PropTech Today - SoundSage

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In this episode of PropTech Today, Jeff Hoch, Founder interviews Jeanne Klein, National Sales Director from VeriFast.com.

We discuss the solution that her firm has developed to help combat the rampant rise of fraudulent information that is being presented during the rental application process for multifamily housing.

The solution is quite timely, due to the unfortunate rise of fraud.

To learn more about the solution visit www.verifast.com

To learn more about PropTech Today visit www.proptechtoday.io

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Season 4

Episode 32

Host - Jeff Hoch, Founder of PropTech Today

Guest - Jeanne Klein - VeriFast.com

In this episode we discuss the need to use technology to address the ever increasing amount of Rental Application fraud in the Multifamily Real Estate Industry.

Visit www.verifast.com to learn more about this valuable solution.

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Summary of Episode - Understanding Real Estate Investement Management Platforms

Jamie Stadtmauer from Agora discusses why real estate companies need an investor portal to manage their investors and investments. He explains that the portal helps companies keep track of every aspect of investor relations and investor management. Having an investor portal allows companies to communicate more effectively with their investors.

Jamie explained that most real estate companies use the help of outside investors, which can be managed at the beginning using a spreadsheet or individual emails. However, eventually the amount of investors gets excessive and they all have different deals, which makes it difficult to keep track of everything. The investor should have one place to go where they can easily find information about their investment. Transparency is good for both sides. Jamie then gave an example of how to create an opportunity, advertise the opportunity, and collect interest using Agora.

Agora's system enables syndicators to easily share new investment opportunities with existing investors, who can then review all the relevant information and make a commitment to invest if they're interested. For potential new investors, there is a deal page on the back end of the system where syndicators can share information about the opportunity while still staying compliant with SEC rules.

The conversation discusses how an investor can become involved in a deal through the gora platform. The investor first signs up for the company dashboard side, where they provide their information. The syndicator then reviews the investor to see if they are accredited or not. If the investor is interested in the deal, they are then promoted to an actual process. The gora platform is only one aspect of the process, and the responsibility of the firm sponsoring the deal to begin with.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00:00 Prop Tech Today: Jamie Stadtmauer from Agora on Investor Portals

0:02:12 The Benefits of Using a Real Estate Investment Software

0:04:02 Agora's Deal Page Feature

0:07:20 The Different Types of Investors in the Real Estate Space

0:08:55 The Agora Team Discusses How Their Services Facilitate Deal Communication and Reporting

0:10:44 The Differentiating Factors of Agora's Investor Portal

0:13:04 Agora's Jamie Campbell on the company's technology and customer service

0:15:30 The Importance of Education in Disseminating Information about Investor Portals

0:16:26 The Importance of Social Media in Real Estate Marketing

0:20:10 The Importance of Understanding the Customer's Needs in the Property Management Industry

0:21:45 Jamie Smith of Agora Real on the Importance of Understanding Your Client's Pain Points

HIGHLIGHTS

And so it puts me in a unique position to understand the value of Agora, because I am one of them. I view myself as one of them, and I understand their needs.

I get to work for a technology company that is very involved in real estate. So it's kind of like the marriage of my two worlds. In college, I actually majored in MIS Management Information Systems.

And it's not only the information, it's the networking. Also in terms of getting the word out there, what the company is and what we do. It's also in terms of your personal relationships with people that you're going to be speaking to.

LinkedIn has been invaluable in terms of first of all, getting information, but also disseminating information. All you need to do is post and make a video or whatever it may be and you can get information out there.

Also we are a system that can be for any type of real estate investor. It could be someone who has three buildings and it's only one person in his basement and he needs a lot of help because he's doing everything on his own and he also wants to present a professional investor portal.

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Donald Davidoff is the Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder of Real Estate Business Analytics, Inc (REBA). He is recognized throughout the rental housing industry as a thought leader in pricing, business intelligence, marketing, and leasing. Donald is best known for leading the development and implementation of the Lease Rent Options® (LRO), the industry’s first automated demand forecasting and price optimization system. A former Senior Vice President at Archstone and Executive Vice President at Holiday Retirement, Donald works with C-Suite clients to assess their operational and technology platforms and implement impactful projects.

In this episode, Donald talks about the importance of data analytics in the real estate industry and how REBA enables users to make market data-driven decisions. He highlights how businesses can utilize REBA’s innovative products and gain a competitive edge in collecting and analyzing data, budgeting, and forecasting.

[00:01 – 04:22] Opening Segment

Welcoming Donald to the show
He discusses his background in tech and business intelligence

[04:23 – 10:05] Changing the Way Real Estate Uses Data

With REBA, users can spend more time analyzing data than collecting data
- Helping them make better pricing decisions
- What are other features of REBA that can serve different parts of the business?
Donald describes REBA’s ideal customer
- Presenting a better multifamily budgeting solution vs. Excel

[10:06 – 23:08] Building Bespoke BI

How users can integrate REBA with PMS
Enabling and empowering internal analysis and benchmarking
REBA's data modeling makes it easy to create custom reports and dashboards
Donald shares some successful use cases of REBA
- Getting good data leads to quicker action

[23:09 – 25:49] Closing Segment

Donald on what’s next for REBA: Rapid growth and extending the capabilities of the software

Reach out to Donald at GetREBA.com or email him at ddavidoff@getreba.com. You may follow REBA on LinkedIn, too!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone who wants to know more about Industry Leaders in the Property Technology and Real Estate Industry. Your ratings and reviews help get the podcast in front of new listeners.

