As resident expectations continue to evolve, the multifamily housing industry must set a new standard for amenities in the new year. With remote work, wellness and technology shaping everyday life, property managers and developers are introducing innovative amenities to create vibrant, adaptable and highly personalized living spaces.
Village Green’s Executive Vice President Marketing & Brand Loyalty Ashley Sinclair and WithMe Inc.’s CEO & Founder Jonathan Treble know about the latest amenity trends. From tech-enabled conveniences and wellness-focused spaces to creative areas for crafting and leisure, these industry leaders share their insights on how multifamily properties are embracing the future of resident experience in a rapidly changing market.
CEOs must be strategic about how they allocate their limited time. Time spent on low-impact tasks—such as micromanaging or unnecessary meetings—could be better used on bigger-picture tasks like strategic planning or partnership development.
Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members share some areas where they believe CEOs can stop wasting their energy. By focusing on high-impact activities, you can make the most of your time and drive organizational growth.
CEOs should spend less time waiting for staff to complete research projects. Whereas we used to task executive assistants or marketing team members with research on macro or micro topics, AI can now deliver strong briefings in seconds. It's game-changing and should speed up the rate of C-suite decision making. - Jonathan Treble, WithMe, Inc.
Artificial intelligence has a lot of uses in multifamily—for example, chatbots can help prospective residents get information about the community. However, there are a lot of areas where the human touch is still important. The MHN Executive Council shares where they don’t use AI.
Personal Connection
While I rely on AI for many tasks and appreciate its efficiency, there are still areas where the human touch is irreplaceable. I won’t use AI for deeply personal conversations or decisions that require emotional intelligence, empathy and nuance. Building meaningful relationships with my team, clients and loved ones is something that technology can’t replicate. I also wouldn’t rely solely on AI for creative visioning, as human intuition and creativity are key to shaping the bigger picture in ways AI may not yet grasp. —Jonathan Treble, Founder & CEO, WithMe Inc.
Chicago, IL – October 28, 2024 – WithMe, Inc., a leader in technology-enabled amenities for multifamily communities, has reached a major milestone with over 500 innovative bean-to-cup SipWithMe devices now installed nationwide. Since its launch in 2021, SipWithMe has rapidly gained traction for enhancing the resident experience and simplifying property management.
SipWithMe elevates the resident experience through reliable, easy-to-use technology, barista-quality beverages, and craft-roasted coffee, all while helping multifamily property managers decrease spending, control costs, and save time for staff.
“Reaching this milestone with SipWithMe is an incredible moment for our entire team,” said Jeff Lail, Chief Operations Officer for WithMe. “It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at WithMe who is passionate about creating seamless amenity solutions that benefit both property managers and residents. Our team is driven by a shared commitment to innovation and excellence, and we look forward to continuing to shape the future of multifamily living.”
As WithMe continues to evolve, SipWithMe remains a key component of its mission to deliver forward-thinking amenities that streamline property management and elevate resident satisfaction. The company remains committed to providing superior quality and customer service to its partners and was recently recognized for its efforts by the Titan Awards.
WithMe Inc. partners with 80% of the National Multifamily Housing Council's Top 50 Managers to provide more than 3 million residents access to its printer and coffee amenities. In an ongoing survey, more than 82% of residents say both SipWithMe and PrintWithMe are “essential.”
To learn how you can bring WithMe’s amenity solutions to your residential community, visit withme.com/contact-us.
About WithMe, Inc.
WithMe, Inc. makes lives better every day through convenient, technology-powered amenities for the multifamily industry and beyond. WithMe’s PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions make resident printing and coffee simple, helping property management leaders deliver an elevated living experience while decreasing spend, controlling costs, and saving time for staff.
PrintWithMe powers printer amenities at thousands of multifamily, cafe and coworking locations across all 50 states. SipWithMe, available in major markets, is disrupting the coffee amenity category.
WithMe is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, appearing on the list for the past four consecutive years, as well as a 2023 Inc. Power Partner and a 2024 NAA Top Employer.
