GAME CHANGER
Jen Piccotti will be a Game Changer Speaker at the 2022 Education Conference on May 25
QUICK REGISTRATION for the Education Conference and Trade Show !
28 | TRENDS APRIL 2022
Is Technology the Answer to Staffing Shortages ?
One of the biggest pain points in the rental housing industry today is the competition for talent . Not only are owners and operators competing with each other for great team members , they are competing with literally every other industry ! Many companies are evaluating innovative ways to try and make up for the lack of employees , and technology is definitely on the list of potential solutions . COVID-19 accelerated the rental housing industry ’ s use of technology in new and different ways . The adoption of innovation has created an enticing opportunity to effectively fill ongoing gaps created by staffing shortages .
Two years of pandemic and the sudden shift to remote work and social distancing requirements led to a new dependence on technology . The average American was forced to learn , accept , and rely on technology in a variety of aspects of daily living :
• Parents navigating children ’ s remote learning
• Contactless deliveries / pick ups
• Telemedicine
• At-home entertainment - Netflix , Prime , Disney +, Hulu , etc .
The silver lining is that as we continue to be challenged with staffing shortages , we have more tools and resources to assist in coverage than ever before . In addition , we have a nation of renters who have either embraced , or resigned themselves to the fact of , technology touching nearly every aspect of their lives .
Here are innovative ways some rental housing companies are filling the staffing gaps .
LEASING
While many of these technologies have been around for a while , it wasn ’ t until the pandemic created a necessity that many companies sought these solutions out .
Chatbots are a highly effective qualifying tool on a community ’ s website because they can answer critical questions a prospect may need to know but might not be patient enough to find by searching through the specifics of a web page or waiting for a return call or email from a leasing agent . These bots can provide the information and keep the prospect engaged long enough for them to take that next step to schedule a tour .
Virtual tours allow leasing agents to either walk through a home while on video conference with a prospect or provide pre-recorded videos of the home or floorplan . Whether using one ’ s own cell phone to record a walk-through of a vacant unit or partnering with a supplier who can provide best practices , tracking , and a formal , interactive platform , this approach has enabled business to continue despite the restrictions on face-to-face interactions .
Self-guided tours have become a new darling on the scene when it comes to the leasing process . The process can be as low tech as a prospect trading a government-issued ID for a key and property map , or as high tech as an app that provides a walking route , narrated highlights , and a unique access code to enter the specific unit . Prospects appreciate the freedom to linger where they like and explore the areas of the community that might not necessarily be on the typical tour route .
Centralized leasing takes all of the above leasing options to the next level allowing one leasing specialist to potentially manage the touring process for multiple properties . In addition , by centralizing the leasing process , the specialists can focus on one aspect of service : the leasing experience . When sales for multiple properties is centralized , the opportunity allows for an on-site team member to focus on the resident experience . The difference ? A 300 unit community that under the traditional staffing model may have had a Communi-