Multifamily COVID-19 Resources
We are committed to helping you preserve and protect your people and assets. Here are some ideas and resources to help you ride out this storm.
COVID Resources
Resources & Webinars
CBRE
The Weekly Take Podcast with Spencer Levy
CBRE Employment Review & Rebound Expectations
IREM
COVID-19 Rental Housing Support Initiative – Mental Health
COVID-19 Rental Housing Support Initiative – Liability Resource
New season of “From the Front Lines” Podcast Launched
Informed Outsider: A lawyer looks at property management in the age of COVID-19
NAA - NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
COVID-19 Multifamily Resources & Webinars
Coronavirus Guidance
NAA Best Practices for Rent Collections Amid COVID-19
Payment Plan Template
Resident Exposure Best Practices - PDF
Identification of Essential Workers During COVID-19
NATIONAL MULTIFAMILY HOUSING COUNCIL
COVID-19 Webinar Series
COVID-19 Federal Stimulus Package Webinar
New Resource to Help Renters Access Federal Financial Assistance
Summary of CARES 120-day Federal Eviction & Late Fee Moratorium
MULTIFAMILY INSIDERS
Tips and Tricks for Effective Outreach Marketing
MULTI-HOUSING NEWS
Webinar: From Scaling Back to the Comeback
Webinar: Leasing During Social Distancing and Beyond
SATISFACTS
Add Your Community to the COVID-19 National Renter Survey
COVID-19 Webinar Series
STUDENT HOUSING BUSINESS
COVID-19 Impact on Student Housing
OTHER
Resources for the Homeless During COVID-19 Pandemic from MyMove.com
Complimentary Webinar from France Media: Student Housing: How are Student Housing P3s Moving Forward During the Pandemic?
Webinar: Best Practices for Re-activating Student Housing Amenities
Webinar from Demand Solutions: The Multifamily Downturn Playbook
Legislation
EMPLOYEES
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
Effective through December 31, 2020
REALTORS
National Association of Realtors - Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act
Passed March 27, 2020
BUSINESSES
Small Business Disaster Assistance
Application for Disaster Relief Loan/Grant
CORPORATE
CARES Legislation and Commercial Real Estate Predictions
Key Economic Facts About COVID-19
Chase for Business - COVID-19 Business Update Webinars
News
IREM: Updates on the American Rescue Plan - 3/12/21
NMHC “Payments haven’t fallen off a cliff, but are we in the clear?” - 10/23/20
NMHC Reports 90.1% Rents Paid in September - 9/23/20
NAA Publishes Preliminary Overview for CDC Eviction Moratorium Guidelines - 9/8/20
Marcus & Millichap: Beyond the Global Health Crisis: California Proposition 21 - 9/3/20
Take Action - Congress Must Provide Rental Assistance to Help Keep Families in Their Homes - 7/24/20
Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) extending Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Borrowers’ Forbearance Agreements for Up to Six Months Total - 6/30/2020
The House of Congress passes the Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act of 2020 - NAA, 6/29/2020
Important Information on “What Building Operators Need to Know About Covid-19 and Air Filtration” - Propmodo, June 11
Rent Payment Tracker Finds Payment Rate at 93 Percent of Prior Month - NMHC, April 15
Pennsylvania Company Establishes Fund to Help Residents - NAA, April 7
Technology Can Unlock Security Deposits - Propmodo, April 6
Apartment Industry Copes With Coronavirus Effects - Forbes, March 30
Lawmakers Sign COVID-19 Stimulus Package Into Law - NMHC, March 27
Congress Passes 3rd COVID-19 Federal Relief Package - NAA, March 26
Fannie May Provides Assistance for Renters - March 24
NAA Statement on COVID-19 and Rent - NAA, March 23
NMHC Press Release - NMHC, March 22
Local Markets
CHICAGO
Chicago Approves 20 Million Dollar Rent Relief Fund - Block Club Chicago, 6/17/20
COVID-19 Guidance for Multifamily Residential Buildings
Chicago “Rent Strikes” Gaining National Attention
Chicagoland Apartment Association - LinkedIn
DALLAS
Texas Rent Relief Program from Apartment Association of Greater Dallas - 2/10/21
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas Presents Legal Seminar on CDC Eviction Order - 9/15/2020
Dallas County Justices of the Peace issued new eviction schedule - 07/06/20
Dallas County Ordinance on Face Coverings - 6/24/20
Resident Rent Resources for Dallas Metro Counties - 6/16/20
Helpful Eviction Flow Chart - 6/10/20
State Eviction Hold Expires May 18, 2020: Affirmation of CARES Act Required - 5/15/20
Apartment Association of Greater Dallas - LinkedIn
FLORIDA
Miami-Dade Launches Rent Relief Program for Landlords - 2/9/21
Apartment Association of Greater Orlando - CARES ACT Fund Available Distributions Update 12/3/20
Florida Apartment Association - Free Member Webinar Series
Florida Apartment Association - LinkedIn
HOUSTON
Texas Governor Issues Statewide Face Mask Order - 7/2/2020
Houston Judge Upgrades Threat Level for Harris County - 6/29/20
Status of Houston Area Evictions
Texas Workforce Commission - Job Seeker Resources
Houston Apartment Association - LinkedIn
NEW YORK
New York Confusion Over Evictions as Housing Court Reopens - The Real Deal, 6/17/20
Update for New York Directive on Non-Essential Businesses
“Rent Stikes” in New York City
Real Estate Board of New York - LinkedIn
Safe Selling Practices
Spherexx has created special software features within our existing platforms to assist clients during this time of crisis management. It's more important than ever to adapt your business to promote virtual communication over physical interaction.
- COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Use Spherexx Connect broadcast email and text software to provide mass communications in moments. Connect is available as an add-on to ILoveLeasing CRM+ and as a standalone service. Read More - VIRTUAL TOURS AND SCHEDULING
ILoveLeasing CRM+ clients are equipped to manage virtual tours and online leasing, plus integrations with FaceTime, Skype, Zoom and WhatsApp. The ILoveLeasing CRM+ mobile companion and Leasing Book tablet app are accessible to team members from any location. Read More - WEBSITES
Add virtual walking tours, per unit pricing presentation and scheduling to your website. Setup interactive site plans, floor plans, and online leasing processes to help maintain your leasing momentum. Read More - INSPECT
Stay in touch with maintenance personnel and get updates on property conditions, scheduled repairs and curbside appeal. Read More - SWEETSPOT SINGLE SIGN-ON
Use Sweetspot as your central hub to quickly and easily connect to all your important software logins. Read More
Helping Residents in Financial Crisis
The first of the month is coming and collections are due. Many of you are facing a moratorium on evictions by local and state governments. Derek Lobo of SVN Rock Advisors, Inc offers some valuable ideas and advice on this subject.
- Avoid the noise: realize the long run and see your community a year from now.
- Act with compassion toward residents, they are nervous.
- Be proactive, reach out to residents prior to the first of the month
- Initiate communication if and when rental payment becomes delinquent.
- Consider applying a last month or security desposit to the current rent due.
- Consider offering a Rental Deferment Loan.
- Consider temporarily fixing rents at current monthly rate and defer rent increases.
- Constrain renewal terms to strategic expirations that will affect future occupancy.
- Review each case on its own merit; tenure and history are paramount in determining a course of action for each resident.
- Share charitable community and governmental resources and help residents fill out forms to get aid and support.
- Don’t reduce rent, cashflow not rate is the problem. Don’t compromise a lease term.
Know Your Risk
The Texas Medical Association has created this COVID-19 chart to help you stay informed and know your risk when conducting activites in your daily life.
- HIGHLIGHT YOUR COMMUNITY IN A NEW WAY
Have a unique staff member? Let them take over your feed to show people around the community. Here's a great example of how Security Guard Tim from The National Cowboy Museum has gone viral with his unique twitter posts. - SHOW SOME NEIGHBORHOOD LOVE
Post about locally owned shops, restaurants and businessed that offer virtual shopping and drive-by food pickup. Give away local gift cards and highlight ways that residents can help support their neighbors. - POST ABOUT PAST EVENTS
Add throwback photo posts for past events that highlight your residents and community spirit.
Interacting With Residents
- HOW TO VIDEOS
To assist residents with routine maintenance issues, staff can film their own videos on topics like "How to Clean & Fix Bathroom Drains". These videos can be added to YouTube or Vimeo and used to send out to residents. - ON PROPERTY & IN HOME SCAVENGER HUNTS
Create on property scavenger hunts and contents to entertain and engage residents and their families. Residents can take photos and hashtag with your community name ex: #91SouthQuarantineFun. Gift card prizes can be awarded for completion. - START A VIRTUAL BOOK CLUB
Let people vote on a book selection and then create a virtual discussion group using Facebook or Zoom. - HOST A SOCIAL DISTANCING DANCE PARTY OR HAPPY HOUR
Pick a theme and have residents join in the fun out on their balconies. Olympus on Main in Carrollton, Texas shared this video on Facebook.
