all that scale possible.”
The Freedom to Focus on What Matters Most
With the AppFolio Performance Platform, Michael can trust that Rent Right runs smoothly, freeing him to focus on his passions outside of work. Our automation and integrated tools allow him to step back without worrying about operations, giving him the space to recharge and pursue what he loves.
“When I’m not managing properties, I spend time as a wildlife photographer. Recently, I was in Estes Park photographing and watching the bulls compete and capturing those moments. Having AppFolio lets me enjoy experiences like that while knowing my business is performing at a high level.”
Michael Yarnes
CEO, Rent Right, 730+ units
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