Property Management Brainstorm Bob Preston

Can you imagine turning units without having to leave the office? In today’s episode, we find out how a property management software can do just that. Joining Bob today is Kobi Bensimon, Founder of Showdigs – the only property management software with on-demand showing agents. It has completely disrupted the residential property management industry by providing a network of actively licensed real estate agents who are trained to handle showings, alongside an easy-to-use scheduling system for prospects.

In this fascinating conversation, we find out how Showdigs works, the benefits of having a distributed workforce, managing more properties in a larger geographic area, and some key efficiency killers to look out for.

Topics Covered:


[2:53] Kobi Bensimon introduces himself and how he founded Showdigs.


[6:14] How Showdigs works and how it helps reduce ‘windshield time’


[11:12] The on-demand nature of the platform and the benefits of having a distributed workforce


[13:10] Working with licensed active field agents through Showdigs


[19:24] The interaction between a property management company and the agent


[21:50] The importance of having trust in field agents through the platform


[24:21] The typical workflow of making a listing


[27:01] How to overcome inbox overwhelm


[30:01] Handling the Move In Move Out (MIMO) process


[34:16] Showdigs’ process for documentation


[36:13] How an agent looking for a side gig can join Showdigs
 
[39:13] The importance of metrics and KPIs – and the ones to look out for


[46:47] Kobi’s story of emigrating from Israel to the US, and how he built his first property management tool, ActiveBuilding, after studying at MIT.


Connect with Kobi Bensimon, Founder, Showdigs and ActiveBuilding
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kbensimon/


Find out more about Showdigs
https://www.showdigs.com/ 


Connect with Bob Preston
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/


This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TunedIn, iHeart Radio and YouTube.

Is California in a housing crisis? This is a rhetorical question because the answer is an astounding YES!  
In California, an estimated 150,000 citizens have become homeless or live in shelters, while over 7 million Californians have been impacted by gentrification and are living in poverty. The median home price in California has eclipsed $800,000. Meanwhile, California remains one of the most difficult places in America to build affordable housing.
At the CALNARPM Conference in Napa Valley, April 21, 2022, Bob hosted and facilitated a panel in front of a live audience that addressed this topic. For this episode of Property Management Brainstorm, we've turned a recording of that panel into a podcast!  Bob posed some dicey questions to the expert panel which resulted in a lively discussion.

Bob is joined on the panel by Oscar Wei, Deputy Chief Economist, California Association of Realtors; Aaron Eckhouse, Regional Policy Director, California YIMBY ; and Keith Becker, General Manager, DeDe’s Rentals, Santa Rosa, CA.   

Topics Covered
[3:15] Bob, Oscar, Aaron, and Keith introduce themselves to the audience at CALNARPM.

[5:50] A recent 60 Minutes segment, featuring Seattle, focused on the housing and homeless crisis in that city. Is there a comparison between what is going on in Seattle and our housing crisis throughout California.

[11:30]  California's housing crisis is a complicated topic. What are the reasons we find ourselves in this situation?

[18:45] California builds far below the approximately 180,000 homes needed each year, just to keep up with growth. So what is broken, why aren't we building?

[25:55]  The supply of starter homes is shrinking by about 17% per year, a new generation of Californians don’t want to be tied down to a mortgage, and institutional investors are paying cash for single family homes, all of which have an impact on our local housing stock.

[37:10] With rents escalating at a rapid rate, are further protections needed for renters in California beyond AB 1482 and AB 3088?

[47:45] Are corporations, property management companies, and private citizens doing enough to have an impact on our housing crisis?

Connect with Oscar Wei, California Association of Realtors
https://www.car.org/marketdata/podcast

Connect with Aaron Eckhouse, California YIMBY
https://cayimby.org/

Connect with Keith Becker, DeDe's Rentals
https://www.dedesrentals.com/

Connect with Bob Preston
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/

This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify,  TunedIn,  iHeart Radio and YouTube.

In a property management company, recruiting and maintaining staff members who fit within the company culture is one of the biggest business challenges. Most of us in the post pandemic world are running hybrid if not fully remote work routines so there is no reason to be tied by geographic boundaries. On this episode of Property Management Brainstorm, Bob speaks with Pete Neubig, CEO at VPM Solutions, about finding and retaining talent in your property management company. VPM Solutions is an online placement, payment, and training platform dedicated exclusively to the property management industry, to connect employers with virtual assistants.

Topics Covered

[2:55] Pete introduces himself and company, VPM Solutions.

[6:25] What is going on with the “big quit” and why is it so hard to find good people to fill open positions in our companies?

