Kenny Nguyen, a Marketing Associate at ZRS Management, shines a light on the company’s dedication to its people-first approach amid uncertainties and the success that follows.
In the midst of a global pandemic, where information and events can change dramatically day-to-day, it can be anxiety-inducing to attempt to predict the future of the multifamily industry.
However, to ZRS Management, a company honored as one of the Top Workplaces by Multifamily Leadership for four years in a row, the only tangible and unfailing solution appears to be more fundamental and closer to heart. Though it may not always be obvious the solution is to treat each other with kindness and compassion.
Today, the world is changing rapidly. There is less space for micro-management but an increased need for trusting leadership. To help demystify this, our team at PrintWithMe virtually interviewed Kenny Nguyen this week, a Marketing Associate at ZRS Management, to learn about the guiding principles the company has put in place to attend to the needs of their employees, renters, and prospects.
While the financial repercussions of the outbreak dominated the news front with overwhelming concerns over rent collections, Nguyen said that their properties are seeing more renewals and more leases being signed in the past weeks.
He attributed the success to the ZRS leasing team’s emphasis on being as human as possible when it comes to virtually walking through the leasing process with prospects with patience and compassion.
“We never really know who our prospective renters might be,” said Nguyen. “So, offering that sense of human touch is really important.”
Instead of relying solely on software and technologies to give tours to prospects, a majority of their leasing consultants are encouraged to take an active role in giving virtual tours via video conferencing.
During each virtual tour, consultants show clients the details of the properties, amenities, and the actual apartment homes, down to the specific details like kitchen finishings. This kind of human interaction is incomparable to simply clicking through a simulated tour, where no questions can be answered.
He also shared a unique story about a leasing consultant’s dedication to helping a couple whose husband is based in Oklahoma and wife in Puerto Rico. The consultant had to navigate through time differences and utilize the proper tools so that they could all view the property together. The consultant handled all questions and concerns flawlessly and was able to successfully encourage the couple to lease an apartment.
Listening is a trait that Nguyen emphasized throughout the interview. “We’re always actively listening,” Nguyen explained when asked what training and support the company is providing to their on-site teams to handle unforeseen scenarios.
“We are always paying attention to what’s going on around us in our landscape and trying to create an ecosystem of communication that is responsive and quicker to implement changes than we used to,” said Nguyen.
He also told us that, since the outbreak, ZRS has been conducting daily updates and weekly briefings with its executives for feedback which had successfully built rapport among the staff.
“This kind of exchange and communication are going to continue running well past COVID-19,” said Nguyen as he spoke about how the regular meetings and teamwork had contributed to the success and the effectiveness of many marketing campaigns since.
It is inherently difficult to foresee a global crisis like what we’re experiencing now. Luckily, for ZRS, the commitment to strong values and building a team of sensible and creative people is at the core of the company.
“We select candidates that have empathy and a sense of urgency for others. These are foundational skills of any ZRS team member, company-wide,” said Nguyen. “In addition, we believe in having great ‘soft skills.’ From their first day and thorough their career, a ZRS associate is taught soft skills such as building rapport and actively listening to expertly handle any situation,” said Nguyen.
Nguyen said that the marketing team at ZRS is aware that every property and every on-site team has their own unique needs. Instead of trying to absorb and relay all the information they could possibly gather, they have stepped up as the facilitator of ideas.
Nguyen said that he is fascinated by the exchange and support he had witnessed among teams. Through an internal communication platform called the “Idea Exchange”, employees from leasing consultants to property managers are encouraged to cultivate creative ideas, share their unique experiences, and voice their concerns.
“We think when the staff is encouraged to collaborate, it helps them connect easier, discuss ideas, and then go from there,” said Nguyen.
Other than encouraging an organic exchange of ideas, Nguyen said that ZRS is also very intentional when it comes to distributing information and knowledge to their leasing consultants. Led by Vice President of Marketing Jeremy Brown, the marketing team began hosting a weekly virtual leasing class for their leasing teams with an objective to discuss topical issues and to provide relevant training and tools.
“The class has become so popular that we’ve had literally hundreds of people tune in on a weekly basis,” Nguyen said with surprising enthusiasm. “So much so that we actually had to set a cap in terms of how many people could attend because it would freeze up the Zoom call itself.”
