If you’ve been paying attention to all of the talk swirling around the new iPad, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed by the hype. Is it really going to revolutionize the leasing process, or is it just a pretty gadget benefiting from Apple’s top-notch marketing? We’ve been asking the questions too and can say this with confidence: the iPad is stylish, cool, and people love playing with it. Put an iPad loaded with community information into your prospective resident’s hands, and you’re sure to get their attention.

So what about 12 or 24 months from now when the shiny new toy is no longer so fresh? Will that $500-$700 investment still be worth it? Here’s what we think:

Leasing

The iPad is the first hand-held leasing tool to really get traction in the multifamily industry. The device can be configured to become a “mobile kiosk” and shows every indication of becoming an important part of the leasing experience. It provides:

• Instant Marketing Content: Better (and greener) than a stack of brochures, the iPad can display all the benefits of living in your community. Photos, video, virtual tours, local attractions and more are at your fingertips.




• Instant Availability: Links to real-time floor plan, pricing, and availability information are all available through your iPad. Even better, a simple guest card form can capture lead information and integrate instantly with your lead management system.




• Paperless Applications: Ah, the elusive promise of paperless offices. With the iPad you’re one step closer. Prospective renters can complete the entire application process, including resident screening, on the iPad. No more paper and no more data entry!

Operations

Of course everyone is excited about using the iPad in the leasing workflow, but this charming device can also add value in handling many of the day-to-day tasks in the management office and actually work as a training tool to encourage residents to take advantage of the online options you already offer.

• Payments: Online payment systems are woefully under-utilized by residents. Yet estimates show that properties save up to $5 in operational overhead each time a resident pays rent online. How to end the impasse? Next time a resident walks into the office to pay rent, hand them the iPad and show them how to submit an online payment. Once a resident has enrolled in the payment system and made one payment, they’re more likely to pay online again.




• Maintenance Requests: The resident from 24B is standing in front of your desk complaining about the leaky faucet. What are you going to do? That’s right. Hand her the iPad! Training residents to submit and track the status of work orders online empowers them to use the ResidentPortal for their maintenance needs and increases resident satisfaction. Plus, it frees up your time. Yay!

Deployment

Setting up an iPad to do all of the heavy lifting in your management office can be a bit of a challenge. Creating links to your online systems and keeping the interface clean and un-cluttered can take a lot of time. This is where Property Solutions can help. We love the iPad and have developed a SiteTablet™ App that will soon be available through the App Store. You can have all of the functions described above up and running in minutes with customization options and central management available through our robust ResidentWorks interface.

Other Considerations

Is the iPad over-hyped? Certainly. Are the operational advantages such that this trendy new gadget will endure the hype? We think so. Keep your eyes open for new iPad imitators that are being developed to give this device a run for its money: The HP Slate will provide more flexibility to application developers than the rigid iPad OS. Archos’ Home Tablet runs the Android OS has a smaller display, but at only $179 will certainly be a popular alternative. Whether these or other hardware options generate enough interest to uproot Steve Jobs’ latest brainchild remains to be seen.

In the meantime, an iPad (running the SiteTablet™ app) feels like a good investment. Look for more info on SiteTablet™ in our August Newsletter. Unless, that is, you’ve already got an iPad in hand and are ready to use it. In that case you should contact your sales rep or account manager to get started today!