More than ever, over the next two years, apartment companies need to focus on what they can control. Winning and retaining the right residents will make the difference.

Tip #3: Sign leases without ink

The final frontier of online leasing is signing the lease contract and move-in forms.

Whether in your leasing office or though an email invitation, e-signing documents is legal, convenient and can integrate into your existing workflow. Electronic signatures have arrived, and are vital to a successful document management program.

Why? For every 1,000 apartments you manage, you’re printing and storing 50,000 pages in lease forms alone every year! The energy, resources, ink, storage space and personnel devoted to paper is staggering. Not to mention the inconvenience for co-signers, out-of-state guarantors, roommates, and others to arrange to sign on your schedule.

Now add the ability to offer and execute renewals online, and you've solved one of your leasing staff's operational headaches. You’ll become your on-site manager’s best friend overnight.