Photo Courtesy of ZRS Management.
The company has also reinforced their “Open Door Policy” for employees to always feel encouraged to reach out whenever they need to, and look out for each other–whether it is about their job or anything concerning their personal well-being.
A pressing topic Nguyen and his team had observed prompted them to rethink the importance of ownership over ideas and creativity: How can we create a sense of community when we are not physically present with the residents?
To tie it back to the emphasis on creating a genuine human connection with everyone, ZRS is impressed by the creative ideas and over-the-top community-building efforts that came from individuals from each property who know their residents best.
“The resident ideas that our teams have come up with are outstanding,” Nguyen said as he applauded the on-site teams for the thoughtful and wide-ranged initiatives they’ve implemented, from virtual events such as cooking challenges to pool-side concerts and sending personalized, uplifting videos to residents. He also said that he was surprised at the popularity of virtual bingo, and how some properties created ceremonies for recent high school and college graduates.
Some property managers had gone above and beyond to send customized gifts to celebrate significant milestones with their residents who are welcoming a newborn or adopting a new pet.
Photo Courtesy of Grand Central Apartments.
“In a time like now, it is so important to create a sense of bond, that the apartments aren’t just a place where you live; it is a community made of people and local organizations you want to spend time with,” Nguyen said.
Although their reopening strategy remains fluid due to the unclear circumstances of the pandemic itself, the health and well-being of their employees and their renters are the priority.
Nguyen said that ZRS is doing everything they can, such as keeping up with state guidelines, communicating directly with transparency, and providing all the resources and protective equipment education their staff may need. However, they always stay true to their people-first philosophy and he reassured that ZRS is overly passionate for their employee’s well-being.
Special thank you to Kenny Nguyen for sharing his insights from ZRS on the multifamily industry during COVID-19.
To learn more about ZRS, visit them online at www.zrsmanagement.com.
PrintWIthMe has created a free library of games & puzzles, educational sheets, DIY crafts, and more. Read on to learn more about the types of activities that are available for all ages. Click here to visit the Activity Center now.
In response to the #COVID19 global pandemic, our team at PrintWithMe has created a DIY Activity Center filled with free printable resources for all ages.
Here are the types of resources that are included in the center:
Activities in the Games for Adults center include Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and word searches in beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.
Our Coloring Pages section includes free downloadable coloring pages for adults and kids alike. Browse hundreds of free pages and find your favorite patterns!
Find COVID-19 resources to share with children, reading and mathematics packets for children in Grades K-8, and many more activities in our Educational Worksheets & Tools section.
Activities in the Games & Puzzles for Kids center include mazes, crosswords, connect the dots, and jigsaw puzzles!
Our Party Decorations section includes printable birthday decorations, holiday decorations, wedding decorations and more.
Download and print personalized cards for your friends and family in our Cards & Invitations center. The best part is that it's completely free!
Spend your time doing something fun! Create simple paper projects below for free with our downloadable DIY Paper Crafts.
Find free printable planning resources for small businesses and business professionals on our Business Planning Resources page.
Print free 2020 calendars for your personal or business use through our Yearly & Monthly Calendars page.
The COVID-19 crisis has completely changed our users lives overnight, as many have moved to remote work and some are also juggling childcare/schooling for their children.
To do our part, we've created the PrintWithMe Activity Center and made it completely free for everyone. We hope it can help you combat your lockdown boredom or provide helpful educational tools for your children who are learning at-home! #AloneTogether
To learn more about PrintWithMe, visit printwithme.com
In April 2020, our team at PrintWithMe surveyed over 400 apartment residents nationwide to better understand their needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. With residents staying at home more than ever before, our aim was to understand how multifamily apartment managers and service providers can help residents during these unprecedented times.
The 400+ multifamily residents that were surveyed live in apartments that currently offer the PrintWithMe amenity and many of the survey responses offered qualitative feedback.
Here is a summary of the findings:
We hope this information is useful for multifamily apartment property managers that are working incredibly hard during these times to support their residents.
Stay well and learn more about PrintWithMe at www.printwithme.com.
Today our team is celebrating our new national partnership with Alliance Residential Company, the fourth largest multifamily manager and the largest developer in the United States.
