Since this is my first blog post I will come clean. I’m a geek. It isn’t necessarily a negative thing. I mean – we’re all on Multifamily websites looking for ideas, information. That makes us Multifamily geeks doesn’t it?
The actual definition of geek is this: (taken from Meriam Webster)
3 : an enthusiast or expert especially in a technological field or activity
We are all geeks about many things. When you’re a geek, you have a tendency to digest and learn as much as you can, and try every new thing. It’s your appetite and passion that keeps you going. As I read about ILS’s, rental websites, check processing, ACH, online availabilities, social networking, craigslist, utility billing, etc, I begin to wonder if while implementing these things we aren’t beginning to lose focus on the core fundamentals. Establishing a rapport with your prospect is job #1. Are we becoming blinded by the geekery (I don’t think that’s a word and I don’t care) and cool techy things and forgetting what a great thing building that relationship with a prospect is? We create systems to point them in our direction, guide them towards a unit, fill out the application and come close to moving them in automatically. (If keys could be made electronically then it would). This stuff is expensive and honestly – does it really help you rent apartments or can you just have a good website and with some excellent rapport building, drive the same types of results? Definitely something to think about.
Curious to hear what all of you have to say.
Happy renting everyone.