Tweetable Quotes:

“What you want is all that data in one single source of truth so you can access it directly.” - Donald Davidoff

“We are a huge accelerator to anybody who would be tempted to build bespoke or would love to build bespoke. But we are affordable and we've already built that data model that would've taken you at least a year to figure out if you can start from scratch itself.” - Donald Davidoff

“The faster you can get good data in a chart or graphic or 3D visualization, that gives you context. It's just easier to make good decisions really fast.” - Donald Davidoff

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Hiring the best talent for your real estate business should not be a challenge. Rocket Station offers an affordable way to find world-class, real estate-trained, virtual teammates who can handle the day-to-day, freeing you to make an even bigger impact on your business. Director of Business Development Greg Brooks sits down with us to talk about all things outsourcing, how an offshore team can help reduce operational costs and maximize profits and work efficiency, and how the industry would benefit from building a global workforce.

[00:01 – 05:11] Opening Segment

Greg introduces Rocket Station and their unique startup story
- The need for an outsourcing service in the real estate industry

[05:12 – 12:33] Leveraging Outsourcing at a High Level

The first thing to look at before outsourcing: operational inefficiencies
Rocket Station helps business owners find affordable back office team support
How they were able to hire and onboard offshore talent
- Prioritizing the HR component, including vetting and training
- Why the Philippines is an outsourcing destination
- Collecting data points from the candidate before pairing them with a client
Busting myths about outsourcing
- VAs can do more than just manage your calendar
- There are a lot of office tasks that you can do virtually

[12:34 – 20:48] The Importance of Business Systems and Processes

Having standardized systems and processes and clear job responsibilities and SOPs ensure successful outsourcing
The stabilization of back office functions can make an organization more resilient
- How outsourcing can enable people to do their jobs better and improve retention
Outsourcing can take away mundane tasks from property managers and let them focus on resident experience

[20:47 – 25:09] Closing Segment

Greg on the future of the company: being the end-to-end service and technology provider for outsourcing

Connect with Greg through RocketStation.com and schedule a call on discovery.rocketstation.com.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Being able to triage a lot of that, not lower level but very time-consuming, task-based work with offshore teams can just be a huge value source for a lot of our clients.” - Greg Brooks

“What we really feel like the number one question you have to ask, whether you're looking to outsource or looking to leverage talent from across the US, is what are your systems and processes?” - Greg Brooks

“How do I scale a world-class tenant experience? I think like a lot of that is hiring great people on-site, but then also making sure you're putting those people in a position where that can be their core focus.” - Greg Brooks

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Technology is transforming real estate transactions and one of the companies paving the way to the future of PropTech is Dottid.

Today, Kyle Waldrep, Founder and CEO of Dottid, and Senecca Miller, CTO and COO, discuss how workflow technology can help reduce the time it takes to complete a transaction, and improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency. They talk about the story and the work they do at Dottid, a commercial real estate (CRE) SAAS technology platform that provides a single location for brokers, landlords, and tenants to share information and work seamlessly throughout the leasing process.

Kyle founded Dottid soon after graduating from Southern Methodist University when he realized that the CRE leasing process was highly antiquated and mired in administrative tasks that could be easily solved with the right technology. In just three years, he has built a team of world-class software developers, technologists, and industry experts, all determined to develop the most effective way for the commercial real estate industry to conduct business. Dottid, a venture-backed startup, has raised almost $11MM from some of the most prominent leaders and advisors with unmatched CRE experience. In many ways, this team symbolizes the shift from the traditional CRE transactional model to the future of where the industry is headed.

Senecca is responsible for Dottid’s technology strategy and he also plays a key role in leading the comp security efforts by driving new initiatives. Additionally, he provides strategic oversight and program management for Dottid’s products and features. During his 20+ year career in technology, he has served in a variety of roles at multiple organizations. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on digital transformations and high availability of distributed systems.

[00:01 – 03:08] Opening Segment

Kyle reflects on the problem he saw in the space and eventually starting his company
Senecca shares his background in the technology industry and how he got into PropTech

[03:09 – 08:47] Helping Real Estate Professionals Do What They Do Best

There are so many people and layers involved in one real estate transaction
- Dottid is a platform we can use to streamline the workflow
With an automation product, we can save time and be more efficient in our roles
- How brokers can use Dottid as a selling tool

[08:48 – 18:17] Simplicity and Usability

Making it easier for the customers to adapt and use the platform through the Microsoft Team’s integration
How they Dottid is servicing different asset classes
What’s next for Dottid?
- Branching to new regions
- New ways of engagement
Knowing each customer’s persona and giving them what they want to see

[18:18 – 24:07] Closing Segment

What’s the mark Kyle and Senecca are looking to make in the PropTech space?

Reach out to Kyle and Senecca through Dottid’s website and LinkedIn page.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Let's go understand the tech that's already in the space, connect with it, integrate with it, keep our design simple and make sure that our user is familiar with the whole scope of products.” - Kyle Waldrep

“One of the things we take great care of is really trying to understand the real estate use case in each shop. Every firm is different.” - Kyle Waldrep

“We have the ability really to change how transactions are. From my standpoint, our job's not complete until you can do every part of that transaction within Dottid.” - Seneca Miller

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Almost everyone can relate to the frustration of lost or stolen packages. Joining us today to talk about how they are providing solutions for package problems is Jennifer Carter, National Partnership Manager of Fetch.

Fetch offers off-site package management and delivery straight to the resident’s door and allows them to control their delivery service from the comfort of their couch. Property managers can also focus on their core business instead of worrying about package delivery. Jennifer discusses her insights on what’s happening in the package delivery industry and why a Fetch-enabled property is a model for the future.

Over the past 13 years, Jennifer has gained valuable knowledge not only from the owner/operator side of the multifamily industry but has also sat on the vendor side in three different opportunities. She first started in the industry and worked on-site as a Traveling Property Manager assisting in increasing occupancy. She then gained an opportunity to add more industry knowledge during her 5-year tenure at Apartment Guide before she found herself back on the owner/operator side leading the Marketing department for two different management companies. She spent just shy of 4 years as a Director of Client Performance with SatisFacts focusing on client best practices to drive resident retention and then most recently she worked as the Director of Marketing for SmartRent, where her biggest contribution was taking part in taking the company public; developing public relations campaigns to inform and bring awareness to the marketplace while evolving the company's brand.

