RangeWater Featured in the August/September Issue of NAA Units Magazine

By Barbara Ballinger | Contributor, NAA Units

Communities Add Technology Features But... How New Must Everything Be?

Technology breakthroughs now occur nonstop, for operations and management tasks, community activities and in-unit living. But to keep a building humming smoothly and attracting residents, a proptech decision must be made to retain a competitive edge.

Technology has become the latest and one of the most important rental housing amenities as software and hardware are added that both residents and staff find useful to save time, energy, money and reduce angst. Fewer rent checks may be lost in the mail as the adoption of online payments continues. Few door keys need replacement when an app provides entry. 

But technology has long been a part of multifamily living. As far back as 1913, refrigerators for the home were invented, followed two years later by electric clothes dryers, and then in 1924 modern dishwasher models, according to Coldwell Banker Real Estate. 

The difference now may be that many more advancements get introduced in rapid-fire succession to cover so many more facets related to apartment operations and living. “Every day there’s a shiny new toy that comes out,” says Claire Hansen, Director of Development, RangeWater Real Estate, which has approximately 36,000 units in 122 projects across the Sun Belt and Mountain West. But not everything that dazzles is worth the time and expense. Companies like RangeWater approach introductions cautiously. “We wonder will it be around, what kind of value will it offer residents and investors, and how will it fit within our technology portfolio? We want to stay as updated as possible, which is why we have internal tech teams and third-party consultants to help,” Hansen says. 

Read the full article in NAA Units here.