Technological advances have significantly changed the apartment shopping process – from the way prospects tour a property to the way they sign leases. (Hint: They don’t have to be on site to do either.)
Not surprisingly, those advances have had ripple effects on the way apartment companies do business and the staff needed to do it. To learn what technologies have become part of the leasing experience, how that impacts operations, and where to turn for tech news, check out the highlights from our latest #AptChat. (Click on the links to jump straight to a specific question.)
- Q1: What technologies are you using as part of the leasing experience today? What new tech are you most excited about?
- Q2: Does anyone have stats on real usage of leasing/resident kiosks? Do people use them often, or are they more for flash?
- Q3: Any luck with Instagram video campaigns?
- Q4: Do you all this tech is helping the leasing process? Do we need less staff? More? How does new leasing tech affect operations?
- Q5: How can we stay current on leasing tech? How do we keep our on-site teams familiar with new tech, without it becoming a crutch?
What technologies are you using as part of the leasing experience today? What new tech are you most excited about?
A1: We’re currently using virtual tours, e-apps, and esign for leases. Really excited about 3D tour tech! #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@AptChat We have a 3D tour set up but I love the virtual reality element. Would be great for a walkthrough w/ out of towners. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 VR has been a big selling point for PlayStation owners. I have concerns re getting glasses to most prospects, though. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
@mwhaling That’s true. It would be awesome to be able to include that in a prospect packet but that’s my wishful thinking. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 I’ve seen a couple properties offering to send Google Cardboard kits to prospects. Seems like a weird ask, though. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
@mwhaling Maybe a case of tech actually exceeding standard capabilities. It’ll be interesting to watch the evolution. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 That’s my thought, too. We’re trying to shoehorn a solution, when there’s probably a better way to approach it. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
@AptChat Is anyone using a marketing platform to track, benchmark, improve lead gen & leasing built specifically for #multifamily ? #aptchat
— Dyverse (@dyverse) February 28, 2017
@dyverse Benchmarking can be greatly improved. So many cos tend to measure things differently, it’s tough to know where you stand. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
@mwhaling Absolutely – tracking can easily get muddled and leads inappropriately attributed or not at all to its correct source #aptchat
— Dyverse (@dyverse) February 28, 2017
Does anyone have stats on real usage of leasing/resident kiosks? Do people use them often, or are they more for flash?
@AptChat Add a little Max Headroom pizzazz perhaps…the virtual leasing professional. My nerd vision of the future leasing office #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
@JonathanSaar @AptChat It seriously could be done. Many are just afraid to go there. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@JonathanSaar @AptChat Some people don’t wanna be “sold” to. They wanna look on their own w/significant other, etc. No pressure. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
Look at what @Carvana is doing to the car industry. #aptchat https://t.co/utgYTrajJg
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
@JonathanSaar @Carvana Exactly! Sometimes I want/need a salesperson, sometimes I wanna browse on my own. We don’t give this option. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@JonathanSaar @AptChat But then who will get the fun job of filing? Who, I ask you?!?! #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 @JonathanSaar @AptChat FILING is what we need to automate! I. hate. filing. LOL! #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy @JonathanSaar @AptChat DRONES! ERMAGERSH, DRONE FILING!!! (I seriously got super excited about that…) #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 I am looking into some drone stuff for our industry. Lots of potential applications #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
@AptChat Real estate already moving from static photos to drone tours and sky view of community #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
@AptChat Maybe enough people aren’t using them? If they were, there might be less leasing consultants at properties. #AptChat
— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 28, 2017
@MsMin @AptChat I seriously wonder if anyone would try a “self-guided” leasing tour?Kiosk to check-in w/directions, tour map, etc. #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy @MsMin @AptChat Like self-guided museum tours? Sounds intriguing! #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 @Marketing_Mommy @MsMin I could see Physical Web beacon-driven msgs to guide prospects, no app download necessary. #AptChat
— Apartment Helpdesk (@apthelpdesk) February 28, 2017
@apthelpdesk @leftnwrite08 @Marketing_Mommy @MsMin With the new release of the #raspberrypi so easy to make a beacon #AptChat
— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy @AptChat I think so. We prelease sight unseen, so it could work, especially in #studenthousing #AptChat
— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy @MsMin I think prospects would love it. The issue has always been liability concerns. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy @mwhaling @MsMin I keep going back to virtual reality on this notion … #AptChat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
Any luck with Instagram video campaigns?
@AptChat @dyverse I find IG a little hard to target. We get great response to some posts but not nec fm our target audience. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
Do you all this tech is helping the leasing process? Do we need less staff? More? How does new leasing tech affect operations?
@AptChat Online leasing and electronic leasing signings don’t require as many in the office any more. Proven. #AptChat
— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 28, 2017
@MsMin We’re getting some good insights into when the office should be open later or offer video tours. Data-informed office hours. #AptChat
— Mike Whaling (@mwhaling) February 28, 2017
A4: It’s a balancing act for sure. I personally prefer personal touch. But there’s a trade off for efficiency. #aptchat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 Well no one even greets me in retail and that is all self-guided, except for paying & even then that could be changed #AptChat
— Mindy Sharp (@MsMin) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 Car shopping:you’re free to browse the lot, look around, sit in cars w/out a salesman(then they’re there when needed) #aptchat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@Marketing_Mommy Why not a leasing desk stationed in/at the model, to provide the liability protection? #AptChat
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 I’ve done this for special occasions on-site. I still think people want freedom to look/talk w/out salesperson there #AptChat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 @Marketing_Mommy @augustsmartlock Are you seeing any multifamily cos using smart locks to facilitate leasing tours? #AptChat
— 30 Lines (@30lines) February 28, 2017
@30lines @leftnwrite08 @augustsmartlock I have not…but I bet @TamelaCoval has! #aptchat
— Kristi Fickert (@Marketing_Mommy) February 28, 2017
How can we stay current on leasing tech? How do we keep our on-site teams familiar with new tech, without it becoming a crutch?
A5 one word –training. Tech is a tool..still will not replace the person who is welcoming someone to new home #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
Agreed 100%. Constant learning is key to growth, as is knowing the difference between tools of the trade & trade itself. #aptchat https://t.co/85KoaB6hnF
— Khara (@leftnwrite08) February 28, 2017
@leftnwrite08 and it is so easy to dispense training these days..does not need to be so robotic and take 27 months to deploy #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
A5: Maybe a tech related blog with videos and an email newsletter? #AptChat
— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) February 28, 2017
@AptChat We could definitely write a few articles for a blog like that 🙂
— RokitNow (@RokitNowInc) February 28, 2017
@RokitNowInc I would love too see a shift from newsletters to news channels –in house company broadcasts #aptchat
— Jonathan Saar (@JonathanSaar) February 28, 2017
@JonathanSaar @RokitNowInc That’s exactly what @millsapartments is doing with their internal Facebook video streams! #AptChat
— 30 Lines (@30lines) February 28, 2017
Our next #AptChat is slated for Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at 12 pm Eastern, and we’ll be discussing reputation management in 2017. In the meantime, be sure to sign up for #AptChat updates to get these recaps and more delivered straight to your inbox!