Multifamily Tech Gurus

Kerry W. Kirby
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Technology

The Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series brings you the latest real-world experiences of PropTech innovator Kerry W. Kirby and technologist James W. Lancaster. Kerry and Jimmy live on the technology side of the multifamily housing industry. Kerry has built an award-winning company, 365 Connect, the multifamily industry's leading innovator in AI-driven marketing, leasing, and resident engagement platforms, that he founded over two decades ago, and Jimmy leads product development at the company. Together, they are on the frontline of managing their team of developers, customers, and all the craziness in-between.

  1. 3d ago

    Disconnected: The Growing Divide Between Multifamily Owners and Fee Management

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they unpack a growing challenge in multifamily housing operations: the widening disconnect between property owners and the management companies operating their assets. In an era when owners expect uninterrupted operational performance through autonomous systems, many fee-managed relationships are still driven by outdated technology stacks and delayed communication models, leaving ownership groups feeling disconnected from the day-to-day performance of their communities. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy explore how the traditional owner-operator relationship is being reshaped by modern expectations around data, accountability, and operational alignment. They examine how fragmented technology stacks, inconsistent reporting, disconnected marketing efforts, and lack of real-time insight create visibility gaps that make it difficult for owners to fully understand performance, leasing activity, resident experience, and operational efficiency across their portfolios. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "Owners today want more than property management—they want optimized technology, connected intelligence, and autonomous systems capable of running communities without interruption. The future of fee management will belong to the operators who move beyond manual oversight and fragmented processes to build continuously connected operating environments that keep communities performing, leasing, and evolving in real time." Resources: Empowering managers and renters to thrive in an AI-driven world.

    24 min

  2. Jun 4

    The Automation Advantage: Scaling Operations Without Scaling Headcount

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they explore how automation is reshaping multifamily operations by enabling communities to grow, perform, and scale—without continuously increasing staffing demands. As renter expectations rise and operational complexity intensifies, operators are under growing pressure to do more with the same teams, tighter budgets, and faster response expectations. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy break down how modern automation tools are eliminating repetitive tasks, reducing operational drag, and allowing teams to focus on higher-value interactions that actually drive leasing performance and resident satisfaction. From automated marketing and AI-assisted communication to streamlined leasing workflows and real-time execution tools, they explore how technology is transforming operations from reactive, labor-intensive processes into connected, scalable systems designed for speed and consistency. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "The future of multifamily operations isn't about replacing people—it's about removing the operational weight that's slowing them down. Automation enables teams to operate faster, respond smarter, and scale more efficiently without increasing burnout or headcount. The real advantage comes when technology handles the repetitive work, allowing people to focus on the moments that actually create value, build relationships, and drive performance." Resources: Tomorrow's Intelligence Built for Today's Renters

    26 min

  3. May 28

    Restoring Occupancy Through Omnichannel Search and Social Visibility

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they explore how rental communities are restoring occupancy by creating continuous visibility across web, search, and social channels, as renters are no longer discovering communities through a single source—they are engaging across multiple search experiences simultaneously. Anchoring this conversation is a real-world case study featuring 365 Connect's marketing stack deployment at Skyline Trinity, a 238-unit multifamily community that faced rising vacancy and declining performance after relying on fragmented big-box technology systems. Seeking a turnaround, Skyline Trinity implemented a cohesive strategy that combined ADA-certified websites, automated search optimization, and AI-powered social media posts into a unified marketing engine designed to rebuild organic visibility. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "In today's market, occupancy isn't restored through a single campaign—it's restored through continuous visibility, seamless experiences, and systems engineered to capture attention wherever renters are searching. Operators that leverage a unified omnichannel strategy won't just generate more traffic—they'll create a leasing engine designed to convert it." Resources: Driving Demand at Scale with Precision Targeting and Steady Momentum

    27 min

  4. May 21

    Vendor Bender: The Margin Risk of Downstream Providers

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they unpack a growing but often overlooked risk in modern proptech: what happens when you bundle third-party services into your product—but don't control the economics behind them. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy explore the risk that comes with reselling or embedding services you don't fully control. From unexpected cost increases to contract misalignment and the challenge of passing those changes through to customers, they break down how quickly profitability can erode—and why most Proptech companies don't see it coming until it's too late. They discuss how dependency on third-party providers can shift power away from the product owner, creating a disconnect between what's sold and what's sustainable. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "The moment you bundle someone else's service into your product, you don't just inherit the functionality—you inherit their pricing, their decisions, and their risk. Every change they make—whether it's cost increases, service shifts, or policy changes—flows directly into your business and impacts your customer. And if you don't control those variables, you're not protecting your margin—you're exposing it. Because at that point, you're not just selling a solution—you're carrying the financial consequences of decisions you don't make." Resources: Uniquely curated integrations built for simplifying data.