Efficiency isn't just a buzzword in multifamily property management; it's the difference between thriving communities and those struggling to keep up with resident expectations.
Yet, I see hidden time wasters often drain productivity and inflate costs. By tackling these tasks head-on with tech-driven solutions, multifamily communities can streamline processes, reduce stress and keep residents smiling.
Property managers wear many hats—sometimes too many. According to iPropertyManagement, 80% of property managers juggle maintenance/repairs, rent collections and more, while over 70% handle inspections, advertising vacancies and leasing. Those tasks can keep them from focusing on what really matters: exceeding the expectations of current and prospective residents.
The amenity wars of the recent years have seen high-end apartment communities battle for renters on the basis of spectacular amenities.
Cue the arrival of dog spas, maker spaces, axe-throwing rooms, recording studios, Amazon lockers, game arcades, boxing gyms, rooftop community gardens, bowling alleys, golf simulators and more.
Of course, none of these come cheap. All are likely to add to the monthly rent payment. And therein lies the rub. Many renters’ paychecks are insufficient to pay even the cost of an average apartment shorn of amenities. For many renters of Gen Z, soon to make up much of the apartment resident cohort, renting by themselves is financially infeasible.
Jonathan Treble, WithMe company founder and CEO, believes many residents prefer practical as opposed to over-the-top luxury amenities. “While luxury amenities like movie theaters, crystal lagoons and spas are attractive and flashy, they often go underutilized,” he says.
“Residents prioritize features they can consistently use and benefit from, ensuring the investment in their apartment home is worthwhile. As hybrid and fully remote work models continue, amenities that promote productivity are essential in meeting residents’ evolving needs and supporting their work-from-home lifestyles. Transforming lobbies and shared spaces into one-stop shops with convenient and high-quality amenities, like printing and coffee machines, makes residents’ daily routines easier. It removes costs and the time it takes to get there, which ultimately increases resident satisfaction.”
In an era of unpredictable for-sale housing markets compelling more and more people to rent, many renters prize genuine value and cost savings, Treble says. Amenities that are, he says, “designed to seamlessly integrate with residents’ lifestyles and help them save money will help them decide to live in one community over another but will also increase the community’s overall value.”
Jonathan Treble’s idea to create a network of printing kiosks and self-service coffee stations has grown into a burgeoning company that services thousands of multifamily communities nationwide and in the Phoenix area.
In the evolving landscape of remote work, Jonathan Treble, CEO of WithMe, Inc., has positioned his company at the forefront by embracing a remote-first model. With a workforce spread across the United States and five different countries, Treble has successfully navigated the complexities of remote work, leveraging technology to enhance communication and collaboration. In a recent interview, Treble shared insights into how WithMe has thrived as a remote-first organization and the critical role communication plays in this success.
Starting a business is a thrilling journey filled with challenging financial decisions that can significantly impact the future of your venture. Thirty-eight percent of startups fail because they have run out of cash or failed to raise new capital, so one of the most critical choices entrepreneurs face is deciding whether to bootstrap or fundraise. Both methods have unique advantages and challenges, and the right choice depends on various factors, including the nature of your business, personal risk tolerance and long-term vision.
Starting any business can be a challenging endeavor, but in the competitive world of tech, bootstrapping a business on your own, without the help of investors, can be a big mountain to climb. The reward of being your own boss and having full control over the future of your company, however, can be a major incentive for those aspiring entrepreneurs willing to put in the work.
But before you jump in, consider the following 20 tips from the business experts of Forbes Business Council. From building a strong foundation to embracing persistence, they share key insights into building a business the right way from the start.
Embrace Persistence
For entrepreneurs looking to bootstrap their tech startup, it's essential to have a strong vision and the patience to see it through. Embrace persistence, and be prepared to reinvest your funds to continually improve the business. Seek advice from seasoned entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated this path to avoid common pitfalls and leverage their experiences for your success. - Jonathan Treble, WithMe, Inc.