Maximizing Virtual Tours
ILoveLeasing CRM+ Users with Video Tours
If your leasing office already has virtual video tours available, you can quickly and easily email them to residents and prospects. From any leasing agent login select the Lead Communication page. Click on Load Template and select Add/Update Custom Response. Your custom email will be submitted to our team to upload. Not sure what to say? Give us a call at 866-491-7500 and we can provide some suggestions.
ILoveLeasing CRM+ Users without Video Tours
No Virtual Tours? Have a team member shoot their own video using their phone and email it to help@iloveleasing.com We can add the video link to a custom email template. See a sample of how one community filmed their own video.
Not an ILoveLeasing CRM+ Subscriber?
No problem! We can build a single landing page with all your remote tourings and vital info included. Use your own DIY walking tours or exisiting virtual tours as a centerpiece that you can email or text to prospects. Each landing page has $500 one-time fee.
Provide Real Time Answers with an Automated Chat Bot
Spherexx Chat engages website prospects when and where they need it by providing a set of pre-designed questions and answers for prospective new renters, residents of the community, and others service providers and vendors.
Show live availability integrated to your property management software, virtual touring options, floor plans, photos and more.
During the Covid-19 Pandemic, it's vital to send clear and consise steps for prospects to follow allowing them to take virtual or self-guided tours when leasing offices are closed.
It's also a great resource for sending timely messages to residents on how to access maintenance services and emergency procedures during a shelter in place.
Interact with Prospects Remotely Using CRM+ Software
Easily track leads and manage leasing agent workflow with our responsive lead management software. Receive and respond to all prospect communications while working remotely.
Already a Sphreexx I Love Leasing - CRM+ User? These suggestions for updating communications during the COVID-19 crisis will streamline leasing activities for teams and prospects.
- Adjust Touring Appointment Capacity within ILoveLeasing Dashboard and manage other requests from third-party platforms or website.
- Update your email confirmations to reflect changes to touring and office hours.
- Create custom email templates inside the dashboard to stay in touch with prospects.
- Add links to virtual tours in your emails and follow-ups.
- Email and text plug-ins are available and can be activated for new users in a day
Email & Text Broadcasting
Consider adding some custom email templates through our Spherexx Connect broadcast communication software. Include a step-by-step process in each email that provides a CLEAR path to leasing.
- CREATE PERSONALIZED MESSAGES
Email or text residents, team members, vendors and build confidence and continuity with meaningful messaging. - TEMPLATE LIBRARY
Access a library of email templates and forms to create sophisticated, branded emails. - A/B TESTING
Includes A/B testing function, trigger-based automation and contact validation feature. - REAL TIME ANALYTICS
Detailed analytics reveal how recipients responded to the message and their geographic location. - OPEN & CLICK THROUGH DATA
Learn who opened the email and how they reacted. - SEGMENTATION
Segment and organize lists based on message and motivation.
We also offer a Lite Email Plug-in for ILoveLeasing CRM Clients. This version allows users to send select broadcast emails to ILoveLeasing leads through easily configured drag and drop templates.
Tools to Streamline Your Website
- BANNER & POP-UP MESSAGING
Add banners and pop-up windows to your website to keep residents and prospects informed. View Pop-up Sample - CUSTOM RENTAL APPLICATION
$19.99/Month for each property with a $1 fee per signature
$250 One-time Setup Fee
View Rental Application Sample - VIRTUAL TOUR LANDING PAGES
We can build a single landing page with video tours, follow-up form and faq details included. Use your own DIY walking tours or exisiting virtual tours as a centerpiece that you can email or text to prospects.
$500 One-Time Fee - INTERACTIVE SITE PLANS & FLOOR PLANS
Add interactive site plans and room planners to your website to help prospects better visualize and locate available units. We can also redraw plans in both 2D and 3D to show your community at its best. Learn More - SEO & PAY PER CLICK ADVERTISING
Need to get your site noticed? We can help you increase primary search result ranking. Get more qualified leads through content rich pay-per-click landing pages. Learn More
Talk to an Expert
Still Have Questions? We're Here to Help.
We have many software tools and adaptations on-hand to keep your office productive and your maintenance staff organized.