Our team is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Alliance Residential Company. Read below for a reprint of our press release on Newswire today:
CHICAGO, March 10, 2020 (Newswire.com) -
PrintWithMe, the Chicago-based technology company bringing convenient printer stations to consumers nationwide, announced today a national agreement with Alliance Residential Company, the fourth largest manager of multifamily housing in the United States. Alliance is headquartered in Phoenix and manages a $20 billion portfolio of 129,000 units in 36 metropolitan markets. In 2019, the National Multifamily Housing Council named Alliance the top development company in the United States.
“We are proud to partner with PrintWithMe and are confident that their innovative printer amenity will exceed the printing needs of all of our residents nationwide, from millennials to seniors,” said Brian Bullock, Emerging Technology Analyst from Alliance. “We are always innovating with new secure technologies and smarter systems that improve experiences for our residents and staff, and PrintWithMe is a perfect complement to this effort.”
Founded in 2014, PrintWithMe is the leading multifamily printer amenity that enables residents to print wirelessly from any device in seconds. Using predictive analytics, PrintWithMe automates paper and toner ordering. End-users have access to a dedicated customer care team and data is encrypted. Through this partnership, Alliance properties gain access to a secure printing solution that is also CCPA-compliant.
“We signed up for PrintWithMe services when we first opened in August 2019. The services align perfectly with our resident co-working space,” said Ian Goodwin, Business Manager from Lenox Ridge Apartments, an Alliance-managed property in Austin, Texas. “As more residents work from home, we want to stay ahead of the challenges properties face with printing needs. No more running out of ink, buying excessive amounts of paper, or fixing broken printers. PrintWithMe manages the whole process, makes it easy for staff, and most importantly, provides us with a more efficient and secure resident experience. Our owners love that it saves us money on supplies and staff time. ”
Since opening in 2000, the culture at Alliance reflects an entrepreneurial spirit that consistently pushes the evolution of the multifamily industry. As a result, they continue to be recognized for delivering exceptional customer experiences and sustainable apartment living. PrintWithMe’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Treble, says their “full-service” multifamily printer station will not only provide a seamless digital experience for Alliance residents, but it will also help them promote sustainable printing and reduce individual electronic waste (a reported average of 550lbs per community).
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Alliance Residential, the forward-thinking industry giant that has consistently focused on innovation and best-in-class resident experiences,” said Joe Summers, Chief Revenue Officer of PrintWithMe. “We are excited to help not only simplify life for Alliance’s residents and staff, but also to help promote green efforts that encourage a culture of sustainability in apartments nationwide.”
About PrintWithMe
PrintWithMe is revolutionizing the $10 billion personal printing market by placing its mobile printer stations in a wide network of convenient locations, such as multifamily housing, coffee shops, co-working spaces, and more. To date, they’ve helped hundreds of thousands of customers print over 10 million pages across 46 states. For more information, visit www.printwithme.com.
About Alliance Residential Company
Alliance Residential Company is the fourth largest multifamily manager and the largest developer in the nation. Alliance manages a $20 billion portfolio of 129,000 residential and mixed-use units in 36 metropolitan markets throughout the West, Southwest, South-Central, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. For more information, visit www.liveatalliance.com and www.allresco.com.
Press Contact
Radhika Sen radhika@printwithme.com
We are thrilled to announce our new deal to upgrade multifamily apartments in Lincoln's portfolio of 203,000 apartment homes nationwide.
Our team is thrilled to announce our new partnership with Lincoln Property Company. Read below for a reprint of our press release on Newswire today:
CHICAGO, February 11, 2020 (Newswire.com) -
PrintWithMe, the Chicago-based technology company bringing convenient, mobile-friendly printer locations to consumers nationwide, announced today that they’ve entered into a national agreement with Lincoln Property Company, the nation’s second-largest manager of multifamily housing. Lincoln’s portfolio includes over 203,000 residential units in over 200 cities in the United States, with $30 billion in total assets under management.
"When looking for a printing partner, Lincoln was searching for an elevated amenity for our residents while also providing cost and time savings for our teams,” said Theresa Kaiser-White, Vice President- Asset Management and Procurement at Lincoln Property Company. “PrintWithMe checked all of the boxes, providing support seven days a week, auto-shipping supplies, as well as, making our residents' privacy a top concern. It has provided convenience for our residents while taking our teams out of the printing business.”
