The National Apartment Association (NAA) hosted the annual Apartmentalize conference in Chicago, Illinois, August 30-September 2, 2021, with the theme: Reconnect Restart Reenergize. The STRATIS and RealPage teams brought in the Smart Suite that debuted at RealWorld in July in Nashville, Tennessee.

Here are some of the takeaways from gathering with apartment professionals from across the industry:

Do More with Wireless: Leverage Rental Wi-Fi: Invest in the infrastructure to enable bulk Wi-Fi (and other protocols too like Bluetooth and Z-Wave) across the property, and provide the always-on, resident-ready experience.This can also support Bluetooth or Z-Wave-based energy management devices, like water leak sensors. This eliminates the abysmal support and consistency from in-unit gig Wi-Fi (what we call “sliver solutions”) and internet access brings a significant return on investment (ROI). 

Wastes, Dumpsters, and Data Mean Profitability: Larger conversations about multifamily sustainability must include waste management. With greater information about what’s in waste containers, maintenance staff, haulers, processors, and residents can all benefit. Improving waste operations saves on unnecessary costs and diverts more waste from landfills through preventing contamination of recyclables.

Prepare for the Growing Number of Generation Z Renters: There are approximately 67 million Gen Zers in the U.S., which also means that they could be prospective renters. Gen Z renters have a strong link to technology, so technology adoption in the multifamily industry can provide early adopters an early foot in the door for the shifting industry standard. 

Invest in Sustainable Housing: Multifamily residents are concerned about climate change, and want to play a role in reducing its impacts through living in communities that implement sustainable measures. Residents state that they are interested/won’t rent without a recycling program (79.3%), community green initiatives (73.0%), and on-site renewable energy (63.3%). Sustainability in multifamily housing generally includes robust recycling programs, energy efficient infrastructure (like thermostats, leak sensors, HVAC, and more, and water waste prevention measures. 

Did you miss us at Apartmentalize? Want to learn more about any or all of these topics? Stay tuned by following us on our Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.