[00:01 – 03:53] Opening Segment

Jennifer shares her 15 years of experience
Providing package management for multifamily operators

[03:54 – 12:41] Innovation in Package Deliveries

COVID has accelerated the growth of eCommerce
- There’s a significant increase in the number of packages on a daily basis
With Fetch, operators can spend less time on package management and more on resident experience
Breaking down the Fetch experience step-by-step and how it can help customers depending on their needs
Less delivery drivers, less mileage, and less wear and tear on the parking lots

[12:42 – 20:21] Scalable Package Solution for the Future

Lockers are not sustainable solutions, especially for larger properties
Fetch assumes liability for damaged or lost packages
What’s next for Fetch?
- Assistance in making returns
- New locations
Jennifer talks about her role in partnerships

[20:21 – 21:53] Closing Segment

Reach out to Jennifer at jcarter@fetchpackage.com and head over to their website, fetchpackage.com.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“On average, you're typically seeing one on-site employee spending 35 hours a week just on managing packages… where they could be and should be honestly focusing on resident experience.” - Jennifer Carter

“If it’s a small property, it (lockers) might be fine. When you're looking at an average property of 250 units or more, it really makes sense to have an offsite package company that's handling those packages.” - Jennifer Carter

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Every real estate owner knows that parking has a huge impact on the property. Here’s how you can increase revenue and resident satisfaction through smart parking management technology.

Avi Cohen is the Co-Founder of Parking Badge, a premier digital parking software company established in 2019. He sits down with us to talk about this exciting software solution that brings property owners added value each month and ensures that they are utilizing their assets properly. With the goal of providing software as a solution to all parking facilities from multifamily, commercial, real estate, and more, Avi and Parking Badge are on the rise to bring PropTech to everyone in the parking industry.

[00:01 – 04:21] Opening Segment

Avi talks about his background
Finding solutions for common parking lot problems

[04:22 – 19:17] Upgrading to Digital Parking Management

What does a parking lot run by Parking Badge look like
Avi breaks down where and how they are implementing this technology
Providing easy and specialized setup for parking management during events
Improving communication between property owners and property managers through a cleaner, faster, and more interactive system
What is a reserve parking setup?
How Parking Badge is accommodating EV

[15:29 – 21:55] Generating Residual Revenue with Zero Investments

Avi discusses the implementation process for clients
How parking management systems can increase occupancy and retention
The financial benefits to property owners

[21:56 – 24:02] Closing Segment

Reach out to Avi and Parking Badge through their website. Contact them at avi@parkingbadge.com, rachel@parkingbadge.com, and 304-301-1351.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“You see everything that you're getting and everything that's going in and out. Everything’s accounted for and not having to hire somebody is also a big deal.” - Avi Cohen

“This is not only going to get the parking lot under control and it's going to make the parking lot a safer place, but this is a way to bring revenue into the property.” - Avi Cohen

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How can we make sure that we are getting the best results from our marketing spend?

In this episode, we welcome Erina Malarkey, Co-founder of Remarkably. She is responsible for the strategic vision and direction of the company’s cloud-based marketing business intelligence software. Remarkably makes it easier for marketers and multifamily operators to get data-driven insights and adjust their marketing strategies for better success. Erina also gives her perspective on the best marketing practices in the multifamily space and the ways we leverage data to accelerate business growth.

Bringing more than 15 years of multifamily real estate expertise to her role, Erina has forged deep relationships within the multifamily industry and is recognized for her commitment to shifting the status quo of multifamily marketing. Her ability to define and meet the needs of the nation's top managers, owner/operators, investors, and developers with an intuitive and value-generating platform has been instrumental in Remarkably’s success.

[00:01 – 02:57] Opening Segment

Erina on the first-ever multifamily marketing business intelligence solution
Marketing is essential in the multifamily space but we’re lacking the tools to optimize our marketing budgets

[02:58 – 17:55] Transforming Data into Action

What is business intelligence?
How Remarkably simplifies data gathering and insighting
Differentiating earned channels and paid channels
- The value of resident experience and their referrals
- Listen to our previous episode with Ben Pleat: Using Technology To Build Better Resident Experiences
There is no “one-size-fits-all” marketing
Understanding our goals for the property and knowing what levers to pull

[17:56 – 19:17] Growth Hacking Through Technology

The potential application of the technology to other facets of real estate
Erina breaks down Remarkably’s customer base
The exciting things their team is currently working on

[24:42 – 26:17] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Erina? Email her at erinana@remarkably.io. and follow her on LinkedIn. Learn more about Remarkably through their website.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“What the heck can I actually learn from my data? What sort of steps should we take?” - Erina Malarkey

“More data, more problems, unless you've got a way to harness it. Business intelligence is a good way to do that.” - Erina Malarkey“The great irony is that, as an industry, we market at the property level.” - Erina Malarkey

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Imagine walking through a home before it’s even built.

Here to talk about how they are making this possible are Daniyal M. Awan and Milica Gvozdenovic of 1to1 Plans, a floor plan design visualization startup.

1to1 Plans is a one-of-a-kind design lab that uses patent-pending technology to display full-scale building plans on a walkable digital floor with portable furniture and provides a virtual tour for the users. Co-founder and CEO Daniyal M. Awan discusses the company’s goal of enabling architects, builders, and developers to eliminate costly and time-consuming design mistakes as early as possible in the construction timeline. Milica Gvozdenovic, Business Development Executive, also joins us to share how they are instilling confidence in clients through their very realistic walkthrough experience.

