PadPulse Host FAQ
A living list of the questions new PadPulse hosts ask most often after watching the explainer videos. Questions are grouped by the sidebar section they relate to, and each answer points to the exact menu path or tab where you take action.
A note on plans: PadPulse is priced per property, with everything included: the Host and Property Manager plans (and the 14-day free trial) include every feature described below. See Plans and Billing for pricing.
Table of Contents
- Getting Started
- Dashboard
- Properties
- Messages
- Members Group (Members, Vehicles, Booking Requests)
- Pipeline Group (Research and Underwriting)
- Revenue Group (Rooms, Financials, Marketing)
- Operations Group (Tasks, Forms, Supplies, Devices)
- Vendors Group
- My Team
- Plans and Billing
- PadSplit Sync
- Top-Bar Utilities
1. Getting Started
Q: I just signed up — where should I start?
Open Dashboard in the sidebar to confirm your account is live, then click Properties in the sidebar and click Add Property to register your first address. Once a property exists you can create rooms, invite team members, and connect devices in any order. The floating Get Started button (bottom-left corner) walks you through the same steps as a checklist.
Q: What is the floating "Get Started" button in the bottom-left corner?
It's your live activation checklist. Click it to see the setup steps that matter for your account — connect PadSplit, set up your booking request template, set up your Vendor Directory, connect smart locks and thermostats, import supplies, and more. Each item checks itself off automatically as you complete the real setup in the app, and each one links straight to the page where you do it. It follows you on every page until your account is fully set up.
Q: Do I have to use every section in the sidebar?
No. The sidebar runs from research to day-to-day operations, but you only need the sections that match where you are today. If your properties are already operating, you can skip the Pipeline group entirely and work mainly out of Properties, Members, Operations, and Revenue.
Q: What's the difference between a Host account and a Property Manager account?
You pick one at signup. Host accounts run their own portfolio. Property Manager accounts run properties on behalf of owners and get everything in Host plus an owner portal with monthly owner statements. Both pay the same per-property price; property managers also pay $10 per owner a month for the owner portal.
2. Dashboard
Q: What am I supposed to do on the Dashboard?
Nothing — the Dashboard is read-only by design. Open it from the sidebar to see portfolio-wide KPIs (total rooms, occupancy, monthly revenue, outstanding items) plus a recent-activity feed. Color-coded indicators tell you what needs attention: red = action required, yellow = watch it, green = all clear. All actual edits happen in the specific sections lower in the sidebar.
Q: My Dashboard numbers don't match what I see in a property — why?
The Dashboard rolls up data across every property on your account, while Properties → [your property] → Overview is scoped to a single address. If a number looks wrong, open the property and check the same metric there to find the discrepancy.
Q: The Dashboard looks different from what my colleague sees — why?
PadPulse uses plan-aware default layouts: the panels shown on first load depend on your plan. Your account owner can also customize the layout by dragging panels around or pinning favorites to the sidebar. If two people on the same team see different defaults it usually means they have different favorited items or the layout was customized.
3. Properties
The Properties item in the sidebar is pinned at the top — it opens your list of operating properties. This is separate from the Pipeline group, which is for evaluating and acquiring new deals.
Q: How do I add a second property?
Click Properties in the sidebar to open the property list, then click Add Property in the top-right. Enter the address, property type, and room count and save — the new property appears as its own card with its own Property Detail tabs. Data never bleeds between properties.
Q: How do I change a property's name, address, or photos after it's created?
Open Properties → [your property] → Overview, then click Edit. The Overview tab is the single place to update name, description, configuration details, and uploaded photos.
Q: What's the difference between the property-level Financials tab and the Revenue section in the sidebar?
The Property Detail → Financials tab is scoped to a single property — useful when you're reviewing one asset. The Revenue group in the sidebar (Profit & Loss, Expenses, etc.) rolls up revenue and expenses across your whole portfolio.
