Who doesn’t love an event packed with networking, educational sessions and snazzy giveaways? AHCA/NCAL has it all — plus more — during their annual convention. AHCA/NCAL 2022 takes place from October 9-12 in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. All this in mind, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo is something we wouldn’t miss. We look forward to connecting with a fantastic array of senior living professionals throughout the 4-day summit! If you would like to meet with us, be sure to stop by booth 740. Learn about AHCA/NCAL 2022 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The American Health Care Association and ​National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) represents long term and post-acute care providers across the U.S., with more than 14,000 member facilities. With such a large national footprint, AHCA/NCAL works to make the industry a better place on every level. And that translates to their annual convention which brings professionals together to discuss the challenges facing senior living today, as well as solutions for the future. AHCA/NCAL 2022 is full of impactful experiences for c-suite executives and community experts alike. Learn more about what’s in store from the AHCA/NCAL 2022 event schedule.   Get in touch with Yardi We make attending events like AHCA/NCAL 2022 a priority, as it allows us to join the conversations most crucial to senior living today. We kindly invite you to visit booth 740 to discuss where the industry is headed and how our senior living management software is here to support you. Feel free to stop by whenever it’s convenient, or fill out our AHCA/NCAL form to get a meeting scheduled.    Enter for a chance to win! Remember the snazzy giveaways we mentioned? If you visit booth 740 at AHCA/NCAL 2022, you can enter for a chance to win some Yardi swag. Simply leave us your business card to join our raffle of Wrapsody Noise Reducing Bluetooth Headphones. See you October...

The Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) returned in person for the first time in three years. The sold-out event welcomes 3,000 Yardi clients in San Diego, Calif. for three days of learning, networking, exposure to exciting new technologies, and fun. Yardi president and founder Anant Yardi addressed attendees at the San Diego Convention Center, the first time YASC has utilized such a large venue for its general session gatherings. The host hotel for the event is the Manchester Grand Hyatt, where classes and Knowledge Center, a technology resource lab, are taking place. “It is just so exciting to have this conference in person once again after almost a three-year hiatus. Thank you for making the time to be here and to enjoy the atmosphere, the educational sessions and to network with each other,” Mr. Yardi said. Marking the company’s 40th anniversary, Mr. Yardi shared his perspective on the changes that the pandemic will bring to real estate holistically. The last two and a half years have been transformative for the industry. “For me, change is not a setback. It’s an opportunity to figure out how to respond to a theme such as the pandemic and the things that we see occurring around us,” Mr. Yardi said. Anticipating a coworking boom Those pandemic-prompted changes include the vast numbers of knowledge workers no longer working in offices full time, and residential shifts that have taken place as the result of increased workplace flexibility. Mr. Yardi cited a recent CoreNet study that found that 29 percent of knowledge workers are not required to be in the office unless requested by a manager, and close to 60 percent are required to be there less than four days a week. This shift has been buoyed by employers finding that employees are just as productive at home as they are at the office – 83 percent of CoreNet corporate respondents stated this was the case. This change in where people are working portends a significant shift for the commercial office space market. “Corporate real estate agencies or employers are beginning to shed office space. They’re reducing their footprints,” he said, citing national average office vacancy rates that are averaging 16 percent, but are 20 percent in some major markets. Mr. Yardi expects that the shift in space utilization will create a boom for coworking spaces and services. He forecast that coworking space – places where traveling or fully remote employees can use temporarily to have meetings, use the Internet, answer emails or accomplish tasks – will become prolific in the next few years. “Today there are 6,000 coworking locations (nationally). And the expectation is that in three to five years, it will be close to 30 times that number, and every large building will end up with a coworking location,” Mr. Yardi said. “My suspicion is that in course of time, coworking will get to a point where sites such as Expedia will allow you to book your hotel, your airline and your coworking conference space.” Marking 40 years of real estate technology After sharing some of the highlights for other real estate sectors – including rising rents in the multifamily space, an increased focus on built-to-rent single family developments, and a need for more affordable housing nationwide – Mr. Yardi reflected on the journey Yardi has taken as a company over the last four decades. Sharing a photo of the Apple II, an 8-bit home computer on which he wrote the first basic program that became the start line for Yardi’s software, Mr. Yardi contrasted the laborious process of manually programming the original code with today’s AI algorithms, which enable the production of code via machine learning. “The reason I wanted to show this to you is that innovation is one thing, but when the markets change, technology changes,” Mr. Yardi said. “We all have to learn new things.” Yardi continues to innovate technology solutions...

