When peak leasing season rolls around, multifamily property managers are tasked with navigating higher turnover rates, increased inquiries, and the pressure to fill units quickly. While the hustle of this period is nothing new, today’s technology offers smarter, more efficient ways to prepare and stand out in a competitive rental market.
Whether you’re turning over apartments, trying to lock in long-term residents, or showcasing your property to prospects, here’s how smart multifamily technology can help you this peak leasing season.
Automate the Move-In and Move-Out Process
During this season, there can be a surge in move-ins and move-outs. Traditionally, this period can strain staff with administrative duties, key handovers, and coordination issues. However, multifamily property managers can ease the chaos with automation.
When integrated with your Property Management System (PMS), digital tools like smart access control, automated communications, and maintenance scheduling can transform the move-in and move-out process. Smart locks for apartments, for example, let you assign and revoke digital entry codes remotely, with no key handovers required. Meanwhile, automated notifications keep residents and property managers informed of everything from inspection schedules to final walkthroughs.
This streamlined process reduces operational stress and enhances resident satisfaction at the beginning and end of their lease.
Self-Guided Apartment Tours for Leasing Flexibility
Scheduling in-person tours with leasing agents can create bottlenecks and lost leads. Self-guided apartment tours offer a tech-forward alternative that aligns with modern renter expectations.
With smart access management, prospects can schedule their own tours, receive one-time digital entry codes, and explore the property at their leisure. This flexibility boosts leasing conversion rates and frees up your team to focus on closing deals and supporting current residents.
As many as 75% of self-guided tours are scheduled and completed on the same day, and nearly one-third of those visitors apply to lease immediately after.
Use Smart Security and Access Control to Impress and Protect
Prospective residents care about security and the right smart tools can give them peace of mind before they even move in. Multifamily access control systems, smart video doorbells, and video intercoms offer transparency, control, and convenience for both residents and staff.
Smart locks eliminate the need for traditional keys and allow for tailored, revocable access to residents, cleaners, and contractors. Video doorbells and intercoms let residents see and communicate with visitors in real time, while giving property managers visibility over all building access points.
Combined, these tools help create a safer environment and a smoother onboarding experience—two key factors that can make or break a lease decision during a high-traffic season.
Retain Current Residents Through Convenience and Comfort
It’s not just about attracting new renters, peak leasing season is also a time when existing residents may be considering their next move. To encourage lease renewals, multifamily technology can play a key role.
Smart HVAC systems help maintain ideal comfort levels while cutting energy costs, making them attractive to budget-conscious renters and essential for building a sustainable property management business. Automated maintenance alerts and simple communication channels can help residents feel heard and supported, strengthening retention.
Centralize and Scale with Integrated Property Management Tools
Centralization is emerging as a dominant strategy in multifamily property management. By integrating your smart devices, such as HVAC, access control, and surveillance, with your PMS, you can manage all aspects of your portfolio from a single platform.
This level of operational efficiency allows your team to focus on more strategic tasks during the busiest leasing months while providing a seamless resident and prospect experience.
To truly prepare your multifamily rental for peak leasing season, lean into technology that streamlines operations, delights residents, and empowers prospects. From automating move-in and move-out processes to offering self-guided tours and centralizing access control, these tools not only reduce your workload but they help you lease smarter and faster.
Want to find out more on multifamily technology? Read Angel Piontek’s article on sustainable property management in Multifamily Insiders.