Q: Where do I store house rules, Wi-Fi passwords, or appliance manuals?
Use Properties → [your property] → Knowledge Base. Add an article with a title and body, and organize related articles into categories. Members can reference these through the member-facing experience, so it cuts down on routine questions.
Q: Where do I log the appliances at a property — make, model, serial number, warranty info?
Open Properties → [your property] and click the Appliances tab. You can add each appliance (refrigerator, washer, dryer, HVAC unit, etc.) with its make, model, serial number, purchase date, and warranty expiration. Having this in PadPulse means your maintenance team can look up a unit before they call for service without texting you.
Q: How do I give a property manager access to just one property instead of my whole portfolio?
Open Properties → [your property] → Administrators and click Add Administrator. Property-level access is granted here. Use My Team in the sidebar for global, account-wide roles.
4. Messages
Q: Where do I see all conversations with my members?
Click Messages in the sidebar. Threads are grouped by member and show the property and timestamp of the latest message. Unread threads are highlighted at the top.
Q: Can I auto-respond to common events like a missed payment or a new booking?
Yes. From Messages, open the Message Rules settings and create a rule that triggers on the event you want (for example, a new booking confirmation or a missed payment). Rules send the response automatically so you don't have to.
Q: Can AI help me write replies to members?
Yes — the AI Message Enhancer drafts and improves your replies right inside Messages: turn a rough note into a clear, professional response in one click.
Q: Will members get my messages by SMS or in-app?
As a PadSplit member, they will receive their communications through the PadSplit app. In future, we may offer direct text communication if off-PadSplit.
5. Members Group (Members, Vehicles, Booking Requests)
The Members group in the sidebar expands to show three items: Members, Vehicles, and Booking Requests.
Q: A member is moving in but didn't come through a booking flow — how do I add them manually?
Go to Members → Members in the sidebar and click Add Member. Fill in the contact info, assigned property, and room, plus the membership dates. The member appears in your master roster immediately and can be messaged from Messages the same way as automated bookings.
Q: What happens when a member is terminated?
The member stays in your records — they aren't deleted. Their status moves to "past" and they no longer appear in the active occupancy roll-ups on the Dashboard or in Properties → [your property] → Members. You can still find them in Members → Members by setting the status filter to "past." If you have Smart Locks connected, any code generated from their membership dates expires automatically when the membership ends.
Q: Where do I track which member owns which car?
Click Members in the sidebar to expand it, then click Vehicles. The Vehicles registry lists license plate, make, model, and the linked member. Edits made here update that member's profile automatically — useful for properties with limited parking or HOA requirements.
Q: How do prospective members apply to move in?
If you have Direct Bookings enabled, send prospects your unique booking link (found under Members → Booking Requests or under Revenue → Marketing → Direct Bookings). They fill out your application form and their submission lands in Members → Booking Requests → Submissions. You'll get a bell notification; open the submission to review their info, then approve or decline in one click. Approving creates their member record automatically and sends them an SMS with move-in instructions.
Note: The booking form itself is customized under Members → Booking Requests → Templates. Use the Branding button on that page to add your logo, accent color, and custom welcome/thank-you messages.
6. Pipeline Group (Research and Underwriting)
The sidebar group is labeled Pipeline. It contains the research tools: Research, Buy Box Settings, Buy Box Reports, Buy Box Saved, Underwrite, Find a Realtor, and Finance. (This is separate from Properties, which lists the addresses you currently operate.)
Note: The free Research plan includes 5 buy box searches a month. Host and Property Manager plans (and the free trial) include unlimited research.
Q: Do I have to use Research and Buy Box before adding a property?
No. Research, Buy Box, Underwrite, Find a Realtor, and Finance are tools for evaluating new deals. If a property is already yours, just use Properties → Add Property and skip the pipeline entirely.
Q: How do I tell PadPulse what kind of deals I'm looking for?
