COVID-19: Tech to the Rescue

No doubt, these continue to be challenging times. As you and your staff strive to keep your properties up and running and your tenants happy — all the while trying to bring in new clients — software and hardware innovations are here to support you! From time-saving applications to controlling who can enter your property, tech is helping property managers not only “get by” but succeed!

1. Keep Business Running

Even though “stay-at-home” orders and social distancing have made “business as usual” nearly impossible, there are many tools available to keep things running smoothly as possible.

Simplify your online applications, online payments and screening tools by implanting management software — such as Appfolio Property Manager, Buildium Property Management, and Rentec Direct — will make life a whole lot easier for managers — even after the pandemic ends. If you haven’t already, take your operations and processes online and efficiently keep tenants up-to-date.

Also, in this time of distancing, open communication and prompt response are a priority. Policies for text messaging, emailing and communicating with residents are critical. Tech companies, including the ones listed above, allow managers to maintain contact with tenants, as well as assign, remind and monitor tasks and service requests for on- and off-site employees.

2. Up Your Wi-Fi Game

As the work-from-home population continues to boom, the number of tenants using Wi-Fi 24/7 has exploded — and it’s not going to change anytime soon.

If your tenants pay for their Internet, they will likely see a jump in their energy bills. On the other hand, if you provide free Wi-Fi, you might start getting tenant calls about connectivity issues, as — chances are — too many people are trying to stream or join multiple teleconferences.

What can you do? Take your Wi-Fi/Internet capabilities to the next level. Move up to the bandwidth level required — even if that means changing your provider — to keep your tenants productive and happy.

3. Thermal screening

Keeping infected people at bay can be a difficult endeavor, as some don’t display visible symptoms. Consider investing in either thermal imaging systems or non-contact infrared thermometers, which can detect if someone trying to enter the building, has a high temperature. While a fever may indicate illness, temperature alone cannot confirm a COVID-19 infection.

Companies like Flexible Systems, Thermal Guardian and CrowdRx have begun manufacturing thermal imaging systems for a range of settings, including communities and offices. The cameras scan visitors from a safe distance, and if a fever is detected, you could require further screening or deny entry.

If the price tag of these larger systems makes you woozy, consider a handheld thermometer (it’s important to note that method requires someone to be on-hand to take temperatures).

4. Virtual Tours

Virtual Tours offer myriad benefits for prospective clients, as well as your staff. Besides respecting social distance directives, you can attract more potential tenants, especially those with varying schedules, as well as increase application conversions.

While some managers create their own virtual tours with their smartphone, there many companies — like Kuula and My360 — can help you create highly professional, interactive experiences. Depending on your vision, budget, and time-frame, you can develop 360°, panoramic or interactive floor plan tours — all of which can draw more clients. Be sure to include images of communal and outdoor areas, as, high-resolution images are still important.

VR and other similar tools can be effective options for showing a property, as well as bolster its brand presence — putting you ahead of the competition while allowing you to customize to match the features of available spaces available with the needs of potential clients.

5. Access Management

In today’s high-risk environment, one of the biggest management challenges is ensuring the health and safety of your tenants and on-site employees. Access control systems — key-less and/or touch-less — allow you to monitor and control who may enter the property safely and with no contact. For example, ButterflyMX, which integrates a smartphone app, cloud-based systems, and an intuitive dashboard designed to safely streamline property access.

They can be used in lobbies and other areas of ingress — which offers tenants peace of mind, especially if there is no doorman or you have a limited number of security guards. Beyond entryways, these systems are ideal for common areas that may not be attended, including playgrounds, laundry rooms, pool, and gym, etc.

In the end, operations, communications, and staff and tenant happiness are essential to your property’s success and — perhaps more important — they are crucial to combating the spread of COVID-19. To make that a reality, we must embrace tech solutions that streamline and optimize all areas of business, not to mention, save time and money.