The Official AppFolio Blog

Each person thinks of different ways in which they would use a new iPad if they were to win one. For some property managers they wanted the iPad to help them better market their properties but to others, they would like the iPad to help them deal with maintenance issues for their properties; here are their clever ideas.

As the maintenance supervisor I would be able to update work orders, contact vendors, owners, and tenants and update all of the accounting from the iPad. It would save the company time and money. –Michele

You can use the iPad to do video inspections of your property and then upload them to YouTube, and send the URL to Owners and prospective tenants. Also, you can use the iPad for move-in and move-out condition report back up. –Leeann

[The iPad would mean] no more driving back to the office after a move-out inspection. I would download the pics, send the report to the owner, and make work orders while on site. THEN ON TO THE NEXT THING. Throw away the map book, I GOT GOOGLE EARTH/MAPS with me. –Michael

I am the maintenance supervisor for my company. Carrying a laptop tends to be cumbersome, but carrying an iPad would be easier because there is a potential for an all in one solution without the cords (as well as looking stylish). –Nick

I can instantly create new work orders in the field and email them to the appropriate staff if I am approached by a resident while I’m on site at a property. I will never forget about a single resident! I will also be able to talk to my residents about their ledgers, lease terms and other information, without asking them to travel 45 minutes to the main office. As I am the only staff member at my satellite office, an iPad would do wonders for me, it would be like having another employee! My work efficiency could almost double with that saved time. –Morgan

I would use the iPad for property inspections…we have a 5 Point Inspection that is done 6 months into a lease, having access to the actual leasing information from AppFolio in the field is priceless…it allows me to check daily/monthly on actual 5 Point inspections needing to be done and the iPad would allow me to keep the inspections and the letter handy and available to email to the client. Having field access is the only way to keep my business running smoothly and effectively. –Anna

[I would use the iPad to] automate the maintenance walk-through process. A manager could walk a unit taking video and/or pictures of problem items, create the work orders on site and upload videos/pictures, and email out the work orders to owners for approval, or vendors to schedule work. This would eliminate the need for a call in to the office, additional paperwork, and tracking of work orders outside of the system. –Colin

The iPad would allow me the ability to create work orders right from the property when doing move out inspections…or to access my AppFolio while on vacation! –Mike

We would let our maintenance person carry the iPad so that she could get readable work orders on the road. –Devorah

I am an IT director for a property management company. I would use the iPad as I travel to different properties to check all the open IT work orders (we have an IT request website that logs IT issues) for that property. I can then fix any open items or follow-up with resolved cases. I can also check our actual inventory at the property against what is logged at the corporate office. Finally, it would allow me to “show-off” any new IT initiatives to both executives and property managers. –Lena

We hosted a great webinar with Grace Hill on the hot topic of Facebook for Property Managers. Charity Hisle, speaker, trainer, and social media consultant at Socially Engaged Marketing, covered lots of engaging content on how you can use Facebook in your property management business. The webinar focused on how to use Facebook, tools to help monitor what others are saying about your company and ways to differentiate your community from the competition.

Many participants submitted great questions during the Webinar and we wanted to follow up with Charity’s answers below:

When having site staff manage Facebook posts, what is your position on a social media policy? How do you overcome spelling, grammar, and most of all, the occasional attitude that shows through?
You definitely need a social media policy in place before you adopt any strategy. As for spelling and grammar, pre-scheduling posts through a tool like Sendible or HearSay will allow you to see what’s being posted for the week in advance. Any spur of the moment posts should first be typed in Microsoft Word and spell-checked. Training will help with any perceived attitude. Also, have the corporate office respond to complaints, rather than the on-site team, to prevent natural self-defensive responses. Remember that on-site should be the friendly face; let corporate handle conflicts.

When doing a contest on a property Facebook Page, such as a cutest pet contest, or something similar, is it required to get a contest App, or can the contest simply be done through the Page wall if a prize is being given?
It is pretty much required at this point to use an app. Wildfire is the cheapest one I’ve seen. Facebook can pull your page if you run a contest that violates their terms of service. You can take a risk, I have in the past, but understand that you could lose everything you’ve worked to build. Here’s a link to the Facebook site for specifics: http://www.facebook.com/promotions_guidelines.php

Speakers at AIM mentioned that we should be getting signed model releases from residents and staff displayed on our Facebook Pages and we should be displaying the fair housing logo prominently on the Page. What do you think?
If you have a legal team that can create the releases for you, go for it! However, a release isn’t legally necessary to post pictures you’ve taken yourself. Just be considerate: Always remove a picture upon request, put up signs to notify residents that you are taking photos and videos that will be posted online and that their attendance implies their consent. Putting the fair housing logo on your page isn’t a requirement, more like a suggestion. You can place it in the lower corner of your profile picture without taking up too much real estate. Remember, the size of the profile picture can be 200 pixels wide by 600 pixels high.

Our office has multiple locations in different regions. Do you recommend that we have different pages or is there a place to list multiple addresses?
There is not a place to have multiple addresses. One page per region should be sufficient and will prevent having multiple small communities instead of larger communities. This is a good opportunity to build brand recognition as well.

Is it a good idea to have more then one admin for your Page?
I recommend having more than one for any business page. Please use at least 2 admins in the event one user has a Facebook problem.