Founded in 2014, PrintWithMe is a wireless printer station that enables residents to print securely from any digital device in just a few seconds. Unlike traditional printing services, PrintWithMe’s printer amenity is found in convenient community locations nationwide, including multifamily apartments, coffee shops, co-working spaces, hotels, and more. Through this partnership, residents at Lincoln properties will have access to shared PrintWithMe stations that are easy to use and secure. All PrintWithMe printers are CCPA-compliant and use encryption and deletion technology to ensure resident privacy.
“We are so excited about the new national partnership between Lincoln and PrintWithMe,” said Scott Fleming, a Chicago-based Regional Manager with Lincoln. “One of the assets in my portfolio, The Madison at Racine, was the first Lincoln-managed property to sign up for PrintwithMe services in Chicago. PrintWithMe has truly revolutionized the resident experience. As more and more residents work from home we found ourselves unable to keep up with printing issues - running out of ink, running out of paper or fixing broken printers. Our IT department didn't have the capacity to manage a resident printing system and fixing printer issues were taking up a huge portion of the management team's day. Making the switch to PrintWithMe was seamless and resolved all of our issues with that amenity. Not only do they take care of managing the whole process, it now provides a more efficient and secure printing option for our residents, as they no longer have to log in on a community computer. Our properties found that making the switch resulted in savings for the property between money spent on supplies, repairs and employee time. With flexible plans to match any budget, it quickly was something that most of our downtown Chicago properties adopted and our residents appreciate it. “
With over five decades of industry leadership and 5,200 employees nationwide, Lincoln focuses on addressing the needs of residents across the full spectrum of multifamily property types, including luxury, high-rise, mid-rise, mixed-use, and affordable apartment living. PrintWithMe’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Treble, says their “full-service” multifamily product will help Lincoln meet the day-to-day needs of residents across every property type.
“Lincoln Property Company is an unquestioned industry leader in the multifamily industry, and PrintWithMe is proud to be deepening our relationship with this premier brand,” said Jonathan Treble, Founder and CEO of PrintWithMe. “Lincoln and PrintWithMe are both committed to quality, innovation, and providing the best experience possible for all residents. We are excited to grow together and further our team’s mission of making printing convenient for everyone, everywhere.”
About PrintWithMe
PrintWithMe is revolutionizing the $10 billion personal printing market by placing its proprietary mobile printer stations in a wide network of convenient locations, such as multifamily housing, coffee shops, college campuses, co-working spaces, and more. They currently operate in 46 states and Washington DC. To date, they’ve helped hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic customers print over 10 million pages. For more information, visit www.printwithme.com.
About Lincoln Property Company
Lincoln Property Company was founded in 1965, by Mack Pogue, as a builder and operator of high-quality residential communities. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Lincoln focuses on real estate investment, construction, and development, in addition to property management. Their national reputation has enabled Lincoln to attract a large client base of owners and investors who count on their ability to deliver quality results and continually serve as a market leader. Lincoln is currently the second largest multifamily manager in the United States with over 203,000 units under management and the fifth largest multifamily developer.
Media Contact
Radhika Sen
radhika.sen@printwithme.com
New Year's is approaching quickly, so we've decided to showcase some of our favorite Chicago high-rise apartment buildings of 2019. Scroll down to see some of our top picks by neighborhood. We'd love to call these communities home and we think you will too!
A beautiful co-working space in Landmark West Loop, located near Google's headquarters and Illinois Medical District.
Landmark West Loop is located in the ever popular West Loop neighborhood, near Google's headquarters, as well as University of Illinois and the Illinois Medical District campuses. Commuters will find its location to be extremely convenient, but there are many other draws to West Loop, including a vibrant nightlife and restaurant scene that has blossomed in the historic warehouses of the former meat-packing district.
Renters have been attracted to Landmark West Loop since it opened in the summer of 2017 because of it's suite of amenities, including a sundeck, swimming pool, hot tub and library. The 30-story community offers apartments for rent anywhere from studios to 3-bedrooms, depending on availability.
Landmark is managed and developed by Related Midwest and has earned a Silver LEED Certification for its sustainable design.
