NAA 2018

The multifamily industry converged in San Diego last week for Apartmentalize Powered by National Apartment Association. Formerly known as the NAA Education Conference and Exposition, the annual event is the largest educational conference for apartment industry professionals. We highlight five of our favorite lessons from this year’s event.

5 Lessons from Apartmentalize 2018:

  1. Own the Age of AI

On Thursday, industry experts discussed the impact of artificial intelligence in multifamily. Panelists included Dawn Wise from Berkshire Communities, Michael Barry from Bozzuto, Tim Reardon from Bridge Property Management, and Yardi’s Dhar Sawh. Artificial intelligence has just recently emerged in the rental housing industry. “This is so new for our industry, so the sky’s the limit,” explained Reardon. The session explored the benefits of artificial intelligence, big data, and business intelligence tools.

How can you get energized for the Age of AI? Top tips from panelists: learn more about AI, and make a data strategy plan.

  1. Today’s Renters Have a Multi-Touch Journey

Over the last two decades, we’ve gone from tracking walk-ins and phone calls to embracing comprehensive CRM systems. On a panel moderated by Yardi’s Esther Bonardi, Holli Beckman from WC Smith, Israel Carunungan from Greystar, and Mia Wentworth from CWS Apartment Homes discussed multi-touch lead attribution, a model for tracking and weighing touchpoints in the lead-to-lease cycle.

How can smart marketers improve lead tracking? “Dig into it, study it, and it can open a whole new world,” advised Bonardi. Learn more about multi-touch lead attribution and download our free eBook.

  1. Sustainability Wins

At Friday’s Apartmentalize session, panelists including Yardi’s Martin Levkus explored resident engagement through energy efficiency. In a recent National Apartment Association survey, windows were the top sustainability item residents cared about. For one panelist, energy efficient windows resulted in a $75 per month premium for those units. Residents want to live in places that prioritize going green. “As an industry, we can do a much better job of marketing our sustainability” and making it convenient for residents, explains Levkus.

  1. Technology Is Your Friend

From car-sharing to virtual leasing, technology is innovating all aspects of the multifamily industry. At Apartmentalize it was all about smart home tech, resident-focused amenities, and lifestyle experiences. How are you supporting the Internet of Things at your communities?

  1. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Apartmentalize offered a place for in-depth idea sharing and networking. Yardi was proud to join the apartment industry in San Diego to discuss the latest trends and hot topics impacting the multifamily space.

   

We also took home an Exhibitors Award this year – Best Island Booth! A first-time exhibitor at Apartmentalize, Yardi Breeze took home an honorable mention.

Get a glimpse of the fun from this year’s event on our Facebook page. We hope to see you at the next Apartmentalize 2019 in Denver from June 26-28!

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AUTHOR

Eliza Theiss is a senior writer reporting real estate trends in the US. Her work has been cited by CBS News, Curbed, The Los Angeles Times, and Forbes among others. With an academic background in journalism, Eliza has been covering real estate since 2012. Before joining PropertyShark, Eliza was an associate editor at Multi-Housing News and Commercial Property Executive. She has also contributed extensively to CommercialEdge. Reach her at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>

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