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3 Technology Tips To Put More Time Back In Your Day

By Carl Hanly, CAS, KeyTrak

As a property management professional, you have a lot to juggle: giving prospect tours, handling resident packages, running reports, and more. To keep up with your workload, use these three technology tips to put more time back in your day.

Use Mobile Apps

Take advantage of your technology partners’ mobile apps to improve your efficiency. For example, you can use your property management system’s app to check an apartment’s availability while giving an apartment tour. If you’re walking the property and have multiple keys checked out at once, use your key control provider’s app to scan each key tag to easily identify keys. To update apartment listings and manage your online presence on the fly, use your marketing partner’s app.

Reduce Time Switching Between Applications

According to a Cornell University study, people spend about 36 minutes a day switching between applications. To reduce that time, try these three tips: between your key control and property management systems, you’ll have up-to-date information on keys, residents, and more.

• Consolidate tasks. If employees are already checking keys out from a key control system, have them use that system to clock in and out, manage work orders, and track resident packages.

• Automate reports. Having reports automatically send to your inbox means you won’t have to log into a specific application to review reports.

Just by cutting down on switching between applications, you’ll save valuable hours of productivity every day.

Manage Keys Electronically

If you’re using an outdated key management method like a pegboard and manual logbook, implement an electronic key control system instead. The system will record key checkout or checkin details automatically so employees don’t have to do it manually. With automatic text or email alerts and alarms, management will spend less time monitoring key activity as well. You’ll not only increase productivity, but also reduce your liability by having a reliable record of who’s used which keys and why.

If you have smart locks, you can even preprogram fobs and store them in the system to avoid programming fobs every time you need access to certain apartments.

You don’t have to feel bogged down by repetitive tasks. When you put technology to work for you, you’ll tackle your workload more efficiently.

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• Sync data between systems. For example, by sharing data Get

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7 Spring Community Event Ideas That Engage Residents

By Ashley Tyndall,

Director of Business Development for Criterion B

Resident experience is the hot topic in the multifamily housing industry these days, and for good reason: When you’re able to achieve a positive resident experience, you’re also able to achieve more renewals and new leases.

Importantly, a huge part of creating a positive resident experience is fun resident events. However, it can be difficult for your property to host regular, planned events; often, it’s normally not a question of whether your team wants to do events, but rather a lack of time, ideas or budget.

To help you fill out your resident event calendar for the spring and bring a spark of joy to your community, here are five easy, affordable and unique ideas:

Planting Day

Organize a planting day in the community garden or a designated area on the property. Provide gardening tools, seeds and soil to residents who wish to participate. You can also invite local experts to provide gardening tips and advice. Take photos of residents planting and gardening together and share them on social media and your community website.

Host A Holiday Potluck And Create A Cookbook

This idea is a cool twist on a classic resident event. At least a week before the potluck, have your residents submit the recipes for the dish they will be bringing and compile them all into a spring cookbook. Then, give a copy to each of your residents at the end of the potluck. Not only will your residents enjoy time together and a yummy dinner but also receive a special token they can take home and enjoy for years to come.

Make Trendy Spring Garlands And Diy Decor

This is a great spring-themed craft and activity that is inexpensive and will get residents to come out and participate. This is because it is both a low-commitment and high-value event. For residents, there’s nothing better than free home decor that will take under 30 minutes to get. Plus, it also creates an opportunity to do a community-wide giveaway for the home decor that gets the most likes on social media after you share them all.

Spring Fling

Organize a Spring Fling party in the community center or common area. Include activities such as face painting, balloon animals, a bounce house and carnival games. Provide refreshments and snacks and encourage residents to bring their families and friends. Share photos and videos of the event on social media and your community website.

Community Yard Sale

Spring is the perfect time to clean out clutter and declutter homes. Host a community yard sale in your apartment community’s parking lot or common area. Advertise the event on social media, post flyers around the property and promote it on your community website. Encourage residents to participate by offering incentives like waived rent fees or prizes for the best-decorated booth.

SPRING CLEAN-UP DAY

Host a spring clean-up day in the apartment community.

Encourage residents to participate by providing free garbage bags, gloves and refreshments. You can also organize a contest for the most creative trash pick-up team and offer prizes such as gift cards or free parking spaces.

Food Festivals

Spring is the perfect time for food festivals. You can host a BBQ, a taco festival, a pizza party or any other foodrelated event that you can think of. Encourage residents to bring their favorite dishes while you provide entertainment and refreshments. Share photos and videos of the event on social media and your community website.

Take Advantage Of The Marketing Opportunities

Spring is a wonderful time to engage your residents and market your apartment community. These event ideas can help you create fun and memorable experiences that your residents will enjoy, while also attracting potential renters to your property.

While it might feel a little unnatural and “promotional”, try to view every resident event as a marketing opportunity — take photos and videos, create stories, make TikToks, and share, share, share!

MANAGED WI-FI, BULK WI-FI AND

Infrastructure

By Doug Pike, Content Specialist with LinnellTaylor Marketing

Strategic Wi-Fi implementation can deliver on all fronts or fail to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s multifamily communities if not done right.

Wi-Fi access is a requirement for today’s renters, and multifamily operators have an obligation to supply or facilitate reliable wireless service for their communities. During the Apartmentalize 2023 session, “Ask the Experts: Managed Wi-Fi, Bulk WiFi and Connectivity Infrastructure,” presenters will dive into the different options available to operators in a not one-size-fits-all environment.

Moderated by SmartRent Executive Vice President Mitch Karren, and a panel featuring Quarterra Director of Community Technology Justin Foster; Venterra Realty Director of Ancillary Services Josh Delzell; and Carroll Senior Vice President of Operations and Business Development Rob Gayle, the session will explore the nuances of Wi-Fi selection and deployment.