Go to Pipeline → Buy Box Settings and enter your target markets, room minimums, max purchase price, minimum projected ROI, and any other filters. Saved criteria drive what you see in Pipeline → Buy Box Reports.
Q: What is "Buy Box Saved" for?
Pipeline → Buy Box Saved stores the individual property listings you've bookmarked from your Buy Box scan results. When a Buy Box report surfaces a promising address, save it here so you can revisit it later without re-running the scan. Saved properties are retained indefinitely and can be exported.
Q: I keep re-typing the same expense assumptions for every underwrite. Can I set defaults?
Yes. Open Pipeline → Underwrite, then go into Defaults from the Underwriting settings. Anything you set there — vacancy rate, insurance, taxes, management fees — is the starting point for every new underwrite.
Q: Where do I find a buyer's agent for markets I don't operate in yet?
Go to Pipeline → Find a Realtor. This section helps you discover and connect with agents who specialize in co-living-friendly acquisitions in your target markets. Fill in the search criteria and the tool surfaces agent profiles you can contact directly.
Q: How do I track the financing for a deal I'm pursuing?
Use Pipeline → Finance. This section tracks loans, lenders, quoted rates, term sheets, and financing milestones for each active acquisition.
7. Revenue Group (Rooms, Financials, Marketing)
The sidebar group is labeled Revenue. It contains room/pricing management (Pricing / Rooms, Prompts & Settings), the financial ledger (Profit & Loss, Expenses, Recurring, Forwarded Docs, Settings), and a Marketing sub-group (Direct Bookings, Third Party Listings).
Q: I don't have professional listing photos yet. What can I do?
Use Revenue → Pricing / Rooms → Image Generator. Pick the room type, choose a style, and PadPulse generates listing-ready images in seconds. You can drop those images straight into your direct booking page or any third-party listing.
Q: What is "Prompts & Settings" under Revenue?
Revenue → Prompts & Settings is where you configure the AI prompt templates that PadPulse uses when drafting messages or generating listing descriptions on your behalf. You can adjust the tone, brand voice, and specifics of what the AI should say — so generated content always sounds like you, not a generic bot.
Q: What's a "Direct Booking" and how is it different from a third-party listing?
A Direct Booking is a branded link to your own lightweight listing page — found under Revenue → Marketing → Direct Bookings. Inquiries from that link route straight into PadPulse with no platform fees. Third Party Listings (under Revenue → Marketing → Third Party Listings) connect PadPulse to platforms like PadSplit so availability and pricing sync automatically. Most hosts use both.
Q: Where do I log a one-off expense like a repair bill?
Click Revenue → Expenses and then Add Expense. Enter the amount, date, category (maintenance, utilities, insurance, etc.), and the property it applies to, and attach a receipt if you have one. It flows into Revenue → Profit & Loss automatically.
Q: I pay the same insurance premium every month. Do I have to log it manually each time?
No — set it up once under Revenue → Recurring. Recurring expenses are added to your expense log on the schedule you define (monthly insurance premiums, property management fees, utility bills) without any further action.
Q: I connected my Mercury bank account — how do I see those transactions in PadPulse?
Once Mercury is connected, posted debit transactions appear automatically under Revenue → Expenses as Mercury-sourced expense rows. PadPulse verifies each incoming event with an HMAC signature before creating the record, so only legitimate bank events land in your ledger. You don't need to import or manually enter bank transactions — they arrive in near-real time as Mercury posts them.
To connect: go to Revenue → Settings → Mercury Connect and follow the guided setup. You'll paste a unique PadPulse webhook URL into your Mercury dashboard's webhook settings; after that, transactions flow automatically.
Note: Mercury-connected income and expense tracking is included in the Host and Property Manager plans. See Plans and Billing.
Q: Can I pay vendors directly from my Mercury account through PadPulse?