[12:30]  Pete explains how VPM Solutions works and walk us through the process of finding virtual employee candidates.

[14:45] What is a Virtual Assistant and what are the positions within property management companies which a VA could be hired to fill?

[18:00]  What is the typical savings a company may see in hiring a virtual staff member and why?

[21:50] Are employers at risk at all in getting flagged by state employment regulators?

[25:48] Differences between VPM Solutions and other virtual assistant companies.
[27:50] What’s involved in getting started with VPM Solutions and how much does it cost?

[31:40] Pete talks about his side hustle as the host of NARPM Radio and tells a great story about his positive experiences in training and participating in Triathalons.

Connect with Pete Neubig
https://www.vpmsolutions.com/

Connect with Bob Preston
Property Management Companies in San Diego
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/

This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify,  TunedIn,  iHeart Radio and YouTube.

On this episode of Five Minute Friday, Bob brings his excitement about the upcoming CALNARPM Conference, April 20th - 22nd, in Napa Valley, CA!

This is a must attend property management conference, especially if you are a property manager or landlord practicing within the State of California. No kidding, it is the best state chapter conference every year and registration is only $295. Hurry and get registered now before it sells out! There will be an amazing slate of speakers, best networking you can find in the property management industry, and all within the ambiance of the California Wine Country in Napa, CA.

We have two fantastic key note speakers:  
Chip Eichelberger will be speaking on the ability to ‘Get Switched On’ and be at your best consistently in your property management business. Holden Fox will share “The Million Dollar Client Experience” on leveraging the smallest changes that will generate outsized benefits.Throughout the conference you will also have your choice of listening to sixteen amazing breakout session speakers addressing property management paradigm shifts, legal changes, and compliance requirements in the state of California.
There will also be a solutions and services tradeshow with twenty-eight  sponsors, showing and demonstrating what can make your property management business more profitable.
Get registered today and we will see you there when we kick off the CALNARPM Conference and Tradeshow at 9 am on April 21, 2022 in Napa, CA! 
Check out the Conference Agenda and get your ticket here: https://narpmcalifornia.org/conference/ 
Register for the Education Courses on April 20th:
Intro to Maintenance with Steve Schultz, MPM® : See More on NARPM.org and Register
Advanced Personnel Procedures with Kellie Tollifson, MPM®: Read More on NARPM.org and Register

Connect with Bob Preston
San Diego Property Management
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/

This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TunedIn, iHeart Radio and YouTube. 

On this episode of Five Minute Friday, Bob is talking trash! No, not the smack talk variety, but rather new California legislation which has taken effect regarding the disposal of organic waste.

This is something for CA landlords and property managers alike to be aware of, especially for multifamily buildings and apartment communities. Why is California doing this? California throws away more than 6 Million tons of food waste every year and more than 24 tons of combined “green organic waste”. SB 1383 is the new law which aims to reduce the short-lived pollutants that many Californians are currently putting in our landfills.

Why is this important? The reason is that landfill organic waste emits methane, a super pollutant that is more powerful as a greenhouse gas than CO2. SB 1383 advocates are targeting Californians to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025.

For those wanting more information on SB 1383 and California composting requirements, visit the Cal Recycle website at this web link:

California Composting Requirements Website:
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/

Thank you for joining Five Minute Friday, TGIF and we will catch you next week!

Connect with Bob
San Diego Property Management
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/

This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TunedIn, iHeart Radio and YouTube. 

The California legislative session for 2021 has come to a close and there is some important information to share about new California laws for 2022 pertaining to Covid 19 and tenants who may have suffered an impact. On this Five Minute Friday, Bob reviews the current status of the Covid Tenant Relief Act  and what California landlords and property management companies need to consider before taking action on a tenant for nonpayment of rent prior to March 30, 2022. Disclaimer, we are not an attorney and this by no means is intended to be legal advice or a complete legal review, but rather an overview of those landlord / tenant law changes that seem most important to be aware of during Q1 of 2022.

The COVID Tenant Relief Act (CTRA) was initially passed by AB 3088, and was subsequently extended and modified several times in 2021, with the last extension being AB 832. Bob covers a review of AB 832, the creation of the COVID-19 Rental Housing Recovery Act, and steps that landlords need to take if rent is delayed by a tenant and not paid by the monthly due date between from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022.

TGIF and we will back with another great FMF episode next Friday.

Connect with Bob
Property Management San Diego
https://www.ncpropertygroup.com/

This episode is always available for listening, sharing, or download at Property Management Brainstorm. Subscribe to Property Management Brainstorm on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, TunedIn, iHeart Radio and YouTube.