[00:01 – 05:48] Opening Segment

Daniyal introduces 1to1 Plans and the amazing work they do
Milica talks about helping clients gain confidence in their future projects

[05:49 – 19:17] Experiencing the Unbuilt

The step-by-step process to bring life to floor plans
What solutions are they offering to clients
Applications for renovations
Use cases for production home builders
Their outlook for the future of real estate technology and 1to1 Plans

[19:18 – 21:01] Closing Segment

Connect with 1to1 Plans! Head over to their website to know more about their work. Follow them on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“They can walk through every inch of the project, get a chance to fine-tune, and perfect everything off the design before they even break ground.” - Daniyal M. Awan

“When we have custom home builders, you see how their clients get excited and so happy about their future home.” - Milica Gvozdenovic

“The way we've designed the overall process is we eliminated all the preconceived notions in the design world.” - Daniyal M. Awan

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With technology advancing, a lot of people would say that what we lack now is human touch. But as property owners, developers, and managers, there are many ways to merge the two and create a fantastic living experience for our residents.

Ben Pleat is a firm believer that human touch is crucial to a strong and successful community. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cobu, the leading virtual community platform built for multifamily in over 82 cities and 34 states in the United States and Canada. Ben is constantly fascinated by innovation in the real estate industry and has explored the nexus of real estate and technology.

In this episode, he deep dives further into how engaging tenants and curating communities can bring a huge boost to our business.

[00:01 – 02:45] Opening Segment

Get to know Ben and the story behind Cobu
How Cobu increases resident retention

[02:46 – 12:27] Building a Sense of Belongingness

Binding the community tighter through common interests
Effective community moderation
It’s more than just an apartment, it’s a sanctuary
- How can we add value to our tenants’ homes?

[12:28 – 22:28] Improving Occupancy and Retention

The Cobu way of promoting rental properties
How genuine connection equates to tenant stickiness
Clients would pay more for better experience
The potential for creating a referral system through reviews
Ben on always aiming to improve the client experience
Cobu’s commitment to their mission

[22:29 – 23:25] Closing Segment

Connect with Ben Pleat on LinkedIn and visit Cobu at www.livecobu.com!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“It's ironic to me that we're more digitally connected as a society, right? Facebook, Instagram, yet as human beings, we're more disconnected.” - Ben Pleat

“Meet residents where they are. Give them the experience that they're looking for. It delivers on this sense of belonging, of being part of something bigger. It's not just you and your unit, and you have to fend for yourself. It’s kind of building a network or community around you. It's people that are like-minded, you can engage as much or as little as you want.” - Ben Pleat

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Wealth-building shouldn’t be exclusive to the rich. This is why Levi Brackman and his team created a crowdfunding fractional real estate marketplace where everyday investors and real estate owners transact. Levi is the CEO and Founder of Invown and he’s here with us today to share what they are doing to make real estate investing easier and more accessible for all.

Levi Brackman has been investing in real estate for 17 years. He is a serial entrepreneur, bestselling author, Ph.D. in the quantitative social sciences, former principal data scientist at Travelport, and executive at Priceline and BP. Levi holds a Master's degree from University College London and three rabbinic ordinations.

[00:01 – 08:40] Opening Segment

Levi talks about this background and how he thought about the need for an efficient peer-to-peer marketplace
Realizing the inequity in the real estate space
Remembering his father and the lack of resources for wealth-building back then

[08:41 – 14:25] Lowering the Barrier of Entry to Real Estate

Levi explains the two-sided marketplace
How the Crowdfunding Act changed the game
Opening up better investment opportunities to normal people and non-accredited investors through Invown
What’s the minimum amount to be able to participate in deals in the portal?
Aiming to become the platform for all asset classes of real estate

[14:26 – 20:50] Educating People About New Technologies

Jeff and Levi give their take on Crypto
The challenges of being regulated when it comes to getting the word out
The strategies they do to market and drive traffic to the website
Levi reflects on the importance of making the platform and the technology available to the “little guys” like his father

[20:51 –22:12] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Levi Brackman? Email him at levi@invown.com and visit Invown.com if you want to start investing with as little as $500!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“There’s something wrong with a world that only the wealthy can really trade their money for money.” - Levi Brackman

“I want the little guy to participate in my deals because I want everyone to have the same opportunities. “ - Levi Brackman

“It's a big lift to get people aware of what they can do and give them all the information to make an informed decision.” - Jeff Hoch

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PetScreening is the perfect solution for landlords and property managers who want to build a more pet passionate space. In this episode, PetScreening's Director of Education & Outreach Victoria Cowart joins us to break down how they are helping housing providers to make empowered decisions when it comes to animal accommodation requests from their residents. Ultimately, the aim is to protect not only the business but the community as well.

Previously, Victoria was also a direct multi-family industry member with extensive experience providing management and oversight for multifamily housing communities, and HOAs. She has served the industry as President of both the local and state affiliates as well as having served as a Regional VP for Region VI for NAA. She is a management instructor and a proud graduate of both the NAAEI Advance Facilitator Training and the NAA Lyceum Program. She is passionate about education, simplification, and creating ease and understanding for industry members.

She is passionate about education, simplification, and creating ease and understanding for industry members. Victoria is a wife, mother, and a proud PetScreening pack member who also leads her own “pride” of three pound-kitties.

Listen in and know why pets are good for business!

[00:01 – 06:23] Opening Segment

How Victoria started with property management
Introduction to PetScreening
- Serving the community on all things pets
- Acquiring pet data
- Helping properties earn more pet revenue
- Mediating tough conversations
The impact of COVID on pet ownership
Controlling liability is the core

[06:24 – 13:08] PetScreening For Pet Loving Communities

Moving from a pet friendly to pet responsible space
The screening process of PetScreening
Creating the household Pet Profile
Getting Digital passports for pets
- Differentiating support pets from regular pets
- Detecting disability frauds

[13:09 – 20:44] Managing Pet-Related Risks

How PertScreening helps in legal proceedings
- Providing a database of pet profiles
The increase of requests for assistance animals
- A report on the mental and emotional well-being of the community
Encountering a menagerie of pets
Using FIDO score is a move toward equity
Protection for the furry children too

[24:00 –24:48] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Victoria Cowart? Follow her on LinkedIn! Head over to petscreening.com if you want to know more about her and her team.