How much time is it taking people to actively manage their pages well?
About 30 minutes a day, after you’ve set it up and integrated it with your other online presences. 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes before/after lunch, and 10 minutes in the afternoon. Use HyperAlerts to monitor pages so you do not have to be online all day.

My property has a profile page not a fan page. Is there a way to convert the profile page to a fan page? If so, what are the steps?
Here is the link to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/help/?page=18918

What if I started a group first and then I started a Page and now I want to get rid of the group? How do I go about deleting the group so that people are not confused by which to join?
First start by migrating your group members to the Facebook page by encouraging them to go “like” the page. Warn them in advance that you are deleting the group page. Then create a “We’ve got a new page” event from the Facebook page and post a link to the event on your group page. Finally, delete the group under your group admin settings.

Thinking you may have a bullet proof strategy when it comes to local marketing? Be sure to not fall prey to these common marketing mistakes.

Using Long-Tail Keywords for SEO?
To strengthen your “search engine optimization” campaign, make sure you optimize your Website with both short-tail and long-tail keywords. A good way to come up with valuable long-tail keywords is to include the location and the industry name in search terms like “best san diego property management” or “new orleans property management.” Include these keywords in your titles, descriptions and meta tags, headers and Alt tags and this will help others find you online. When you optimize your site for your company name or industry alone, it will be competitive and difficult to achieve results.

Listing Your Business with Google Places is a Must
Google Places is a free and easy-to-use listing service that will place your company information on both Google search and Google maps. Customers can share reviews and this is a great spot for your company to be visible.

Not Monitoring Yelp?
You don’t want to miss the opportunity to address an unhappy customer on a public forum and show other readers that you care about making your buyer experience a positive one. Words of praise are great, but you may get some negative feedback from time to time and by monitoring Yelp, you can spot the unhappy reviews and respond to them in a nice and professional way.

Your Facebook Fan Page
Building a company Facebook Page is very important because millions of people are actively using Facebook and this is a marketing opportunity that you cannot miss! Network with industry professionals and build brand awareness through your Facebook Page, not to mention boost your SEO efforts in the process. We post interesting articles and resources for property managers on ours – www.Facebook.com/AppFolio.

This summary comes from a great blog by Hubspot: http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/10677/5-Ways-You-Might-Be-Failing-at-Local-Marketing.aspx?source=Blog_Email

While going through the responses for our iPad giveaway, there were several comments that made us laugh and we feel obligated to share some of the staff favorites. Interestingly enough, many of the comments had something to do with vacation. Enjoy and let us know what you think.

After I rent 3 houses with it in one afternoon because I can show all my listings to the many people that arrived to my showing, I would then launch the last space shuttle with it, then I would find a great restaurant with it and meet a very attractive woman there for a romantic dinner, then I would find out the movie times with it, then I would plan to go to Fiji with it and book my flight. Then I would put on some old spice and drink a Dos Equis. Stay thirsty my friend. –Troy

I would use my iPad to reach hundreds of people and create a flash mob experience at my property, video and edit it with iMovie, then post it to the Internet and create a buzz about our property. –William

While floating down the Colorado River on my raft and fly fishing, I will use my iPad to check and respond to emails, update tenants and owners, send out work orders, and to check to see what flies are working with fish at that time. –Darren

I would use the iPad to check emails or do work related things, or NOT. Probably not. –Jim

Currently I’m in my doctors office waiting for over an hour for 10 minutes of my doctor’s time. Well, with an iPad, I could review advertisements, screen applicants, and upload inspection photos to AppFolio….if my doctor can fix my back I’ll be all caught up and ready for golf. Who knew the doctors office could be so productive!! –Kevin

As an outsource bookkeeper for two companies using AppFolio, it would be great to be able to answer questions for one client while working at the other client’s office (or at least they could think that). Really, I would be sitting on the beach. –Maria

We would use an iPad to play angry birds, of course! When you’ve had a really stressful day where owners are demanding you to do your job for less pay; where tenants are demanding that you act as their marriage counselor; and where vendors are demanding money you don’t have yet. That’s when Property Managers need a sane way to release all the stress. With an iPad I could curl up in the corner under my desk and escape for just a little while from the chaos of property management. –Jennifer

The I-Pad is small enough that I could put it in my saddle bags and still get my work done when I’m on a weekend trail ride. This way when I’m on-call for the weekend, I can still do my normal activities right from the back of my horse! –Lynne

With an iPad I could sit along side the road, in a parking lot, or at the beach and do everything I currently do at the office. This would enable me to me to give up my office and not pay anymore rent. I can send money and collect rent via ACH and do everything I need to do to continue to run my business. Think of all the money I’d save on office expenses. Heck, speaking of money…if I had any I’d buy an iPad right now and not wait for the drawing. –Buster

We have one rule here: all office personnel is kept informed of building operations daily via e-mail. I could go on vacation and not be missed. –Geraldine

I would use the iPad to schedule rent increases…from Tahiti! –Chris

I would be unstoppable! I constantly have “work thoughts and ideas” when I am not at work. I would carry this with me all the time. It would be the best tool ever! –April

I would use it in the field for taking pictures, updating rental information, etc! Of course I would use it to manage my accounts while out of town basking in the sun awaiting my scheduled deep sea fishing experience and then again while waiting at the airport during my three hour layover. –Richard