The Biggest Obstacles to Healthy Apartment Cash Flow

In this episode of the Multifamily Innovation® Podcast, host Patrick Antrim provides an inside look at the most recent meeting of the Multifamily Innovation® Council. This Council is open to multifamily owners and operators with 1,500 units or more who are dedicated to driving innovation in the multifamily industry.

The episode delves into the significance of comprehending the financial impact of a multifamily business and utilizing that knowledge to enhance productivity and improve the business. Antrim highlights that with the advancements in AI, there has never been a better time to reimagine a business. Furthermore, the discussion emphasizes the importance of educating employees about the financial picture early on in their careers and motivating them to invest in themselves and their skills. The ultimate goal is to elevate both the multifamily company and its employees, leading to a more successful and productive business.

Antrim stresses the importance of defining success and understanding how it is perceived by different people in the company. Asking regional apartment managers, property managers, and other employees to define success and paying attention to whether it is activity-related, occupancy-related, or financial-related is an effective strategy.

The episode also highlights the opportunity to educate employees about the financial picture early on in their careers and incentivize them to invest in themselves and their skills. By clarifying who the multifamily company is managing for, such as investors who could be teachers, firefighters, or first responders, employees can better understand the financial impact of their decisions and expect more from their company and themselves. Overall, the episode underscores the importance of defining success and ensuring that everyone in the company is aligned and working towards the same goals.

Antrim also mentions the importance of incentivizing employees to learn financial skills and focusing on preventative measures for late rent payments in apartment communities to improve the business. One suggestion is moving the date for collection bonuses earlier in the timeline to encourage employees to be more proactive in addressing late payments. Antrim also emphasizes the importance of training multifamily employees on financial understanding at every level of the business and defining success based on financial metrics rather than just occupancy or activity.

Additionally, Antrim discusses the idea of offering incentives to apartment residents for timely rent payments and including provisions in leases that allow for one free waving of a late fee in case of financial hardship. A focus on financial education and preventative measures can lead to improved business outcomes for the multifamily industry.

Timestamps:

[00:00:36] Cashflow obstacles for apartment operators.
[00:06:33] Using negative energy in business.
[00:07:26] Lease incentives for financial accountability.
[00:11:28] Emotional collections during COVID.
[00:15:28] Financial understanding in a multifamily business.
[00:19:56] Car ownership and payments.

Resources:
Connect with Patrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickantrim/
Join the Multifamily Innovation® Council: https://multifamilyinnovation.com/multifamily-innovation-advisory-council/
Register for the Multifamily Innovation® Summit: https://multifamilyinnovation.com/