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“These renters who find that their community is truly pet passionate are far more loyal. They stay longer, they pay more, they move in faster.” - Victoria Cowart

“We want to move from pet friendly to pet passionate and pet responsible because 73% of the residents out there, whether they own pets or not, pet responsibility is an important component of where they live.” - Victoria Cowart

“With PetScreening, you can improve the pet responsibility level and make sure that your poodle has properly screened playmates.” Victoria Cowart

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In this episode, we welcome Tina Larsson from The Folson Group to discuss how they are helping owners, operators, and developers of commercial real estate increase the value of their property with cost-saving and sustainable solutions. From cost-cutting to project management, their company has successfully saved buildings hundreds of thousands of dollars, including buildings with no maintenance increases for 7 years.

Tina also holds a LEED Green Associate designation and is on a mission to make NYC greener, more sustainable, and more affordable one building at a time.

Hear from the expert and learn how to cut costs on your property now!

[00:01 – 04:25] Opening Segment

How the company started
- How they came up with the company name
- Saving her co-op $340,000 in the first 3 years

[04:26 – 16:35] How They Are Working With Co-Ops and Condominiums

Creating proprietary benchmarks for hundreds of buildings and finding outliers
Heating, water, and electricity usage, and insurance costs are areas to look into
Reviewing contracts of ongoing services of the buildings
The importance of engaging the board and getting them on the same page
Introducing technology solutions to buildings
Navigating the laws and regulations of different states
Discovery and data gathering process for onboarding a new building
- Why they are doing slow rollouts of savings

[16:36 – 27:44] Into the Green Future

Local Law 097 and what NYC buildings are doing to meet the new energy standards
Parking space upgrades and making buildings EV-ready
- Take advantage of rebates and incentives
Tina on her passion for conservation and sustainability

[27:45 –29:43] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Tina Larsson? You can find her and her work on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Visit their website: The Folson Group

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“I'm very passionate about conserving and not wasting. And it's in general. I don't only shop at second-hand shops, but it means that I just don't like throwing things out.” - Tina Larsson

“I am passionate about helping New York City co-op and condo owners live in a building that's greener more sustainable and more affordable.” - Tina Larsson

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Intrusions on sites are a real issue. Even in the best or the most remote of areas, it's still a problem. How do you then protect yourself and your business?

Shawn Scarlata is the founder and owner of Mobile Video Guard. He joins us today to share easy and effective solutions to increase security in your business location. He discusses the benefits of having a remote video surveillance system and why it’s a good investment for your premises and for your peace of mind.

Listen in and learn how a virtual guarding center can scale versus a physical guard in the field!

[01:09 – 05:15] Opening Segment

How the company started
- A more cost-effective way to protect construction clients
Physical Guardian world
- Frustrations with physical guards
- Physical limitations of a physical guard

[05:18 – 08:22] Multi-Purpose Use Of Having Cameras On-site

Dealing with a number of infiltrations, especially in the construction industry
- Whether it be the best areas or the most remote of areas, there are still going to be intrusions
Other uses of having cameras in construction sites
- Another mode of monitoring people in construction projects

[08:24 – 15:02] How The Surveillance Cameras Communicate With Our Clients

Monitoring what appears to be illicit behavior
- How to handle it?
- What happens from there?
How the camera communicates with our clients
The different kinds of cameras that can be utilized for different purposes

[15:17 –23:12] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Shawn Scarlata? You can find him on LinkedIn, Twitter, and his Blog.

Visit his website: Mobile Video Guard

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“We want to make security easy and effective so that, the project manager or supervisor… Security falls under their responsibility for that project, but they shouldn't have to worry about that. It's not their expertise, it's not their specialty.” - Shawn Scarlata

“While there are applications that a physical guard is needed and is appropriate, there's a lot of applications that use physical cards that I don't think it's the best option.” - Shawn Scarlata

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Have you ever heard about 3D-printed houses? Our today’s guest, Charles Weinraub, will share with us how this is revolutionizing the housing industry, and what minds are behind this technology. Charles is a dynamic investor and personality who has flipped over 400 houses in the last five years. He earned a Master's in Real Estate Development at NYU and has expanded his investment operation into Commercial Real Estate and NPLs. Charles is also a part-owner and board member of SQ4D, a company that is now 3D printing houses out of concrete. Charles shares his knowledge with the real estate community through his podcast and daily social media posts.

Let’s jump into 3D printing homes by a private developer!

[00:01 – 06:15] Opening Segment

Charles talks about his background and work
- His working experience with 3D printing
- How he ended up doing commercial deals
What you have to do to get the lot ready for 3D printing

[06:16 – 19:20] 3D Printing Homes By A Private Developer

How the finishing treatments of the interior-exterior are for 3D printed houses
- Everything depends on your budget and your taste
What can happen in places where temperature and environmental conditions are rough
The amount of time you will spend extruding the cement
- Approximately 40 print hours
Charles explains how a finished house will sell in the marketplace
How the inspection would be done for that type of construction methodology
- The scrutiny depends on the building department

[19:21 –22:19] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Charles Weinraub? You can find him on Youtube and Instagram. Make sure to listen to The Smells Like Cat Pee Podcast. Head to SQ4D, the world’s largest permitted 3D printed home as of January 2020!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“In the future, you're gonna see 100,000 square foot industrial buildings, two printers running at the same time. And just last thing, a straight wall. That's really where the economies of scale come in and you save a lot of money and get a better product.” - Charles Weinraub

“The cool thing about a 3d printed house is that whatever you can dream up you can get it.” - Charles Weinraub

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Are you familiar with the micro living term? This concept can be incorporated to build a community and a new way of living for the future. This week’s guest, Zain Mahmood, will go deeper into what micro living means and why it is important to create sustainable places based on human connections. He also breaks down the elements that are key to making a positive social impact in the communities.