If there's one word to describe Essex on The Park, it's serenity. This 56-story community offers unparalleled views of Grant Park and Lake Michigan, easy access to downtown Chicago, and six-floors of amenity spaces that allow residents to relax and recuperate in an environment that is specifically designed to support health and wellness.
There are many amenities at Essex on the Park, but the most memorable is the four-story Winter Garden with unobstructed lake views and a convertible indoor/outdoor infinity pool. The Winter Garden offers residents "a moment perpetual summer" even during the chilly winters in the Windy City.
Residents also have access to the restaurant at Grant Bark Bistro and the nightclub SX Sky Bar right next door at Hotel Essex.
The Paragon is a new building in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood. Open for residents since the spring of 2019, The Paragon is one of many high-rise apartment buildings that has contributed to the South Loop's development boom in recent years.
The 47-story luxury community is located at 1326 S Michigan Ave. Upon entering the Paragon, the lobby makes an impression right away, but it's only a small glimpse into the experience that Paragon has to offer.
Apartment finishes at The Paragon are top-notch and all apartments have floor-to-ceiling faceted facade windows, so that residents can fully enjoy the skyline views from their homes.
Residents can enjoy Paragon's many amenity spaces, including the rooftop sky-lounge with panoramic views, the Spa with a sauna, steam and whirlpool, outdoor pool with cabanas, fitness center + yoga room, and co-working spaces with privacy booths -- just to name a few.
465 North Park is a 48-story apartment building in Chicago's Near North Side Streeterville neighborhood. The community features studios, one, two, and three bedroom apartments, along with two-story town-homes.
The first things you'll notice when you walk in to 465 N Park is the warm greeting from world-class Bozzuto Management staff and the dramatic spiral staircase in the lobby.
The first 465 N Park residents moved in during the fall of 2018 and have access to many high-end amenities including a 22,000 sq. ft. deck on the 6th floor with an outdoor pool, cabanas, grilling areas, fire pits, and a dog-run. Inside the 6th floor are conference rooms, a demonstration kitchen and lounge, a game room, a spa with a hot tub, and a fully outfitted fitness center with skyline views.
Residents can also head up to the sky-deck on the 38th floor to enjoy stunning views of Chicago's lakefront and relax by a warm fire, or head inside to private kitchen, dining, and lounge areas.
Cityfront Place is another beautiful Streeterville apartment building with a prime location. Cityfront Place is an oasis right in the middle of one of the busiest parts of downtown Chicago. Tucked away on McClurg Court, Cityfront Place is away from the hustle and bustle, but still just steps away from Michigan Avenue and the Riverwalk.
The biggest draw to Cityfront Place? Location and Chicago River views.
The community offers 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and amenities including an indoor pool, a business center, library, fitness center, yoga studio, and sun decks with grilling stations, lounge areas, and games.
Residents also have access to 24/7 door staff, round-the-clock maintenance, and a lovely on-site leasing team. Cityfront Place is perfect for those who want to be in the middle of the action downtown Chicago, but still want somewhere relaxing to decompress after a busy day in the city.
Niche 905 offers a mixture of convertible, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in an 18-story apartment tower in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Niche905 is located conveniently downtown and would offer a quick commute for many professionals working in the area.
Niche905 amenities are stunning and spacious. The rooftop features a pool, hot tub, an outdoor bar, grilling stations, and a community garden with 360° views of the Chicago Skyline. There's also a fully equipped business center, a gym, a dog run, and a pet grooming area available on-site.
The apartments feature quartz countertops, 9-foot ceilings, and updated appliances. The first residents moved into Niche 905 in the spring of 2017.
That wraps up our featured picks of the best high-rise apartment buildings in Chicago of 2019! We're proud to say that we've partnered with each of these communities to provide them with wireless PrintWithMe printers, so that residents can print quickly and independently from their own devices, anywhere in the building.
Contact us today to learn more!
We hope you've enjoyed learning about this year's featured residential buildings of Chicago and we hope you have a wonderful 2020 New Year!
After attending this year's NMHC OPTECH Conference & Expo in Dallas, here are some key insights we had to share. Read on to learn about what is currently disrupting the multifamily industry and what changes to expect in the near future.
Over 2,000 professionals in the multifamily industry attended this year's NMHC OPTECH Conference & Expo. About half of these were CEOs, COOs, VPs, and other C-Level executives. Attendees had the opportunity to share knowledge and connect with other industry professionals during the networking events, peer roundtables, expo showcase, and speaker presentations that spanned over the 3-day conference.
