Entrata Blog

Did you ever stop to consider the amount of sensitive personal information that comes through your leasing office on a regular basis? Rental applications, leases, rent payments, and other documents are often chock-full of the kind of information that identity thieves and hackers find most appealing. Data is in demand, and a simple filing cabinet with lock and key are no longer adequate forms of data storage and security. These are the days of ubiquitous spy technology. Every person who steps into your leasing office is likely carrying a powerful, unobtrusive camera. An act as simple as leaving a completed application on a desk in a busy office could mean exposing the customer’s sensitive personal data.

Multifamily organizations often exhale when all the nuances of their software system are firmly in place. And by the time that breath is complete, it’s quite possible that something has already shifted in the industry that requires another tweak of the system.

Having access to data is a blessing and a curse for many multifamily businesses. The amount of data the average business accumulates each year continues to grow exponentially and it can be difficult to know how to find the proverbial needle in a haystack that’s going to help inform future business decisions, especially if that data is housed in a spreadsheet

Texas is one of the latest states to enact their own data protection law. Signed into law in 2023, the law will take effect July 1, 2024, with an additional grace period for applicable businesses to ensure compliance with the new regulations by January 1, 2025. Much of Texas’ Data Privacy and Security Act (”TDPSA”) follows many of the same key elements we’ve already seen from other states that have enacted data privacy laws. However, there are some differences to note as well. Below is an overview, highlighting the key points to be aware of.

The student housing sector makes a case for the most fluctuating business in the nation. The revolving door of move-ins and move-outs occurs at a much greater rate than in the conventional apartment world, and the desires and preferences of younger renters are constantly morphing.

If you work in property management, you know what it feels like to be busy. You’re a champion juggler, keeping dozens of balls in the air and balancing the needs of residents, owners, and staff. Here’s the question. Is your software just another ball to juggle, or is it an extra arm?

Entrata’s Virginia Love recently sat down with Lak Lakshmanan, Operating Executive, Data Science for Silver Lake to discuss the impact AI is having on businesses currently and what they can do to leverage it in the future to increase efficiency and deliver a better customer experience. Below is a recap of some of the highlights of their conversation. If you want to watch a recording of the webinar, click here.

If you want to stand out from the crowd, the first step is to get your properties to appear in those above the fold listings that get the most clicks. According to Neil Patel, the preeminent expert in local search engine optimization, businesses that make up the Map Pack in the upper right corner of the search engine results page, account for 44% of all clicks.

In 2023, affordable property management is all about optimizing resources for efficiency. From marketing property to fielding inquiries from prospective renters to preparing for inspections, management professionals have a lot on their plates. Now is the time for streamlining processes and working smarter, not necessarily harder.

Up drives the moving van and out come the boxes. They turn the key, flip on the lights, and in a flurry of cardboard and packaging tape, begin to roll out the contents of their new apartment. All the while, the property continues to pay their utility charges until the new resident signs up in their name, which could take a while… might even be after the family portrait is hung and the living room furniture has achieved a perfect arrangement.

Centralization has been a hot topic in the multifamily industry for a few years now. Despite all that talk, a consensus centralized model has not emerged. Fortunately, Entrata is built in such a way that it can accommodate however you decide to centralize your operations (if at all). Below is a review of some of the top centralization models and how to implement them into your business.

One of apartment operators’ major priorities these days is to find ways to streamline their associates’ workdays. By improving onsite efficiencies, operators not only improve the productivity and morale of team members, but they also pave the way for better prospect and resident experiences.