Zain is the Co-Founder and COO of Casata, the first developer of modern, artsy, micro, single-family rental communities, committed to the ethos of environmental sustainability using contemporary manufacturing and home-automation technology. Zain has an extensive record of growth leadership across multiple industries, orchestrating business turnaround and re-launch, developing dynamic A Teams, acquiring and integrating companies, and subsequently generating double-digit, profitable growth.

Tune in and learn how to take micro living to the next level!

[00:01 – 05:02] Opening Segment

Zain introduces Casata
- An idea to give people a taste of independent living
- A micro single families rental community
- How was to launch their first community in Austin, Texas
Zain’s interest in micro living and modular construction

[05:03 – 18:59] Taking Micro Living To The Next Level

Having a social consciousness in the housing product is vital
- Casata ethos is based on micro, green, and living
- The community alchemist and campus alchemist concept
Advantages of working with micro living units
- It’s efficient, less costly, and speedy
Zain shares Casata’s expectations for coming projects
How Casata incorporate technology into their properties
- Integrate 16 different technologies into one platform
Why it is essential to have a standardized technology, design, and operations

[19:00 –23:26] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Zain Mahmood? You can find him on LinkedIn. Go and visit Casata; independent homes people can call their own, nestled within fun, vibrant communities centered around human connections, nature, and a modern lifestyle!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“Young generations are looking much more for experiences than gathering things.” - Zain Mahmood

“We believe that we have been building a new way of living for the future.” - Zain Mahmood

“Every Casata unit is designed with purpose, where energy and water conservation is a way of life” - Zain Mahmood

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Do you also believe that ESG is closely tied to property effectiveness? Our guest, Logan Nagel is passionate about how new tactics and tools can boost workflow efficiency for brokers and investors. He will share his insights about tech strategy and investment as well as the role of ESG within real estate. He discloses meaningful and relevant standpoints in regards to PropTech and the remote work capabilities in the multifamily world.

Logan is the Head of Research for Propmodo, the leading real estate tech, and trends publication, as well as an active real estate innovation advisor. He’s worked in multifamily investment and brokerage at J.P. Morgan, Cushman & Wakefield, and several smaller firms. Logan currently writes and focuses on different areas such as multifamily investment and development, CRE productivity, and ESG.

If you want o go deeper into PropTech and ESG, this episode is for you!

[00:01 – 03:05] Opening Segment

Logan shares his background and work
- Doing tax credit work
- Being involved in real estate multifamily
- Being passionate about the innovation behind real estate
- Starting to work at Propmodo

[03:06 – 15:29] Separating The News From The Noise

Logan’s particular topic areas to write about
- The equipment that enhances the tenant and building experience
- The rise of hybrid work
Logan’s insights about building remote work capabilities
- A new frontier of monetization
Having a clear commingling of tech and real estate expertise is key to supporting tech investment and strategy
Real estate businesses are missing a trusted source of reviews

[15:30 – 25:00]

Make sure that the platforms you choose to partner with are that data sharing
- Have an open API solution
- Include real estate and non-real estate tech tools
Logan’s perspective of ESG (Environmental, social, and governance)
- There are over 600 ESG standards globally
- The role of real estate in the environment
The mark Logan want to leave in the industry
- Help younger real estate companies get more effective and innovative

[25:01 –26:30] Closing Segment

Want to connect with Logan Nagel? You can find him on LinkedIn. Make sure to check LoganNagel.com, pushing the built environment envelope!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Tweetable Quotes:

“I've always been an entrepreneurial person. And I really respond well to things that enable faster growth.” - Logan Nagel
“One of the things that is really important to acknowledge is that the [environment] is closely tied to property effectiveness.” - Logan Nagel
“As a prop-tech commentator, if I could help companies that are the next generation of real estate leaders, and help them get a little bit more maybe prop-tech educated and effective, then I will be happy.” - Logan Nagel

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Let’s welcome our today’s guest, Mike Wolber! He is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Rent Dynamics, leading the Go-To-Market teams of Sales, Account Management, and Marketing. Mike is the founder and creator of the Modern Multifamily Podcast, a board member of the Silicon Slopes Northern Utah Chapter, and a technology and multifamily enthusiast. He is passionate about technology, business process, relationship building, and sales. We have a deep conversation about what Rent Dynamics does, how the company adds value to residents along with properties, and why it is important to have a sustainable and social approach in the industry.

Let's jump into the resident journey through technology!

[00:01 – 02:39] Opening Segment

Mike introduces Rent Dynamics
- A tech company serving the multifamily industry
- Help and expand the Go-To-Market
- Having products and valuable solutions that positively impact the residence experience
- The resident journey, marketing, and leasing retention

[02:40 – 11:20] Improving The Resident Journey Through Technology

Problems that Rent Dynamics solve
- Marketing funnel: Get the attention of seekers and prospective residents
- Being staffing
Mike shares how the contact center works and enhance the lease process
- Being flexible and adaptable
- A 24/7 staffed: Overflow and leasing calls
Mike explains the advantages of Rent Dynamics
- Focus on delighting customers with good integration
- A technically savvy team
How Rent Dynamic provides value once a person becomes resident
- A compelling reason for residents to stay longer
- Create value for both the resident and the property
- Help residents to either establish or improve their credit score
- Have a socially responsible initiative

[11:21 – 17:50] Creating Solutions for Residents and Properties

Rent Dynamic’s road map around acquisitions and mergers
- Capital efficient: Keep the balance sheet in order
- Not necessarily be the acquired, but also be the acquirer
The Advantage Program in Utah
What Mike enjoys about Proptech
- The industry multifamily is aligned to modernize the industry and develop solutions for the property and residents
- Modern Multifamily Podcast
- Focus on the sustainability and the social side of real estate