One of the biggest topics at this year's OPTECH conference was self-guided tour technology. This topic came up in numerous presentations and panels throughout the conference. Here's some key points that show that self-guided tours might not just be passing fad in multifamily.
According to 2020 Kingsley Survey Data of over 373,000 multifamily residents, 86% of renters say that they would not rent without seeing an apartment in person. Yet it's extremely hard for prospects to make time for a tour during leasing hours.
Many leasing offices offer the last tours of the day before 5:30pm and renters aren't able to get there in time after work. Busy prospects may pass up communities that don't have flexible touring options and lease elsewhere.
One of the most interesting sessions at OPTECH was the Cage Match: Leasing Agent vs. Self-Guided Tour Performance moderated by Todd Katler, Founder & CEO of Anyone Home Inc. Featured speakers included Khushbu Sikaria of The Bozzuto Group, Mia Wentworth of CWS Apartments, and Phil Rogers of Invitation Homes. There weren't enough seats in the conference room as this was one of the most popular sessions. You can find the presentation slides here.
Here are some data points that were shared at the session:
Conversion rates for self-guided tours are actually higher than agent led tours when both options are offered. Many prospects enjoy the flexibility that self-guided tours give them. They are able to tour outside of regular leasing hours and they can come back to a property multiple times with family members and friends. Prospects are able to tour at their own pace and carefully consider their new home before leasing, without placing an extra burden on leasing staff.
The idea of self-guided tours has certainly caught on with OPTECH 2019 attendees. At the Ask the Tech Pros session moderated by Brian Zrimsek of MRI, attendees were polled about their likelihood to implement self-guided tours at their communities. 65% of industry professionals polled plan to implement self guided tours before the end of 2022 or have already begun the process.
That's not to say that self-guided tours will be replacing agent led tours anytime soon. Most industry professionals simply want to augment their current leasing experience with flexible self-guided options. Some management companies are beginning to offer self-guided options just for retours.
The majority of prospects still prefer to tour with a leasing agent before signing. According to 2020 Kingsley Survey Data, 69% of prospects prefer to tour with a community representative to ask questions.
Another highly discussed topic at OPTECH was automation. 36% of industry professionals polled plan to implement Robotic Process Automation by the end of 2022 or earlier. Another 29% of these professionals admit that it is not yet on their radar.
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is a technology that can remove repetitive tasks from the plates of leasing agents. There are many examples of RPA in the lead nurturing process. For instance, RPA software can detect when a prospect is looking for a 3-bedroom apartment and then act by automatically sending over a discount offer on available 3-bedroom options at a community. RPA can also nurture residents through the life cycle process by sending out welcome emails at move-in or renewal email drips near the end of a renter's lease automatically.
Conversational AI (Artificial Intelligence) was also a trending topic at OPTECH this year. 65% of industry professionals polled plan to implement Conversation AI in their portfolios by the end of 2022 or earlier.
An example of an application of AI in multifamily is Voice Assistant Technology, such as LeaseHawk. Automated Assistants are able to answer prospect phone calls after hours or when leasing agents are unable to get to the phone. They can respond to resident inquiries about floor plan availability and book appointments around the clock. Automated assistants make sure that the leasing process can continue 24/7 and are able to convert prospects that might've otherwise been missed opportunities.
AI Powered Call Analysis also allows companies to score leasing agents' phone calls with first time prospects and identify strengths and weaknesses. Another example of AI is website chat bot technology that interacts with prospects and answers questions with the goal to schedule tour appointments.
One of the main takeaways from the session, A Process Audit: Reviewing, Streamlining, and Automating to Save Time and Money, was that 100% self-service is a real option in the multifamily industry.
As time progresses, AI technology will continue to improve and better address the needs of leads that leasing agents don't have time to nurture properly. This will allow property staff to focus on other tasks that will improve community engagement and resident retention.
By far the most concerning topic of conversation at OPTECH was the pending roll-out of California's "CCPA" bill. NMHC hosted special summits on Cyber-Security and Data Privacy Regulation that were well attended by Operations and IT leaders across the industry. More info can be found on the topic here: https://www.nmhc.org/data-privacy/.