Yardi is excited to welcome clients back in-person to the Yardi Advanced Solutions Conference (YASC) beginning Aug. 31, marking a return to real time after successful interactive virtual events over the last two years. The event is sold out with more than 3,000 clients expected to attend. Social media hashtag for the event will be #YASC2022. Be sure to download the conference app for fun games, interactive features and the full course schedule. Registered attendees have received a direct link to app via email. Attendees can also use the class list, course descriptions and agenda to prepare for their time in San Diego. YASC combines classroom learning with social activities in a beautiful seaside setting. The event will feature more than 280 unique classes presented in 300-plus sessions, with some classes offered multiple times. The classes and dozens of product experts will give thousands of real estate professionals in attendance insight into Yardi software solutions that improve efficiency in marketing, leasing, acquisition, energy management, investing and other operations. Yardi experts will provide personalized consultations and panel sessions will examine key industry trends. Exclusive live outdoor entertainment and fun social activities comprise other elements of a memorable experience at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, the new host resort on San Diego’s waterfront. You don’t want to miss it! During the pandemic, YASC was held as successful interactive virtual events in May and October 2020, May 2021 and March 2022. The events drew tens of thousands of attendees from more than 60 countries. Virtual YASC events will continue on an annual basis, with dates for 2023 to be announced soon. “We’re proud that our clients continued to gain value from virtual gatherings but there’s nothing like meeting face-to-face with colleagues. Our software is designed to connect people and communities, and we look forward to continuing that effort in San Diego,” said Kevin Yardi, the company’s vice president of global solutions. International clients can see what’s planned for regional in-person YASCs around the world in 2022. YASC Sydney is set for Sept. 20-21. YASC London is planned for Nov. 8-9. YASC Asia will return in Spring 2023, with a location to be announced...

Apartmentalize, powered by NAA, is back! Starting June 22, multifamily leaders from around the nation will gather at the San Diego Convention Center. See the latest innovations and take part in conversations that will shape the future of multifamily. Find out where success happens at booth 815. We’re excited to share how our solutions are solving for industry trends at every stage of the resident lifecycle. Trusted solutions that fit your workflow We’re here to help you attract quality prospects, convert leads into leases, manage the resident experience and optimize your business. Here’s a preview of just some of what we can help you with:  Attract quality prospects with expert help Ready to attract more prospects that convert? Learn how to grow awareness, traffic and marketing ROI with help from REACH by RentCafe, a dedicated digital marketing agency for multifamily.Schedule a free consultation with our REACH by RentCafe experts during the show. In just 15 minutes, you’ll learn how to create a winning web presence, stand out in search and lower your cost per lease. Convert prospects with automated communication, nurturing & fraud prevention Your customer is more than just a renter. Create a seamless prospect-to-resident experience and assist your staff with these customer-centric solutions: Chat IQ is an automated attendant that responds to chat, text, email and voice. This solution saves our clients time and money, all while delivering superior customer experience 24/7. Yardi’s CRM is your site staff’s ultimate partner. It has online and in-person functionalities that engage with your prospects and residents, supporting your staff through the entire leasing lifecycle. ID Verifyand Income Verificationare mobile-friendly solutions that use AI and automation to quickly authenticate applicant identities and income. No more back-and-forth emails to manually verify applicants – just fast, simple, online leasing. Book a meeting at booth 815 to see these solutions in action! Manage residents with an industry-leading system In multifamily real estate, delivering the right customer experience means retaining residents and keeping them in the family. Make it easier for residents to stay by enabling them to pay rent online, renew their lease, submit a work order and more from a branded resident mobile app. Then, level up with Maintenance IQ, which reduces days from your unit-turn process – making every property hum with efficiency. Stop by booth 815 to see how Yardi software continues to put your customers first. Optimize asset performance with an elevated solution One of the smartest systems in the industry just got smarter. Yardi’s Elevate Suite, including Asset IQ, Revenue IQ and Forecast IQ, helps you optimize NOI and asset value with predictive analytics backed by data and benchmarking. Make more informed decisions with a 360-degree view into your business. Expense and revenue benchmarking allow you to understand the full performance picture, placing you at an advantage to optimize occupancy and increase asset value. That’s just the start. Reserve a private demo at booth 815 to see our solutions work. See more, do more, learn more Make the most of your time at Apartmentalize with sessions that will inspire you to take action. Yardi leaders will be there to share industry insights and more. Here’s a peek: Youth & Wisdom: Pairing Experienced Marketers with Fresh Perspectives – June 22, 12:30-1:30 p.m. What can seasoned marketers learn from new employees? A lot! Hear from KETTLER and The Management Group, two industry-leading brands that create marketing magic by combining proven strategy with innovative insights. Learn how to encourage mentorship and collaboration to drive measurable results. Hosted by Esther Bonardi, vice president of marketing at Yardi and REACH by RentCafe. Imploding Myths on Technology Advancement with Affordable Housing – June 23, 3-3:45 p.m. Explore potential affordable housing solutions and learn about the latest tech to advance your industry knowledge. Join Chris Voss, vice president at Yardi, in a conversation designed to address misunderstandings about barriers unique to affordable housing, including the recertification...

