Homeowner Import

PorchQ lets you bulk-import your homeowner roster from a CSV file. This page covers the required format, column definitions, and how to fix common import errors.

Before You Start

important

Review your export for accuracy before importing. Duplicate rows, missing email addresses, or misformatted unit numbers are the most common causes of import errors.

You'll need:

• A CSV file with one row per homeowner
• At minimum: a unit address and homeowner name
• Email addresses strongly recommended (required for portal invitations)

CSV Format

Required Columns

Column	Description	Example
unit_number	The unit or lot identifier	101, Lot 42, B-204
street_address	Full street address of the unit	123 Oak Street
first_name	Homeowner's first name	Jane
last_name	Homeowner's last name	Smith

Optional Columns

Column	Description	Example
email	Homeowner's email address	jane@example.com
phone	Primary phone number	555-867-5309
mailing_address	Mailing address if different from unit	PO Box 100, Austin TX 78701
move_in_date	Date homeowner took possession	2022-06-15
unit_type	Unit type label for tiered fees	Single Family, Condo

Column Name Rules

• Column headers are case-insensitive (Unit_Number, unit_number, and UNIT_NUMBER all work)
• Extra columns in your CSV are ignored
• Column order does not matter

Example CSV

unit_number,street_address,first_name,last_name,email,phone,unit_type
101,123 Oak Street,Jane,Smith,jane.smith@example.com,555-100-1001,Condo
102,125 Oak Street,Robert,Johnson,rob.johnson@example.com,555-100-1002,Condo
103,127 Oak Street,Maria,Garcia,maria.garcia@example.com,,Condo
Lot 12,400 Elm Drive,David,Kim,david.kim@example.com,555-100-1004,Single Family
Lot 13,402 Elm Drive,Susan,Patel,susan.patel@example.com,555-100-1005,Single Family

tip

Leave optional fields empty rather than filling them with placeholder text like "N/A". Empty fields import cleanly; placeholder text can cause issues with phone formatting validators.

Running the Import

1. Go to Residents in your property sidebar
2. Click Import (top-right corner)
3. Click Choose File and select your CSV
4. PorchQ shows a preview of the first 5 rows — confirm the columns look correct
5. Click Import Homeowners
6. A summary shows how many records were created, skipped, or had errors

Common Errors and Fixes

"Missing required column: unit_number"

Your CSV header doesn't include a unit_number column.

Fix: Rename the column in your CSV. Common equivalent column names from other systems include Unit, Unit #, Lot, Address Unit, or Parcel. Rename any of these to unit_number.

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"Row 14: email address is invalid"

The email in that row is malformatted (e.g., missing @, extra spaces, or placeholder text).

Fix: Open your CSV in a spreadsheet editor, find row 14, and correct or clear the email field. A blank email is valid; a malformatted one is not.

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"Row 7: duplicate unit_number '101'"

Two rows share the same unit number.

Fix: Check for duplicate entries. If a unit has two owners (e.g., co-owners), use separate rows with different names but the same unit address. PorchQ links both to the same unit.

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"Row 22: street_address is blank"

The street address column exists but is empty for this row.

Fix: Fill in the address, or if the row is a duplicate/error, delete it before re-importing.

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Import succeeded but some rows show "skipped"

Skipped rows were duplicates of records that already exist in PorchQ (matched on unit number + email).

Fix: No action needed unless the existing records are wrong. Skipped rows won't overwrite existing data.

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After the Import

Once the import completes:

• Review Residents to confirm the records look correct
• Assign unit types if you haven't already (used for tiered fee schedules)
• When ready, use Invite to send portal activation emails to your homeowners

See Launching to Residents → for next steps.