Meet the new printwithme.com, redesigned for our users and partners.
For over 5 years, PrintWithMe has focused on our mission to make printing convenient for everyone, everywhere, and today, we are proud to share that we’re another step closer to optimizing your printing experience.
We’re excited to reveal our new, redesigned PrintWithMe website! We had officially outgrown our old website, and it was time for a new, modern site that clearly reflects the premium, innovative, and simple solution that PrintWithMe is.
By being user-focused and keeping in mind the needs of our 50,000 monthly website visitors, here are a few of the big changes our team had brought to our new website:
As a technology company, we value simple user experience and focus on improving them whenever we can. We scraped away all the obstacles our old website posted to our visitors with a clean site that not only loads faster, it also provides full transparency as one smooth-sails through the site.
From searching for the nearest PrintWithMe location to getting the information to host a PrintWithMe on-site, visitors can cruise through our main navigation bar effortlessly to find exactly what they need.
PrintWithMe is committed to creating a rich and valuable resource library to give our clients, users, and every single page visitor the resources they need to answer all the questions they have and provide an honest outlook into our business and the industries we work with.
Clients can learn more about PrintWithMe as well as the multifamily industry by following our regular blog updates and case studies that features genuine success stories from our partners. Other useful information such as our data and security policies, help center, and our official green policy are also available in full view.
PrintWithMe has evolved since 2014 when we first launched. Our team expanded and our brand identity strengthened. The updated content and new creative illustrations by Jess Fang exhibit our cutting-edge services alongside with our care for the environment, the emphasis on strong data security, and the valuable testimonials from our clients and users alike.
The collaborative company culture and dynamic brand story are highlighted in the brand new “Who We Are” and “Our Values” pages. After understanding our authentic attributes, we encourage anyone interested in becoming part of the PrintWithMe family to visit our “Careers” page. We are always seeking for creative new talent!
Redesigning and rebuilding a website is not an easy task but PrintWithMe is passionate in making printing convenient and that includes your digital experience when interacting with our site. We want to thank everyone who has collaborated and contributed to this months-long project that the team is now so proud of. Thank you especially to all our partners and customers who have provided feedback all along the way!
We hope you like the changes. If you have any feedback or questions, please let us know on Facebook, LinkedIn, or email hello@printwithme.com.
We can't wait to hear from you!
Here are the top 3 takeaways for property managers from ZED 2019, which highlighted the latest apartment amenities and strategies.
Jeremy Brown, Vice President of Marketing at ZRS Management and keynote speaker, Veronica Romney.
Every year, ZRS Management holds their ZRS Education & Discovery Conference (ZED 2019) that features the newest and most innovative technology-driven amenities and marketing strategies in the multifamily apartment industry. Last week's conference in Miami saw dozens of apartment vendors showcasing the latest multifamily apartment amenities, technologies and strategies to grow business in 2019 and beyond.
Here are the top 3 takeaways for property managers in 2019...
Joe Summers, CRO and Kimberly Cameron, VP of Sales at tech vendor, PrintWithMe.
The apartment industry contributes $3.5 billion daily and $1.3 trillion yearly to annual GDP, according to a study published in 2013 the NMHC and NAA.
The industry has continued to grow rapidly in recent years, so there’s plenty of opportunity for property management companies to capitalize on the market – but there’s also lots of competition.
According to a 2019 NMHC report, the top 50 property management companies, such as Greystar, Bozzuto, and ZRS Management control 15.9% of the multifamily market.
What do these big players do differently? They continue to invest in technology.
“We invest a lot in technology," says Jeremy Brown, Vice President of ZRS Management in an interview with Business View Magazine. "We educate all of our folks on the latest and greatest mobile applications, industry trends, etc. It’s an opportunity to reinforce our stance on technology and educate our folks that this is in the forefront of everything.”
The ZRS Technology Conference was founded to educate company managers, leasing people, and the entire corporate team on the importance of technology in areas such as online leasing, smart amenities, and marketing strategies. The company flew approximately 500 people to Miami to expose employees to top multifamily tech vendors including, Respage, Iotas , PrintWithMe, and Modern Message.