The first in-person Canadian Federation Apartment Association (CFAA) Rental Housing Conference in three years made up for lost time with a wide-ranging assessment of recent market and technology updates. Key themes resounding throughout the three day event include an optimistic multifamily outlook, rising cybersecurity concerns and increasing commitments to environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG). As CFAA’s 2022 Supplier of the Year, as well as a long-term industry partner, Yardi Canada Ltd. occupied a central role in the event. Yardi presenters underscored the importance of marketing technology, talent development, R&D in IoT and energy innovation. Here are some takeaways from those sessions. Confidently moving forward on marketing On the second day of the conference, panel conversions illustrated the value of making property marketing websites SEO-driven, engaging and easy to use for prospects. Parisa Vafaei, regional manager of sales for Yardi, introduced new technology gaining traction in North America: the omnichannel chatbot, this unique marketing tool applies artificial intelligence and integrates with leasing data to help staff prequalify leads. The bot is built to answer questions around scheduling a tour, amenities, property guidelines, signing leases and more – saving staff time and easing labour constraints. This advanced marketing technology has the ability to target and interact with multi-generations, “elevating a business’ competitive edge and priming them for success,” Vafaei said.  Enhancing talent retention incentives Another CFAA session addressed learning management platforms, which became more widely used during the pandemic as a substitute for in-person training. This includes orientation for new employees to professional development and compliance management. Attendees learned how platforms such as Yardi Aspire help property managers work smarter with automated attendance tracking and reporting. With millions of employees considering new job options, on-demand learning management systems are key to retention and stability, according to Patty Evans, Yardi industry principal for Aspire. “If companies offer opportunities to develop skills, employees are more likely to stay in their jobs. When it comes to skill training, more abilities mean more opportunities,” she said, noting that Aspire enables a personalized approach to building skills that avoids an unproductive “one size fits all” training strategy. Solutions for building operations and ESG On day three, sessions centred on another hot topic: smart building operations and technology that satisfies operators’ need for energy efficiency. During one panel, Yardi’s Jacquelyn Bauer, advised CFAA attendees to consult with experts at the outset of planning a new building or upgrading an existing property. With rising smart tech options for smart locks, lights, thermostats and leak detection, “the goal is to create a seamless renter experience and maintain data security with a single connected platform. The frictionless connection will satisfy investors and residents and create a higher ‘wow’ value for your properties,” Bauer said. Smart tech also contributes towards better managing energy and water consumption, a behavioural shift mainly driven by municipal mandates as well as ENERGY STAR® and GRESB reporting requirements. The best approach to a carbon reduction strategy, according to Ryan Bekar, an account executive for Yardi Energy, involves “leveraging technology to track, centralize and benchmark your utility consumption data. These insights will identify low-hanging fruit among your buildings, enabling your team to apply changes at the property level before implementing them across your portfolio.” Final takeaways Information is power and data will revolutionize the real estate landscape. As more organizations publicly release their data, the market needs to prepare for a growing demand for transparency. Industry leaders encouraged CFAA attendees to select a technology partner that simplifies data management while offering solutions that future proofs their business. To get up to date insights on Canada’s multifamily industry, view the recent Yardi apartment report. To learn more about your technology options visit...

