Customer Story

Blue Key Property Management: Space for more sustainable growth

Blue Key Property Management

Established: 2019\ Location: Little Rock, Arkansas\ Portfolio: Single family, multifamily
Blue Key Property Management has rapidly grown its portfolio of single family and multifamily properties in Little Rock, Arkansas. We talked to Owner and Property Manager, Jessica Watts, to dive deeper into how AppFolio Property Manager is helping Blue Key Property Management scale sustainably by maximizing existing resources, streamlining operations, and freeing team bandwidth for more high-value work.

Units managed

81+

Previous solution

Buildium

Increase in units
managed

97%

Increase in
revenue

3X

“We knew software was going to be the way to scale. I wanted to make sure we were using the best software that was out there.”

Jessica Watts

Owner and Property Manager, Blue Key Property Management, 81+ units

The decision to switch was easy

With their previous software solution, the team at Blue Key Property Management felt bogged down by inefficient processes and inconsistent data. The issues only seemed to worsen as the organization grew. Tired of getting more questions than answers, Jessica and her team made the switch to AppFolio Property Manager.

“I struggled so much with the accounting on my previous software. My accountant and I had trouble figuring out their accounting system and how to get everything straight. I started shopping around for new software, and AppFolio was the frontrunner. We really liked the user experience: it was cleaner, more user-friendly, and the renter portal looked better.”

One powerful platform, designed to scale

From day one, Jessica has had big plans for the future of Blue Key Property Management. In just a short amount of time, the intelligent automation capabilities in AppFolio have dialed up efficiency and optimized her unit-to-staff ratio. By managing routine tasks with AppFolio, the team at Blue Key can focus on high-impact work — and take on more of it — without feeling overloaded or increasing the risk of things falling through the cracks.

“I want to see us grow in the short-term rental space as well as the multifamily, traditional rental space. What I'm finding is the more I can automate, the more properties I can take on. Being able to automate all of these processes empowers me and my team to spend our time going after new business.”

The ability to operate from anywhere, on any device

Whether they’re at home, in the office, or out in the field, the Blue Key Property Management team can work from anywhere with AppFolio. Having one powerful, connected platform paired with the convenience of a comprehensive mobile app makes it easy to stay connected wherever, wherever, and on any device.

“I really like how the mobile app is just a mirror of the website because I am out in the field constantly. The fact that I can do everything that I need to do on my laptop or phone has been extremely beneficial.”

More effective maintenance workflows

With the seamless online maintenance workflows in AppFolio, the Blue Key maintenance team has been able to digitize operations, streamline processes, and increase organizational transparency from the initial maintenance request to final work order completion.
“Our entire maintenance workflow goes through AppFolio, and we love it. My coordinator does everything remotely, so I don't have to go to locations anymore. We have a maintenance team who gets the work order on their phone, accepts it, and just clicks ‘work completed’ when everything is done.”

Providing owners with insights they want and need

Keeping owners informed is easy with AppFolio. The Online Owner Portal provides real-time insights into property performance and makes it easy to access documents, work orders, reports, and more. And, as Jessica explains, this feature is also a key selling point when she’s in the early stages of working with property owners.

“AppFolio is a big part of onboarding new rental property owners for us. I tell them about the reports they're going to get every month, including the enhanced rental owner statements. What’s great is that owners can be as involved as they want to be. They can log into their owner portal and view every work order, or they can just relax and receive that report automatically. It's really up to them.”

Always-on service improves the resident experience

Additionally, Blue Key Property Management relies on the Online Renter Portal in AppFolio to empower residents with self-serve options. These include submitting maintenance requests, paying rent online, and communicating via a centralized hub. With individual resident accounts, Blue Key team members can quickly see and easily manage resident needs, all from a safe, secure, fully connected system.

”All of my residents get set up and pay through AppFolio. Once they start using the online portal, I think they come to appreciate it. I know they all love getting their deposit back electronically and quickly.”

Space for more sustainable growth

When it comes to growing and scaling her company, the last thing Jessica wants is for success to come at the expense of her or her team’s personal lives. Instead, she has a vision for healthy, intentional growth, and AppFolio is key to helping her achieve it.

“I'm a firm believer in working smarter, not harder. AppFolio makes my job easier, and I trust the processes I’ve set up. I don't have to worry about my team.”

Jessica Watts
Owner and Property Manager
Blue Key Property Management, 81+ units