Property managers looking to stay ahead of the competition should continually stay up-to-date on the latest technologies that improve property management and resident experiences, including smart home technologies, new property management mobile apps, tech-based lifestyle amenities (like Peloton), and more.
Members of Generation Z make up the largest generation at 27% of U.S. population, and they have grown up with technology at their finger tips. The oldest members of Generation Z are turning 22 this year and have graduated college or skipped it entirely and they are looking to rent their first modern and convenient apartments.
Gen Z relies much more heavily on social media and online searches for their apartment search than previous generations. The average attention span of a Gen Zer is 8 seconds, so property management companies must market to Gen Z with interactive online leasing tools and custom virtual tours in order to stand out among the sea of apartment listings.
With access to more online resources and information about the rental scene, Generation Z will refuse to pay more for apartments without up-to-date amenities including smart home systems and time saving services such as cloud printing and quick drop-off dry cleaning lockers.
Property management companies will have to appeal to the needs of Gen Z'ers if they plan to grow within the next 5-10 years.
Are you a property manager based out of Florida? If yes, then you should definitely be aware of the "Florida Man". If you aren't familiar with the Florida Man, you can read up on it here. Essentially, make sure your new tenants don't meet the 'craziness'-levels that can often be spotted in news headlines about Florida.
One of the biggest highlights at this year's ZRS Education & Discovery conference was the #FloridaManChallenge.
Check out some #FloridaManChallenge pictures from the event here. Photos courtesy are courtesy of Downtown Photo.
That wraps up the top three takeaways from this year's ZED conference. We hope these notes can help to plan for future property management and resident acquisition strategies, and we hope to see you at ZED 2020!
Here are the top four resident amenities that property staff should consider from this year's annual ZRS Education & Discovery (ZED) conference in Miami.
Sonia Dara from Microsoft Unboxed speaking at the 2019 ZRS Technology Conference.
Dozens of apartment vendors attended the ZRS Education & Discovery Conference (ZED 2019) in Miami, Florida this month to showcase to cutting edge multifamily technologies, new apartment amenities and marketing strategies. Hosted annually by ZRS Management, the conference provided an intimate, poster-free opportunity for property staff from around the country to learn about emerging amenities that can help boost rentals and resident satisfaction.
Here are the top four new apartment amenities that our staff took note of at ZED 2019. These are amenities that all multifamily property staff should consider for residents that expect the highest in customer service and convenience:
Iotas | Smart homes for today's renters
Iotas takes smart home technology to a new level. Their smart home features include motion sensors, voice activation, and an all-in-one application that can control temperature, lighting, door locks, and outlets. Devices can be installed before move-in, so that renters can utilize it them right away.
Renters are able to log into the Iotas app to see their individual floor plan and select from preset stories including 'Good Morning', "Out for the Day', among others. Iotas analyzes each renter's routine based on their motion and behavior in order to create the perfect home environment.
Spruce frees up time for residents by offering services like managing chores, housekeeping, pet care, laundry and dry cleaning. No task is too small for Spruce and residents can have their dishes washed, plants watered, and sheets changed without lifting a finger.
Spruce is a great tool for busy professionals to relieve stress and enjoy their downtime. Property managers seeking luxury amenities for their residents should take a look at Spruce.
TFLiving | On Demand Experiences
TFLiving offers an amenity-based app that provides on-demand wellness experiences for residents. Services include personal training, pet care and social events, including cooking classes, happy hours, and paint & sip nights.
Resident events are often great ways for residents to meet one another, but they require lots of planning. TFLiving also relieves property managers of the stress of planning and coordinating resident events and improves residents experiences at their properties to increase renter retention.
PrintWithMe | Improving Multifamily Technology
PrintWithMe is a modern, self-service print station that auto-orders toner and paper. PrintWithMe printers can be placed in amenity spaces for residents to use at all times. Property managers are able to set monthly caps on free printing to save on expenses and residents enjoy the ability to print wirelessly from the PrintWithMe app or their own devices.
One of the greatest features about PrintWithMe is the amount of time that property managers can save with the service. The PrintWithMe printer amenity offers live customer service 7 days a week, so managers can focus on other priorities besides printing problems.
In sum, these four new amenities from ZED 2019 should help any apartment complex to drive new revenue and exceed the expectations of residents. Best of luck with the ongoing #amenitywars and hope to see you at ZED 2020!