    23 min

  5. May 14

    Expectation Inflation: Why Renters Expect More Than Ever

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they explore a powerful shift reshaping the renter experience and why the expectations of today's renters are no longer set by the apartment industry, as they are being shaped by the best digital experiences in everyday life, redefining what convenience, speed, and service truly mean. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy break down how modern renters no longer compare communities to other apartment properties—they compare them to the seamless, on-demand experiences delivered by companies like Amazon and Uber. From instant responses and transparent pricing to real-time updates and frictionless transactions, these digital-first platforms have redefined what good service looks like—and those expectations are now being carried directly into the renting experience. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "Expectation inflation isn't raising the bar—it's removing it. Renters now expect every experience to be seamless, instant, and intuitive, regardless of industry. What used to feel exceptional is now simply expected, and anything less creates friction. The question isn't whether we can meet that standard—it's whether we're willing to redesign how we operate to reach it." Resources: The Future of Multifamily Operating Models

    22 min

  6. May 7

    Staff Turnover in Multifamily: Rethinking the Onsite Experience

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they take on one of the most persistent challenges in the industry: staff turnover at the property level—and why fixing it requires more than just hiring faster, it's a signal that the onsite experience itself needs to be rethought. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy explore the reality of today's onsite roles, where leasing professionals and community managers are expected to juggle marketing, lead response, tours, applications, resident communication, and administrative tasks—often across disconnected systems and under constant pressure to perform. The result isn't just burnout—it's inconsistency, frustration, and a revolving door of talent that impacts both operations and the resident experience. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "The future of multifamily won't be defined by how many people we hire—but by how well we support the people we have. When we rethink the onsite experience, we don't just reduce turnover; we unlock the full potential of the teams that power our communities. That means giving them better tools, clearer processes, and the structure needed to succeed in an increasingly complex environment. When you remove friction and replace it with support, you don't just retain talent—you elevate performance." Resources: Driving transformation to bridge gaps and eliminate tasks.

    25 min

  7. Apr 30

    The Risk and Reality of Digital Accessibility in Multifamily Housing

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they unpack the growing risks and hard truths surrounding digital accessibility in multifamily housing. What many operators assume is "compliant" often fails under real-world scrutiny—exposing communities to legal risk, reputational damage, and missed opportunities to serve all renters equally. In this episode, they separate perception from reality, breaking down why overlays fall short, what true WCAG compliance requires, and how accessibility must be engineered directly into websites, applications, chatbots, and resident-facing systems. They also explore how automation and modern development practices are reshaping compliance—transforming it from a reactive checklist into a built-in operational safeguard. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "Accessibility isn't a feature you add—it's a standard you build to. In today's environment, if compliance isn't engineered into your platform from the start, you're not just behind—you're exposed. Too many organizations still treat accessibility as an afterthought, layering on quick fixes instead of addressing the foundation. But compliance doesn't live in patches—it lives in the architecture, in the code, and in every interaction a user has with your digital experience." Resources: Expand the access of your digital services to a wider audience.

    30 min

  8. Apr 23

    The New Leasing Engine: Combining Visibility, Experience, and Speed

    Join Kerry W. Kirby and Jimmy Lancaster, the masterminds behind the Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series, as they explore how organic social, AI-driven search visibility, and high-performance websites work together with streamlined flows and real-time leasing tools to create an "everywhere" effect—capturing attention, removing friction, and moving prospects from discovery to signed lease without hesitation. In this episode, Kerry and Jimmy break down why visibility and speed must operate as a single system to win in today's leasing environment. They examine how disconnected marketing efforts and slow leasing processes create hidden drop-off points that cost communities real leases. Drawing from real-world examples, they reveal how aligning discovery channels with frictionless website experiences and instant leasing tools creates a continuous path forward to convert prospects into residents. Kerry and Jimmy's Words of Wisdom: "Leasing has evolved into a connected system—where visibility, experience, and execution all move together. If a prospect can find you instantly, navigate effortlessly, and lease without delay, you don't just compete—you convert. The communities that win today aren't just present everywhere—they're engineered to perform at every step, turning attention into action and interest into signed leases with speed and precision." Resources: Powering Search to Sofa Solutions for Today's Renters

    29 min
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5
out of 5
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About

The Multifamily Tech Gurus Podcast Series brings you the latest real-world experiences of PropTech innovator Kerry W. Kirby and technologist James W. Lancaster. Kerry and Jimmy live on the technology side of the multifamily housing industry. Kerry has built an award-winning company, 365 Connect, the multifamily industry's leading innovator in AI-driven marketing, leasing, and resident engagement platforms, that he founded over two decades ago, and Jimmy leads product development at the company. Together, they are on the frontline of managing their team of developers, customers, and all the craziness in-between.

Information

  • Creator
    Kerry W. Kirby
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    106
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Multifamily Tech Gurus