[21:13 –24:00] Closing Segment

The importance of creating value on social media
- Grown LinkedIn by more than 500%in the last year
- Engage and create content: perception of the industry
How to connect with Mike
- Links below
Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Being able to play nice with all of your vendors in one sandbox, it’s valuable for our customers and our technical patterns. And at the end of the day, we want to be part of moving the industry forward.” - Mike Wolber
“Leasing teams and marketing organizations are actually seeing an attraction to the community based on offering such a socially responsible initiative.” - Mike Wolber
“I found a ton of value in liking content, engaging in content, creating my own content. We’re creating a perception in the industry, that we’re friendly, that we know the industry, that we’re super smart, and all of those tangibles really create a good experience.” - Mike Wolber

Resources Mentioned:

Founder Brand - Dave Gerhardt

Want to connect with Mike Wolber? You can find him on LinkedIn. Go and visit Rent Dynamics. From attracting leads, helping you qualify and manage prospects, to increasing renter retention!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

Founder Brand: Turn Your Story Into Your Competitive Advantage

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In this week’s episode, I’m really happy to have Bob Langlois. He is the founder and Chief Ideator of Water Control Management (WCM), and his main goal is to test new technology to provide solutions that help people reduce their water consumption and save their expenses. Bob also identifies the strengths of others in the #proptech space and explores how to support those strengths for the mutual benefit of new #proptech partners and the clients that rely upon WCM for ideas and execution.

Let’s dive in!

[00:01 – 04:27] Opening Segment

Bob shares his background
- A professional services firm: Property tax recovery
- Started looking for a different industry in 2015
- Water Control Management
- Navigating the P&L statement on the expense side

[04:28 – 14:11] Introducing Water Control Management

Bob shares how the process of examining the property is
- Identifying with a desktop audit where the outliers are
- Looking the basic blocking and tackling flow rates
- Getting a sense of overnight consumption
- Using and algorithm and AI to develop an intelligent profile
How water monitoring and metering is done
- LTE or cellular based technology
Don’t worry about WiFi in the building
Support remote installations
Most of water meters operate on a displacement basis
Bob shares what people can expect from the metering devices
- Within 3 to 4 days the machine learning build a profile
- Evaluate alerts and notifications: temperature alerts, humidity alerts, etc.
- Provide some customization.
- Know how much of your 24 hour consumption is from water loss or continuous flow
The effect of having one defective toilet, fill valve, faucet,etc.
- An expense of $100 in a single day

[14:12 – 21:12] Diagnosing Water Leaks Through High Tech Enablement

The benefits for commercial properties and multifamily residential by doing status to check their consumption.
- Reducing the percentage of loss
- Getting costs down
Bob’s experiences where issues weren’t immediately apparent.
- A student housing operation that had central cooling for the units.
- A building that installed new filtration equipment for the water going to the cooling tower.

[21:13 –24:05] Closing Segment

How Bob does detailed reports on social media.
- LinkedIn
How to connect with Bob
- Links below
Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“At the end of the day, what it comes down to is the human behavior element where as long as the fixture is working, it's not going to get reported to be addressed or repaired.” - Bob Langlois
“And so what I'm really excited about is connecting other people in the community that can benefit from or have interest in that data. [Flood Sensors]” - Bob Langlois
“ And I thought, what if I explore water, see how technology can be applied to solve some problems that are currently elusive in terms of property managers and property owners getting their head around water issues and buildings.” - Bob Langlois

Resources Mentioned:

Water Control Management

Want to connect with Bob Langlois? You can find him on LinkedIn. You can also get in touch at bob.langlois@water-controls.com or call 416-625-7801

Check out Water Control Management and make better decisions and take action to measure, manage and minimize consumption of water!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

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On the program today, we have a special guest, Joelle Grunblatt. Joelle is currently bringing her expertise to Ai-RGUS as the Chief Marketing Officer. She moved to Las Vegas in January 2019 and joined Ai-RGUS later that year as a co-founder. As an educator, and as a businessperson, it is Joelle’s mission to expand Ai-RGUS in the US and globally to make it a standard in the security space. Her passion is in developing innovative marketing strategies that raise product awareness to help organizations close sales.

Let’s dive into using artificial intelligence to improve video surveillance!

[00:01 – 03:19] Opening Segment

Joelle introduces Ai-RGUS
- Surveillance and video camera arena.
- An AI (Artificial Intelligence) software developed for Duke University.
It’s been used since 2017.
Founded in 2019.

[03:20 – 11:06] Using Artificial Intelligence To Improve Video Surveillance

Joelle shares how AI is applied to video surveillance work.
- Having repetitive tasks done by a computer instead of people.
- Comparing images.
- Ai-RGUS takes reference images from the cameras in the system.
- The software sends an automated alert if something doesn’t work properly.
How do you connect Ai-RGUS to existing camera systems?
- It will not touch upon any other software that is already installed.
- An IP connection to the cameras, NVR, or BMS.
- An IP address: internal or external.
- Performing automatically checks.
Recorder, hard drives, video management software, etc.
Joelle’s outlook about the success of the product in the industry.
- Multifamily, real estate properties, property management companies, and commercial properties.
- People want to make sure you can rely on cameras.
Insurance purposes, safety, potential vandalism, etc.
Prevent footage missing.

[11:07 – 15:54] The Virtual Guarding Concept

The benefits of virtual guarding and AI products.
- The work is done in a data center environment.
- AI is performing repetitive and boring tasks for humans.
- Saving a bunch of money.
Joelle explains how the Ai-ARGUS system works.
- Short and long term plans.
- The dashboard shows the current problems with the security system.
- The software sends the alerts and solves certain issues directly from the dashboard.

[15:55 – 22:50] Closing Segment

Joelle’s insights about the ideal quantity of cameras and ideal customer.
- A larger system.
- Pursue camera accounts of 50, 100, 1000, etc.
The mark Ai-RGUS wants to make on the industry.
- Set standards for security cameras.
- Make sure you have the footage that you need
How to connect with Joelle and Ai-RGUS
- Links below
Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“Ai-RGUS will make sure that you have the images that you need when you need them the most” ” - Joelle Grunblatt.
“[With AI] You have the piece of mind that the job is done well and employees are less stressed, and work is easy for them and you save a bunch of money” - Joelle Grunblatt.
“You place these [security] cameras for a reason, you want to make sure you have the footage that you need.” - Joelle Grunblatt.

