Joseph Colaluca
CEO, Strive RealtyEstablished: 2013 \ Location: Providence, RI
Why AppFolio: \ There’s a certain type of passion you need in the real estate industry, and Strive Realty exudes that and more. With lofty goals of revitalizing the area in his hometown, CEO Joseph Colaluca knew his team needed a property management system that worked just as hard as they do. See how they’re using AppFolio Property Manager to automate for efficiency and stay competitive in a growing market.
Multifamily, single-family, commercial
Units Managed
300+ units
AppFolio Customer Since
2018
A rich history on Admiral Street
A native of Providence, Rhode Island, Strive Realty’s CEO Joseph Colaluca has strong ties to the area, particularly Admiral Street. It’s where his family is from; it's only two blocks away from Providence College, where he obtained his master’s in business; and it’s where he bought his first property. For Joseph, developing, managing, and owning property in Providence isn’t just a 9-to-5, but something he has a passion for, and he truly gives it his all every single day.
When choosing a name for his business, he thought back to the relationships he made at Providence College to find a name that represents who he is while highlighting his passion for real estate. The meaning of “strive” is to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. In their tenth year of business, Strive Realty has made a big name for themselves in Providence, with no plans on slowing down.
When the basics no longer cut it
As innovative as Strive Realty is in developing new projects, the software they previously used to manage their day-to-day operations was less than cutting-edge. They came to a critical point where they needed a property management software that could truly assist their efforts to grow. Then they found AppFolio Property Manager.
“Before my business started using AppFolio, we were really old school and used Excel. For marketing purposes, we were either posting on Craigslist or using social media to advertise available units. As we grew, a lot of things just became challenging, and I knew I needed a program that helped my business stay organized.”
Making a positive impact
Since switching to AppFolio’s one powerful platform, Strive Realty has been able to streamline and automate every part of their business:
A seamless leasing process
“During a time where we had to be socially distant, we had the resources and tools for residents to be able to sign leases or obtain rental applications electronically through AppFolio. With a click of a button, we can also post our vacant units, and they upload to rental websites. These unique features helped us streamline our marketing efforts and made the entire leasing process extremely easy.”
More efficient accounting
“As we grew, it became more and more challenging to manage our accounting. With AppFolio, my bookkeeper and accountant have saved a tremendous amount of hours using the different features and functions that streamline things like the rent collection process.”
Making maintenance a breeze
“Before, my maintenance team texted residents, and that posed a huge problem with residents texting about a leaky faucet at 1 in the morning. Now, residents can use the Online Portal to submit maintenance requests. From there, my team receives emails instantly as these requests come in. Automating this process within AppFolio has definitely given us a leg up on some of our competitors.”
Connecting with residents
“AppFolio helps us stay connected with our residents and vice-versa. Communication is definitely critical with property management, and the interaction and communication functions within AppFolio make it really easy and seamless to incorporate it into our program.”
Striving for success
One of Strive Realty’s biggest goals is to redefine Rhode Island real estate. Their company is unique since they can manage all aspects of real estate: real estate brokerage, property management, construction, and development. Currently, Strive Realty is working on a number of projects, including a restaurant, Strive Kitchen + Bar, that'll sit next door to their upcoming coffee shop and within walking distance of Providence College.
To put their best foot forward and bring their vision to life, Strive Realty relies on the intuitive platform of AppFolio Property Manager. They can automate repetitive tasks, boost their team’s productivity, and provide outstanding service to their residents in a seamless and streamlined manner.
“I almost take AppFolio for granted sometimes because I forget how useful it is. It frees up so much time for me and allows me to focus on buying more properties and growing the vision of Strive.”
Joseph Colaluca
CEO, Strive Realty
Making meaningful change in the community
Joseph’s passion doesn’t just end with projects. His passion also extends to the team he works with every day.
“What really motivates me is knowing that I'm not only having a positive impact on my employees but also in the community I’m involved in. It’s much more than improving the neighborhoods; our goal is to have a positive impact on our residents, neighbors, and the people within the community that we’re investing in.”
Being able to focus on more meaningful work, like improving their communities, is a top priority for the team at Strive Realty. The cutting-edge and innovative tools from AppFolio give them the space they need to exceed the expectations of their residents and win new business.
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Space to grow my
At the end of the day, Joseph enjoys working hard and being hands-on within all facets of his business. He’s able to do that because he has comprehensive property management software that gives him and his team the tools they need to make their workflows more efficient.
“AppFolio gives me the space to focus on growing my vision. My time is now freed up so that I can spend it in the more vital areas for growing my business. One of our biggest projects yet — a 48-unit development — is being built from the ground up on Admiral Street. It takes owning, managing, and developing properties from a neighborhood that you have deep roots in to another level.”
“AppFolio has definitely helped us grow as a company because it takes away from having to spend time with administrative tasks on a daily or weekly basis.”
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