More than 800 people joined the Apartment Innovation and Marketing Conference in Huntington Beach last week for four days of learning, networking and fun. The REACH by RentCafe digital marketing agency was in attendance as marketing leaders and multifamily experts from across the country took the stage to share both strategies and results. Here are some quotable moments from this incredible event to help you get inspired for your next campaign. Connect with the speakers by clicking on their names. Making marketing matter “What does it mean to be in marketing? Your job is to make a brand cool and don’t get it sued.” Nick Tran, former global head of marketing at TikTok “Be authentic. Trends aren’t one-size-fits-all. Do what works for your brand and each community.” Sarah Wieman, PRG Real Estate “In marketing, we don’t want to be order-takers. We want to be decision-makers. Stop treating yourself as support. Bring data to the table so you can come in with value.” Kelley Shannon, Bozzuto “For marketing to work in a silo, you might as well just go stand against the wall and bang your head. Getting more traffic isn’t the highest and best use of your marketing dollars. Educate your team about the value marketing brings to the table and how it impacts ROI.” Gigi Giannoni, Gables Residential “SEO should be a foundational element for you. Why would you put money in places with diminishing returns when you could make a winning long-term play?” Melissa Cartagena, Greystar Give renters what they want “We’re focused on our brand and the lifestyle, but we know from looking at our analytics, lifestyle images aren’t necessarily what sells. Lifestyle helps bring your story to life, but we need core property content and images to sell units.” Tim Hermeling, Cortland “Only 2% of residents say property management overcommunicates. And 45% of residents think their rent will stay the same or go down. Are you setting realistic expectations?” J. Turner Batdorf, J. Turner Research “A full 90% of renters are either interested in or won’t rent without soundproof walls. This feature ranks only slightly below air conditioning and in-unit laundry, and yet is advertised by very few properties.” Sarah Yaussi Pienik, NMHC Social media content is queen “We have not traditionally trusted our leasing teams with social media. But in reality, they’re the closest to your customers. Give them the power to create content. They can become the ultimate creators for you.” Kristi Fickert, Realync “You can reach so many more potential renters on Pinterest. Did you know 72% of users use Pinterest to decide what to buy offline?” Brooke Atsalis, The Management Group “I didn’t have any expectations when we tried TikTok, I just didn’t want to offend anyone. We’re in lease-up; we need velocity. We’ve gotten 74 leads. A very interested lead slid into our DMs. I’ve been pleasantly surprised.” Kira Brown, Wood Partners #REACHpeace The REACH team was also able to donate an additional $1,250 to Direct Relief International to provide aid in Ukraine because of engagement at the event. Thank you to all who participated. We look forward to seeing everyone next year at AIM...

With multifamily property management – and businesses of all types – currently struggling to find enough staff as well as retain existing employees, a recent session at the Multifamily Social Media Summit focused on how social media can be utilized to find new hires and hold onto existing talent. Jennifer Staciokas, executive managing director for property management at Western Wealth Communities, and Jen Piccotti, chief learning officer at Swift Bunny, focused on practical takeaways that owners and managers can use immediately. Jennifer Staciokas, left, and Jen Piccotti speak at the Multifamily Social Media Summit in Napa. Photo by Leah Etling. “We have a problem out there right now. We can’t find people, and we can’t keep good people. That’s the number one thing we hear: ‘How do I find, hire, and retain employees?’” Piccotti said. Another common issue is that it is tempting to leave current staff in their existing roles due to the inability to find new hires. “We need every single employee we have and we need them in the positions they’re in currently. It can be very tempting to hold them in that position, but that’s the worst thing we can do,” she said. Here are five of the social media tips for attracting and retaining talent that the duo offered for companies to consider: Make it easy for applicants to use social media to apply for open positions. If you’re not already using LinkedIn to accept applications for open roles, you’re missing out on a huge pool of talent, Piccotti said. Today’s applicants expect to be able to apply for open roles with just a few clicks of their mouse. Up to 86 percent of new hires apply directly to their positions through LinkedIn or other job sites, a huge amount. From the very first contact, your brand matters. “Among prospective hires, 82 percent consider the employer’s brand before they submit that application,” Piccotti said. They’re considering factors like whether the executive leadership is respected by employees (often using Glassdoor’s rankings for this info), whether employees at the company are dedicated and hard-working, and whether the company has a supportive and positive culture. Caring about the community around you through support of non-profits, employee volunteerism and