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/.
PrintWithMe has prepared the ultimate guide to help you experience the best Dallas has to offer!
NMHC OPTECH 2019 is in Dallas this year! Read up on our Dallas travel tips below.
In just a few days, over a thousand decision-making executives will be gathering at the 2019 NMHC OPTECH Conference & Expo for 3 days of networking, workshops, and keynote speakers. If you are one of these industry attendees, be sure to explore the best in technology for multifamily while you’re there (and don’t forget to check out the PrintWithMe booth at #376).
Outside of the conference, PrintWithMe has prepared a few things to make your stay more welcome in one of the most modern cities in Texas.
Here are some of the things you should do while you’re in Dallas:
Dallas is a city known for its unique urban art districts. Enjoy a visit to the Dallas Museum of Art to see over 23,000 works of art from a variety of cultures and time periods. Or, if you're a history buff, check out The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza; their John F. Kennedy exhibit is educational and fun. For a fresh change of pace, take a breather outside at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens -- perfect for a nice fall day!
Explore some of the biggest urban arts neighborhoods in America, with museums, restaurants, and theaters galore. Take a walk through the Dallas Arts District and tour iconic buildings full of culture, with everything from theater to art to music. If you start to get hungry, hop over to the Bishop Arts District, home to over 60 restaurants, bars, coffee shops, boutiques, and more. Then, walk off dinner in Highland Park Village by doing some shopping and browsing at the most upscale shops in Dallas.
Wind down after a long day of exploring with some of the best local drinks Dallas has to offer. The Design District and Bishops Arts District have a variety of craft beverages for you to try. Or, alternatively, you can go to the birthplace of the frozen margarita and try the iconic drink at any of the Mariano’s Hacienda or La Hacienda Ranch locations scattered throughout the city. For an even bigger variety of night festivities, check out Lower Greenville, Deep Ellum, or Uptown Dallas -- there’s something for everyone!
We hope you enjoyed our short guide to Dallas. We can’t wait to see everyone at NMHC OPTECH!
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!
With the abundance of new technologies, here are 5 tech amenity trends for residents that all savvy Property Managers should know about.
In 2019, Property Managers in the multifamily apartment industry are continually striving to exceed the constant needs of residents. With the #amenitywars still raging, it's no surprise that residents have more amenity options than ever before - and it's the amenities that offer technological convenience that truly make an impact on their long-term decisions on where to live.
In order to balance time, tenants, and revenue for successful property management, there are a few #proptech trends that all Property Managers should know.
One of the main goals for property managers is creating a seamless and convenient lifestyle for residents. Smart home technology are perfect amenities to add to your property to increase ROI and tenant retention for exactly that purpose: added convenience. Smart amenities include smart locks (ex: Latch), smart thermostats (ex: Google Nest), smart lighting and security (ex: LittleBird), and smart package drop-offs (ex: Amazon Key). Whether it’s the utilities savings from smart home lighting and thermostats, or the efficiency of keyless smart lock entry, 86% of tenants are willing to pay more for automated smart home technology. Smart home technology can also improve security, allowing property managers to track whenever individuals come in or out of the building, or storing resident packages in smart lockers to prevent theft.
There is an abundance of new resident service automation technology for everything from accounting (ex: Buildium), rent payments (ex: Rentroom and Innango) to tenant screening (ex: Cozy) and maintenance services (ex: PropertyMeld). Autonomous smart property systems can syndicate all your property listings, automate the renewal process, and send out information or respond to requests from tenants and property staff, logging this information into a database and even providing property analytics on where to improve. Meanwhile, the latest #fintech can process payments, automate late fees, and post all transactions to your ledger so your staff no longer has to manually input all this data.
It’s all about mobile in 2019, where apps provide the connectivity and convenience that residents desire. Technology also makes it easier for property managers and staff to organize electronic communication flows with residents whenever issues arise. With great mobile apps like Landlordy, Zillow Rental Manager, and Landlord Studio, Property managers can even utilize push notifications to alert residents of events or other important information with a single click of a button. On the other hand, tenants now have a community hub to advise property managers of immediate problems, make rent payments, extend leases, track packages, and even print, all from their mobile phone.
New advances in technology allow property managers and owners to take proactive approaches in streamlining management processes. AI and machine learning can use special algorithms to identify, reach out to, and screen optimal prospective tenants. It can also connect existing residents and property staff using chatbots and other devices such as Alexa or Google Home. An AI-powered service can alert property staff of maintenance issues before they even happen by measuring the life cycle of appliances and determining time frames when issues are likely to occur. That way, property managers and staff know what to expect and when, so they can always be on top of their game.
