How to switch from Buildium to DoorKeeping: exports, timing and cancelling
In Buildium, open Settings, then Export Data, and download each list you need, such as Rentals and Tenants, then run reports for balances and ledger history, which a list export does not give you. Cut over at a month end, load the current rent roll and opening balances, and export everything before your subscription period ends.
Where Buildium lets you export
Buildium's export sits under Settings, then Export Data, where you choose a data type and the file downloads to your computer. RentCheck's help guide for Buildium users, for example, picks Rentals for the unit list and then Tenants for the tenant list. Buildium's help center has its own article, Export data from Buildium, which lists every data type your plan can export.
Exports are lists, not your financial history. Treat the export files as your list of tenants, units and leases, and treat reports as your source for balances and history.
What to pull, and from where
| What you need | Where to find it in Buildium | Use in the new system |
|---|---|---|
| Properties, units, tenants, leases | Settings, Export Data, rentals files | Source for the rent roll you import |
| Tenant balances at the cutover date | A tenant ledger or outstanding balances report, run as of the last day | Opening balance per tenant |
| Security deposits held | The deposit lines of the ledgers or a deposit report | Deposits per tenant, kept as a liability |
| General ledger and profit and loss | Accounting reports for each year | Stay in your archive |
| Vendors and 1099 totals | Vendor list and a 1099 report | Vendor list and year-end tax records |
| Leases and attachments | Files on each lease or unit | Download and store |
Report names differ by plan and version, so open the Reports area in your account and look for the closest match. Buildium's public pages do not list exact report titles for an exit.
How long it takes
For a small portfolio, the export itself takes an afternoon. Setting up properties, importing the rent roll and checking balances usually takes another day or two. Give yourself two to four weeks in total, because the real constraint is the calendar: you want to cut over at a month end and compare totals against a closed month.
Cutover: month end, deposits and payments
- Close the last month in Buildium and reconcile the bank account.
- Run the ledgers and rent roll as of that date and save them as spreadsheets and PDFs.
- Set up the properties in the new system and import the rent roll.
- Compare units, monthly rent, deposits held, tenant balances and the bank balance against the Buildium reports.
- Tell tenants how they pay from the first rent date.
Example a made-up 12 unit property has monthly rent of $14,400 on its leases, deposits held of $14,400 and one tenant owing $600. After the import, all three figures must match the Buildium reports before you notify anyone.
If tenants pay through Buildium's online payments, that arrangement stays with Buildium. Decide the new way to pay before the notice goes out, and tell tenants the date the old one stops.
Cancelling Buildium
Buildium's Terms of Use (updated October 5, 2026) say either side can end a license term with written notice at least 30 days before the term ends, that fees are billed in advance and are non-refundable, with no pro-rating for a partial month or year, and that Buildium is not required to keep your data after the license ends. So export everything, and check that the files open, before you give notice. Look in your account's settings for the billing and subscription page to start the cancellation.
How DoorKeeping handles it
The Buildium export files are your starting point for the rent roll: keep one row per unit with the tenant, rent and lease dates.
In DoorKeeping you add each property with the LLC that owns it, import your rent roll from a CSV or XLSX file, and confirm the units, tenants and leases it reads. Each property has its own books, and tenants keep paying your own bank, by bank transfer or Zelle where your bank supports it, with a memo like 12B SMITH and an exact amount with its own cents. The price is $2 per unit per month with every feature included, no setup cost and no minimum. The general version of this plan is in the switching checklist.
Sources
- Buildium Help Center, Export data from Buildium, read Oct 30, 2026
- Buildium, Terms of Use (updated October 5, 2026), read Oct 30, 2026
- RentCheck help, Downloading units and residents from Buildium, read Oct 30, 2026
- IRS, How long should I keep records?, read Oct 30, 2026
Questions
- How do I export my data from Buildium?
- Go to Settings, then Export Data, and pick each data type you need, such as Rentals and Tenants. For balances and ledger history, run reports and save them too.
- Does Buildium keep my data after I cancel?
- Not necessarily. Buildium's Terms of Use say it is not required to keep your data after the license ends, so export everything and check the files before you cancel.
- Can I get a refund when I cancel Buildium?
- Usually not. Buildium's Terms of Use say fees are billed in advance and are non-refundable, with no pro-rating for a partial month or year. Check your own agreement for the details.