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.
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.