Today everyone is moving to internet cloud databases to collect and store all their information. All documents, payments, maintenance requests, and everything in between lives in the cloud and can be referenced by anyone in the company with a single click. Private information can also be encrypted for security purposes so sensitive data does not fall into the wrong hands.
Switching to electronic documents - including lease forms, building informational guides, and rent payments - means no more wasting time coordinating schedules to meet and sign leases in person, or keeping track of mountains of crumpled receipts. In the times you do need physical documents, take advantage of a modern cloud printer to print your documents securely and with convenience.
At the end of the day, every property manager wants to focus on creating the best experience for their residents, juggling dozens of other tasks and administrative work to make that happen. Technology makes everything a little easier, so that your property staff can find quality prospects, reduce time waste, improve communication with tenants, and maintain positive cash flow.
Offering a printer amenity is a simple way to delight residents that need to print.
As the scramble to attract and retain renters grows more competitive than ever, multifamily property owners and managers across the country must continue to innovate for premium apartment living. Pools, fitness centers, and pet-friendly community features have become the most popular and common apartment essentials. But here is one more amenity essential that you can’t afford to skip out on: a printer.
Yep, you heard that right. A new survey suggests that what residents really value and are willing to shell out their dollars for are technology amenities, so let’s start with one of the basics.
Even with the growing presence of digital communications, printing is not a thing of the past. In fact, 82% of residents still need to print at least once a year.* This is because when residents are printing, it’s something important. From the resumé for a life-changing job interview, to return labels, medical records, tax files, even presentation slides for a big company client, there are many reasons to print. Be there for your residents when they need it the most; it’s in these moments of need that apartment amenities can truly delight your residents and make them advocates for your properties' services.
Skip the headaches and outsource your printing so tenants can print with ease and your staff can focus on all the things that matter.
Overall, you want to provide residents with a great wireless experience that helps them feel at home where they live. But it’s more than just a wireless connection. According to Comcast's multifamily division survey, 89% of property managers and developers cite technology as an important factor in a renters’ decision to sign or renew a lease, and 82% of building managers install the latest technology in order to “future proof” their buildings.
A printer may seem like a small thing to consider, but it’s a piece of the bigger puzzle in adding value and increasing resident retention and ROI.
Business centers are gaining popularity, ranking #2 most desired community amenity. More people are working from home (WFH) than ever, so it’s time to revamp business centers into welcoming co-working spaces with all the essentials for comfort. From new computers with top-speed wifi, to private conference rooms and espresso bars, your residents will love working all day in your enhanced business center / co-working space.
Other business center items to include are paper shredders, staplers, and a top-of-the-line printer amenity that offers scanning, copying, and faxing too.
Having a community printer can save up to 550 lbs of individual electronic waste and 4750 kW of energy per year.* Instead of every resident buying their own printer, paper, and toner, your apartment has the opportunity to service everyone’s printing needs and cut down significantly on individual electronic and paper waste. The new sharing economy is helping all of us lead more sustainable lives, including Ubers, AirBnbs, and PrintWithMe.
Your apartment can participate in this green and efficient movement as well by installing a shared printer amenity. Not only will you be contributing to a more sustainable business practice, but you’ll also appeal to the more environmentally-conscious Millennials and Gen Zs.
Every second matters when you’re managing a property. A printer amenity relieves property staff of the time it takes to print out residents’ documents by directing residents to their own self-serve printer. Residents can print at their own convenience without a need for on-site staff to answer questions.
Additionally, with a printer amenity, your staff is notified when toner or paper runs low so there’s one less thing to keep track of, and all issues are handled by your printer amenity provider. This leaves your staff with more time to handle all the other things on their to-do lists.
In sum, there are many fantastic reasons why something simple like a new printer amenity can absolutely delight your residents!
As you plan to research different printer providers, make sure to keep data security and document privacy in mind. You would not want residents’ confidential printed documents to be easily accessible to others. To avoid this, make sure to choose a printer amenity provider, like PrintWithMe, that ensures data encryption and the option of ‘secure release printing’, where the residents’ document will only print when they are at the printer.
For more information on how to get the ultimate printing amenity for your multifamily property, get in touch with PrintWithMe today.
*Results from PrintWithMe's internal research.