expression of corporate values is also important. Show new and current hires they have a chance to grow with you. This is a pivotal consideration for prospective employees, who want to see that they will have the chance to move up and advance in their careers. They’re also interested in future training opportunities to help broaden their skills. Ways to showcase include creating certificates for in-house training courses, celebrating current employee promotions, and talking about chances for lifelong learning at your company. “They want to see that there is opportunity, it’s not just going to be a dead end once they get their foot in the door,” Piccotti said. Showcase what employees have to gain from joining your team. This is the place where company culture can really stand out. What’s the employee culture like? Will they have a good time on the job, in addition to working hard? Examples of employee gains included posts from Bozzuto Group, which created SOUL, an employee resource group for members of the Black community. Another example was a creative Instagram job post from RedPeak of Denver, which described its culture as including “no scripts, no stuffy suits, no sales pitch.” Celebrate what’s special and unique about your company, daily. The most repeated acronym at the Multifamily Social Media Summit was UCG – user-generated content – and it also played a large role in the company case study presented by Jennifer Staciokas for Western Wealth Management (a Yardi client). She demonstrated the various ways that social media has played a positive role in hiring and retention of this growing, woman-led owner management firm based in Phoenix. “We’re a people first business. We’re not...

REACH by RentCafe is excited to be at the Multifamily Social Media Summit in Napa this week as the social media, photo booth and platinum exhibit sponsor of the event, which kicked off Wednesday afternoon. Celebrating its tenth anniversary, this edition of the #MultifamilySMS is the best attended ever, shared Adam Japko, founder of Esteem Media, which produces the conference. Multifamily providers from around the U.S. are on hand to gain knowledge, improve their social media marketing best practices, network and meet with industry vendors. A significant focus of the first day’s learning workshops was on the importance of User-Generated Content (UGC) to a successful and current social media strategy. Speakers Erica Byrum and Delany Duke both dedicated portions of their energetic presentations on how UGC, both from residents and employees in the multifamily housing realm, can generate trust and engagement from users. “In 2022, what makes good marketing is authenticity. The majority of consumers are looking for an authentic experience,” said Duke, digital services manager for Landmark Properties, a student housing provider. “UGC is important because it allows us to market our properties through the eyes and ears of our residents.” Three key statistics to consider: 92 percent of marketers think they’re creating authentic contentBut just 51 percent of consumers think their favorite brands offer authenticityMeanwhile nearly 80 percent of consumers say that UGC impacts their decision to make a purchase. Duke suggested a variety of ways to encourage staff and residents to create social posts, particularly videos for TikTok and reels for Instagram, which have become overwhelmingly popular especially for the Millennial and Gen Z demographics. Contests and giveaways, always a mainstay to encourage content, are one. Other ideas from both presenters include working with micro-influencers and harnessing the creativity of your site teams. Many marketers have struggled with how to create TikTok videos and reels that capture compelling housing content, and Byrum, co-author of Youtility for Real Estate, offered myriad suggestions to meet the challenge. “There’s definitely a niche audience on TikTok that loves a good apartment tour, and opportunities to tap into lifestyle drivers,” she said. Content like recipes, home décor, budget and finance tips, health and fitness and city highlights are all great fodder for housing-focused TikTok accounts that would reach renters. And when it comes to working with staff on on-site content for TikTok and Instagram, Duke offered advice that got big laughs: “The most common thing I hear from site teams is: ‘I’m not going to dance!’ But you don’t have to dance.” (Although you can, if you want to! And it will probably do well.) Here is a quick list of trend takeaways from Wednesday’s sessions: Spend time on the social channels where your residents are most engagedStrategically adapt your content strategy for social in accordance with today’s trendsBrand consistency takes you to the next level in marketingVideo content will continue to dominateMicro influencers may be among your residents – take advantage!Engage your on-site employees for UGCFair housing laws must still be followed on digital channels. Make sure your team is trained and educated If you’re in attendance at the event, meet REACH representatives at booth 36. Pick up a special gift, learn about the many ways REACH can improve your social media marketing, and snap fun photos at the  photo booth! You can also check out our free social media toolkit at https://bit.ly/3irV2Lc for resources and tips to keep you connected all week. Follow #MultifamilySMS to keep up with the event...