As we head into spring, it’s not just homes that need a deep clean — multifamily property management systems can also benefit from a refresh. Now is an excellent time for property managers to pause, evaluate, optimize, and potentially upgrade their technology stack to ensure operations run as efficiently as possible.
From fine-tuning multifamily property management software to optimizing smart devices, here’s how you can give your tech a spring clean:
1. Audit Your Multifamily Property Management Software
A reliable property management software (PMS) is the backbone of modern operations. It streamlines everything from leasing to maintenance tracking. Centralizing your multifamily technology can significantly reduce operational silos and boost efficiency.
There are a few ways you can optimize your PMS for better oversight of your multifamily property management tasks:
- Evaluate Integrations: Is your PMS seamlessly integrating with other smart technologies, such as HVAC systems, access control, or smart water management?
- Update Permissions and Access: Ensure staff access is current, and remove permissions for former employees or outdated accounts.
- Data Cleanup: Remove outdated records and organize resident data to improve workflows.
2. Upgrade Your Smart HVAC Systems
With temperatures starting to creep up, energy management should be a top priority. Smart HVAC systems ensure properties remain at comfortable temperatures for residents while ensuring multifamily energy cost savings in vacant units.
Preparing your smart HVAC system now will ensure its optimal operation while additional sensors can conserve even more energy. To ensure you are maximizing the benefits of your HVAC technology, consider:
- Running system diagnostics: Smart HVAC systems can alert you to inefficiencies or maintenance needs before they escalate.
- Automating energy management: Integrate smart thermostats with your PMS for automated scheduling that aligns with unit occupancy, reducing waste.
- Installing door and window sensors: Installing sensors to pause HVAC systems when doors or windows are left open, further conserves energy.
3. Optimize Smart Access Management
Access management technology plays a crucial role in ensuring security and convenience in multifamily properties. By keeping up with the latest technology and ensuring that installed tech is functioning properly, property managers can have peace of mind and real-time control over building security.
It’s a good time to review your multifamily access control solutions and identify if there are any points for improvement that should be addressed. You can consider:
- Auditing smart lock usage: Check the functionality of smart locks, reassign access codes, and ensure system updates are in place.
- Reviewing security: Integrate smart locks with video doorbells and smart intercom systems for layered security and visitor management.
- Implement Self-Guided Tours: Enable prospective tenants to schedule property tours via secure, temporary access codes, freeing up your leasing team’s time.
4. Streamline Smart Water Management Systems
Water damage and inefficiencies can be costly for multifamily property managers. Smart water management solutions detect leaks and monitor water usage. Investment in this tech reduces both maintenance costs and environmental impact, while protecting properties.
Ensure you are looking after your tech and getting the most from your smart water tech by:
- Checking sensors and valves: Ensure water sensors are correctly placed and functional, ready to detect leaks before they become a problem.
- Track Usage Patterns: Use smart water meters to identify abnormal water usage and optimize conservation strategies.
- Plan Preventative Maintenance: Smart systems can alert multifamily property managers to minor issues, allowing proactive maintenance and avoiding larger repairs.
5. Review Enterprise Multifamily Technology Tools
Refreshing your tech is also about looking at the bigger picture. For larger portfolios, enterprise multifamily property technology ensures scalability and centralized operations. You could consider:
- Unifying your tech stack: Consolidate systems to centralize operations, making it easier to manage multiple properties efficiently.
- Leveraging AI for maintenance: Predictive analytics in enterprise tools identify maintenance issues early, reducing downtime and repair costs.
- Analyzing property data: Use reporting tools to assess energy usage, access logs, and occupancy trends to optimize workflows.
Spring is the ideal time to refresh your approach to smart property management. From refining property management software for multifamily to ensuring smart systems are optimized, a tech spring clean prepares properties for the months ahead.
Want to read more on multifamily technology? Read Angel Piontek’s thoughts on the multifamily tech trends to look out for in 2025 in Multifamily Insiders.