Yes. Once Mercury Connect is set up, you can select Mercury ACH as the payout method when approving a vendor payment under Vendors → Vendor Payments. PadPulse will initiate the ACH transfer from your linked Mercury account directly to the vendor. This means the full payment flow — approval, disbursement, and financial record — happens in one place without switching to Mercury manually.
Q: Where do I view my Mercury bank statements inside PadPulse?
Go to Revenue → Expenses and look for the Statements tab within the Mercury-connected view. This surfaces your Mercury account statements so you can reconcile transactions without leaving PadPulse.
Q: I receive financial documents by email — lease agreements, insurance certificates, invoices. Where do those land?
Set up your unique PadPulse forwarding address and BCC or forward emails to it. Incoming documents appear in Revenue → Forwarded Docs, organized by receipt date. From there you can tag each document (expense, lease, insurance, etc.) and attach it to the relevant property or member record. The Check Now button at the top of the page triggers an immediate inbox poll if you want to pull in documents without waiting for the next scheduled sync.
Note: Forwarded Docs requires the
AGENTMAIL_API_KEYto be configured on your account. If the Check Now button is grayed out, ask your admin to confirm the key is set.
8. Operations Group (Tasks, Forms, Supplies, Devices)
The sidebar group is labeled Operations. It contains Tasks, Forms, and Supplies. The Devices sub-group (Smart Locks, Thermostats) also lives inside Operations.
Q: What's the difference between a Task and a Form?
A Task is a single work order — something that needs to be done at a specific property, by a specific person, by a specific date (for example, "Fix leaking faucet in Room 3"). A Form is a reusable digital checklist — like a move-in inspection or a quarterly maintenance walkthrough — that the same person fills out the same way every time. You assign and track Tasks one by one in Operations → Tasks; you build and publish Forms once in Operations → Forms and reuse them across properties.
Q: How do I create a recurring task like a monthly HVAC filter check?
Don't create the task by hand each month. Instead, go to Operations → Tasks and open Task Rules from the Tasks settings. Create a rule with the schedule you want and PadPulse will generate the task automatically on each recurrence.
Q: How do I make sure I'm alerted before I run out of cleaning supplies?
Go to Operations → Supplies and either click Add Item for a new supply or open an existing one. Set the low-stock threshold for each item — anything that drops below the threshold is highlighted in the Supplies list so you can reorder before you run out.
Q: How do I issue a smart-lock code that automatically expires when a member's lease ends?
Open Operations → Smart Locks (inside the Devices sub-group) and select the lock for that member's room. Generate a code based on the member's lease dates — PadPulse will tie the code to those dates so it expires automatically at lease end. No manual cleanup required.
Q: How do I connect a new smart lock to PadPulse?
Click Operations → Smart Locks and use the Connect a Lock button, which opens the Seam web-view onboarding flow inside PadPulse. Follow the brand-specific steps (scan QR code, enter Wi-Fi credentials, confirm pairing), and the lock appears in your device list once paired. For TTLock devices, the same flow uses your TTLock account credentials.
Q: A device is offline. How do I find it quickly?
Click Operations → Devices Overview. The Overview surfaces every device's status across all properties, with red indicators for devices that need attention. From there click into the specific device (smart lock or thermostat) to troubleshoot.
Note: Smart locks and thermostats are included in the Host and Property Manager plans. TTLock and Sifely locks connect at no extra cost; other lock brands connect through Seam for $2 per lock a month.
9. Vendors Group
The sidebar group is labeled Vendors. It contains Vendor Directory, Vendor Payments, and Vendor Settings.
Q: A vendor sent me an invoice. Where do I approve and pay it?
Go to Vendors → Vendor Payments. Find the request, review it, and click approve. Approval logs the disbursement and creates a financial record that flows into your expense tracking under Revenue → Expenses.
Q: Where do I configure default payment terms, approval thresholds, and notifications for vendor work?
