Page 15 - New England Condominium January 2020

NEWENGLANDCONDO.COM
NEW ENGLAND CONDOMINIUM
-JANUARY 2020
15
and other technology-based tools. For computer to track his buildings, Lincoln ogy. It provides a pathway for manage-
example, Lincoln says that of the tons of says, “Things sometimes got lost. Now, it’s ment and boards to communicate with fers vendor services in addition to com-
apps and programs to choose from, his straightforward and everything is right residents in a nearly complete format, munications and management features –
company doesn’t go a day without Build-
ium. In fact, he says that he’s been using
Buildium since his company launched in are is heavily dependent on initial buy-
2004.
Buildium’s primary focus is rental renters or owners. They must register for who don’t use smartphones or email.
properties—it manages a total of 750,000 email and text alerts, and – in the case of
units in 46 countries via 10,000 clients. email, anyway –
It allows management companies to do must check regu-
credit and background checks, create larly for notifica-
custom rental application forms and syn-
dicate their rental listings. But even if a don’t sign up for
management company works with con-
dos, co-ops or HOAs, Buildium offers don’t check email
them accounting and administrative tools messages,
for tracking payments, generating on-
demand reports for boards, and taking e-
payments via the website for monthly fees Lott is Regional
or other payments. Management compa-
nies can also streamline maintenance re-
quests on the site by accepting, respond-
ing to and generating work orders.
“I check it at least once a day,” Lincoln da. According to her, “Our clients use our for example. The board and building lations – the breakdown between those
says. “Whenever we go to a property, we system to send one single notification to would likely not be held liable for failing who will use web-based communication
make sure we have the correct informa-
tion so that when we meet the tenants, or email – or all three. Our system is ben-
we make sure we have the correct email eficial for bill payment reminders, com-
address and we have everything up to munity events, maintenance issues, and
date. Then it syncs with the desktop ver-
sion.” Before he used his phone, tablet and
there.”
How effective these communications tiple channels – including direct record-
in and participation of residents. be they to residents who don’t have computers, or with preferred pricing to users for such
tions. If residents
text updates or
they
may miss commu-
nications. Janelle
Account Manager
for One Call Now, a mass communication they suffer a fall as a result of the lights be-
app based in Boston that serves clients ing turned off for scheduled maintenance to.’” He finds that in older co-op commu-
throughout the United States and Cana-
residents delivered by a phone call, text, to deliver a warning message, because the apps and those who won’t is about 50-50.
emergencies.”
One Call Now is a ‘broadcast’ technol-
with announcements sent through mul-
ings to land lines, which makes it useful website that provides essential services,
If they don’t want to receive notifi-
cations at all, residents agreements with its ‘preferred partners’
can also opt out of the enable the company to offer clients access
system entirely. Accord-
ing to Lott, however, if
a resident does opt out, comfort with and integration of web and
part of that opting out app-based tools like Bixby and Building-
includes agreeing to in-
demnify management for ally cleaves along generational lines. His
any damages the resident company works with management and
might experience as a re-
sult of them choosing to app and its many benefits, but notes that
stay out of the loop. Say “there will always be residents who say,
that was announced via the alert system, nities – which generally have older popu-
resident made it clear they didn’t wish to In newer condos, where the population
get one.
Mark Smucker is a co-founder and down is about 70-30 in favor of app us-
CEO of Bixby, another online manage-
ment tool. Based in New York City and
servicing customers worldwide, Bixby of-
essentially creating a private marketplace
for Bixby users attached to their app and
things as dry cleaning, storage, moving,
and insurance. Bixby’s revenue-sharing
to the partner list at no charge.
According to Smucker, residents’
Link into their lives is mixed, and usu-
staff to get people comfortable with the
‘We don’t use apps and we’re never going
may be somewhat younger, the break-
ers. It’s even higher in rental properties,
continued on page 16
“If we didn’t have
technology, it would
be rather diffi cult to
function.”
—Chris Lincoln
A Property Management
Company You Can Trust
At J. Butler Property Management, LLC.,
we measure our success in terms of client
satisfaction and take a long-term view of
every relationship.
www.jbutlerpropertymgmt.com
978.694.9004
James R. Butler IV
Executive Manager
• Family owned and managed Massachusetts
based property management company
• Blends management expertise with open
communication between the board, unit owners
and managing agent, making for a healthier property
• Superior cost cutting strategies and vendor pricing
• Community website, work order system,
online payments
• An in-house maintenance team that is able to reduce
costs and offer an unparalleled level of service