Property Solutions is the leading provider of property management software tools for the multifamily housing industry. We pride ourselves on building advanced tools designed to maximize the experience for prospects and residents. Our apartment websites, mobile applications, online leasing, and resident services will help lower your overall cost-per-lease and increase your property's value.

Property Solutions is hosting its first ever user conference this fall, and registration is taking off to secure membership at this exclusive special event. From September 25 to 27, multifamily leaders from across the U.S. will meet in Park City, UT to collaborate over the technologies and trends that will shape the future of our industry. To ensure availability and early bird pricing, we ask that those interested in participating please register at propertysolutions.com/summit2013.

As the minutes tick down to the big event, we’re working on the guest list. It’s kinda like when you’re picking out your crew for a kickin’ lakeside camp-out, and everybody’s gotta be game for a good time. Summit participants can expect to walk away with crucial industry insight, fueled by up-to-the-minute data and peer discussions. As far as conferences go, this is a new genre—one that’s driven by open conversation and forward thinkers. If you want in, here are 3 indicators to help guide your decision:

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Are you an early adopter? A big fan of the next big thing? Or just always looking for better ways to engage with residents? Property Solutions is pleased to announce that ResidentPortal 2.0 is available now in beta. In addition to updating the entire ResidentPortal interface, we've added a number of exciting new functions that are designed to help residents engage with you and each other more easily, facilitating communication and interaction within the ResidentPortal itself. Some of the new features include:

• Simplified online payments: Our most-used resident transaction is easier than ever, with all the information contained on a single page.

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Tired of hearing about Gen Y renters yet? It seems like the discussion has been going on for years. How is this generation different? What do they look for in a community? When are they ever going to move out of their parents' basements? More and more it looks like the answer to that last question is "right about now". Which makes the first two questions a little more relevant to your efforts to appeal to this growing segment of the rental market. As an estimated 80 million potential Gen Y renters start looking for their own place to live, here's how to get their attention:

Do your marketing online: Do you know where millennials are NOT looking for an apartment? In newspaper classifieds, grocery-store rental magazines, and neighborhood drive-by's.

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Do you use ratings and reviews to market your property? To improve customer service? Or not at all? Property Solutions is conducting a study on performance and executive involvement in Reputation Management through ratings and reviews. One participant will win a $50 Amazon gift card, to be awarded by random drawing at the conclusion of this survey on March 15, 2013.

It's no secret that Property Solutions loves video marketing. We think it's one of the best ways to capture attention and create engagement with an audience. And with a camera on every phone and video editing apps widely available, it's no surprise that video is fast becoming one of the most effective tools in the apartment marketing toolbox. So, are you using video? If not, here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Get residents involved: Sponsor a video contest or community "film festival" and provide residents opportunities to create mini-movies about living at your property. Establish a few simple rules (e.g., video must be 60-90 seconds, include property name in the dialogue, and feature a specific prop) then step back and let the creativity happen. You can hold a community event to screen the entries and announce the winners. Don't forget to post the cream of the crop on your Youtube channel and Facebook page.

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Is your website feeling blue? Not for long! Azul 2 gives you all the tools you need for a complete upgrade. The animated header includes up to three large images with your choice of bold text or customized links. We've made navigation simple and intuitive to encourage conversion. And editable colors, patterns, and widgets allow you to customize to your heart's content.

One thing I’ve noticed about myself in recent years is a greater tendency to forget (and even avoid) information because I know I can always look it up online.

Friend: “We’re meeting February 5th, 8:30 a.m. at Heritage Park...”

Me: “That’s perfect.”

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Dental Receptionist: “So when you come for your cleaning, you can take I-215 to...”

Me: “Hey, yeah, I can just Google it, right?”

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Brazen confidence is great—especially if you’re a sassy cartoon lady with a squiggly-hair updo. She looks like she maintains confident oversight of her company’s online presence.

Likewise, as a bona fide ProspectPortal guru, you’ve got a solid knowledge of your property website and how to make it really shine, but for your continued excellence, we’ve assembled a few *free* product extras which are worthy of your attention. Unless you’re already using them. In which case, you are correct, and awesome too.

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