Go to Vendors → Vendor Settings. This is the global configuration panel for your vendor operations: default approval workflows, payment term defaults, and notification preferences for vendor-related events (task completion, payment requests, job status updates). Changes here apply across all properties and vendors.
10. My Team
Q: A team member left. How do I revoke their access?
Open My Team, click the team member's row to open their profile, and revoke their access. They'll be locked out immediately. To change someone's access without removing them, adjust their role or property permissions from the same profile.
Q: How is "My Team" different from a property's "Administrators" tab?
My Team controls account-wide membership and roles — who exists on your account at all. The Administrators tab inside each property (under Properties → [your property] → Administrators) controls which of those team members can act on that specific property. Add the person to My Team first, then grant them access to the properties they should manage.
Q: Is there a limit on how many team members I can invite?
No. Every PadPulse plan includes unlimited users — there are no seats, no per-user fees, and no user caps. Pricing is per property, never per person, so invite your whole team.
11. Plans and Billing
Q: How does PadPulse pricing work?
One price per property, with everything included. Your first 10 properties are $49 each a month, properties 11 to 50 are $39 each, and every property from your 51st is $29. For example, 12 properties cost 10 × $49 + 2 × $39 = $568 a month. There are no setup fees and users are unlimited. See the pricing page to estimate your total.
Q: What counts as a property?
One address, on or off PadSplit, with any number of rooms.
Q: Do property managers pay per owner?
Yes, $10 per owner a month, which covers the owner portal and monthly owner statements.
Q: Is there a free plan?
Yes. The Research plan is free for investors before their first co-living house: 5 buy box searches a month, plus market research, underwriting with PDF export, the lender and realtor directories, and the savings calculator.
Q: Is there a free trial?
Yes. Host and Property Manager plans start with a 14-day free trial, and you don't need a card to start.
Q: What happens after the trial?
Add a card anytime to keep going. If you don't, your account pauses as read-only and we keep your data for 30 days.
Q: Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Monthly plans can be cancelled anytime, and you won't be charged again.
Q: Do you offer refunds?
Annual and lifetime purchases come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Monthly plans aren't refunded, but you can cancel anytime. See Pricing, trials, refunds and lifetime plans.
Q: Will my price change?
We review prices once a year and give 30 days' notice. Prices never change in the middle of a paid term.
Q: Where do I download past invoices for my accountant?
Open Billing and scroll to the invoice history table. Each past invoice is downloadable from that list.
12. PadSplit Sync
Q: I already have rooms set up on PadSplit. Do I have to re-enter all of them in PadPulse?
No. Click PadSplit Sync in the sidebar and connect your PadSplit host account. Once connected, PadPulse pulls in your property and room data, and member move-ins / move-outs and PadSplit-collected payments sync automatically into PadPulse from then on.
Q: My PadSplit Sync stopped working. What now?
Open PadSplit Sync. The sync dashboard shows the last sync time and any errors per property. The most common cause is a changed PadSplit password — update your credentials in the sync settings and the sync will resume.
Q: What does "PadSplit UID" mean on a member's profile?
The PadSplit UID is PadPulse's label for the identifier that ties a member record in PadPulse to the corresponding occupant record on PadSplit. It is set automatically by PadSplit Sync and is read-only in PadPulse (you cannot edit it manually, because the next sync would overwrite any change). You'll see it on the member detail page if the member was synced from PadSplit.
13. Top-Bar Utilities
Q: How do I refer another host and get the referral benefit?
Click your avatar in the top-right corner and choose Refer a Host. Copy your personal referral link and share it. The same page tracks how many referrals you've sent and their status. Check your referral program terms for the current benefit.
Q: Why am I not seeing new notifications until I reload?
You shouldn't have to reload — the bell icon in the top-right refreshes automatically every 30 seconds. If notifications aren't updating, log out from the avatar menu and back in to re-establish the session.
Document prepared May 2026; last updated July 2026 for the modular pricing model. Update this FAQ as new features ship or as new questions surface from host support tickets.