Resources Mentioned:

Ai-RGUS

Want to connect with Joelle Grunblatt? You can find her on LinkedIn. You can also get in touch at joelle@airgos.com

Get results, save time & money! Allow Ai-RGUS to find unusable surveillance images

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

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Welcome back to the PropTech Today Podcast! On the show with me today is Todd Thorpe. He is a well-respected Multifamily & technology veteran with over 30 years of industry experience.Todd joined DojoNetworks in early 2021 as Vice President of Sales with responsibility for developing and executing sales strategies that drive revenue for the company.

DojoNetworks is a leading provider of Wi-Fi solutions for multifamily, affordable housing, student housing and senior living complexes. For almost 20 years, he held various executive leadership positions with Charter Communications where he grew multifamily sales in the Midwest and Southeast markets by 30%.

Stay tuned until the end to learn more about Managed Wi-Fi and smart community design!

[00:01 – 05:30] Opening Segment

I introduce our guest Todd Thorpe.
Todd talks about DojoNetworks company.
- One of the nation’s fastest growing providers of property managed Wi-Fi.
- It started in 1996 as an ISP provider.
- Focus on multifamily for 20 years.
An overview of the managed Wi-Fi service.
- The Wi-Fi service is offered as an amenity.
- The whole model of delivering internet changes.
No need for a modem or router.
Residents can get access to the internet once they move in.
The company sends the credentials a week before.
Every single unit will have access to Wi-Fi.
Amenity fee or tech fee to the resident.
A revenue generator.
A cheaper service than with a phone provider or local cable company.

[05:31 – 16:07] Wi-Fi Networks for Multifamily Real Estate Portfolios

Todd’s insight about ProTech and Commercial Real Estate fears.
- Tv service and solutions.
Traditional cable TV goes away in multifamily.
The advantages of having a Wi-Fi network nowadays.
Having access to Smart TV.
Subscribing to a lot of platforms: ESPN, Netflix, Hulu, Fox, etc.
IOT and Smart Technology
Todd talks about how the installation process works.
- The difference of installation between new constructions and properties that already exist.
- People are looking to implement technology in each unit to offer an overall package.
How tenants can stay connected to the network and stay secured as they move around the property.
- Wi-Fi coverage throughout all the property.
- Ruckus Partner.
Premier company for networking gear.
Installing a Wi-Fi system or network.
DPSK.
The importance of having access to the internet.
- The Affordable Connections Program.
- Funds to extend the fiber in remote locations.

[16:08 – 18:32] Closing Segment

Todd shares expectations of DojoNetworks company for 2022.
How to connect withTodd Thorpe.
- Links below
Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“The owner is able to use that as a revenue generator, and they are also able to give the residents a better experience and a cheaper service than they would get if they just call a local cable company or phone provider” - Todd Thorpe
“Investors are making sure that their capital projects when they fund them, they’re implementing technology as well to get an overall package.” - Todd Thorpe
“Closing the digital divide of people who are in affordable housing or low income housing where they don’t have access to the internet. Quality internet or they don't have access at all” - Todd Thorpe

Resources Mentioned:

Ruckus Networks

Want to connect with Todd Thorpe? You can find him on LinkedIn. You can also email him at todd.thorpe@dojonetworks.com. Make sure to check out DojoNetworks Website https://www.dojonetworks.com/ to have more information about this amazing company!

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

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Welcome to the ProTech Today Podcast! Here, we will meet Industry Leaders in the Property Technology and Real Estate Industry. Do not miss any of our episodes to know what is trending now. In today’s episode, I want to introduce you to Ned Hill. He is the founder and CEO of Position Imaging (PI), a pioneer in the field of advanced tracking technologies.

Ned graduated from University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a B.S. in Economics and is the inventor or co-inventor of over 50 patents/patent applications. He has been the guest speaker at multiple industry conferences including CES, Live Free and Start, and at MIT.

Under Ned’s leadership, PI developed iPickup; an industry leading AI-based tracking platform for optimizing eCommerce fulfillment. In addition to providing strategic vision for the company, Ned has also raised over $40 million in funding, driven technology, product, and application development, and created a global partner ecosystem including industry leading couriers, hardware and software companies, and service providers.

Let’s dive into new perspectives on technology!

[00:01 – 02:59] Opening Segment

I introduce our guest Ned Hill.
Ned talks about his background
- What inspired him to start the company.
- Tracking platform
- Logistics
- E.g. Multifamily Residential Package Management

[03:00 – 11:49] Revolutionizing Package Deliveries In Commercial Real Estate

Position imaging.
Mind blowing technology for tracking.
Problems and challenges technology saw for the residents and buildings.
- Staff.
- Resident experience.
- Carrier complaints.
Advantages of Smart Package Room.
Who the ideal client would be.
Ned explains how to outfit a building with the infrastructure and technology.
- Enhanced recovery protocols can be used for everyone
How the company deals with security.
Expectations of the company for 2022.
- Revolutionize baggage industry in the airline industry.

[11:50 – 15:36] Closing Segment

Connect with Position Imagining
- Links below
How to connect with Ned Hill
- Links below
Rapid fire question
Final words

Tweetable Quotes:

“We created this tracking platform with the goal of being able to track not just packages but any product, person, or part of the process.” - Ned Hill
“We are here to make that universe, and let’s go for it. I think we’ve got the technical shops, and this platform that we’ve created to actually make it happen” - Nell Hill

Resources Mentioned:

Position Imaging

Want to connect with Ned Hill? You can find him on LinkedIn and YouTube. Don’t forget to visit his website to learn more about innovative tracking technologies! https://www.position-imaging.com/company/

Let’s Connect! You can connect with me, Jeff Hoch on LinkedIn to look into Smart Building and Smart Apartment Technologies.

PropTech Today: Recent Episodes

Jeff Hoch