What to Ask Before Buying an AI Leasing Assistant

A regional manager we recently spoke with needed help answering the phones at the properties she managed. That was their immediate priority, so that is where we focused the conversation.

Start your evaluation of AI leasing agent software the same way. Identify the work that needs to get done, then ask providers to show how they would help your team automate it.

Test how it will work at your property

A polished demo doesn’t predict that a particular solution will work in your environment. Testing solutions in your own communities with your own team is the only way to know for sure what is the best fit.

Focus on four things:

• Lead coverage. Which channels will it manage (e.g., email, texting, phone call conversations)? Can you purchase phone call AI separately if your team isn’t quite ready for it?
• Integrations. Does the software integrate with your property management software and CRM, and what information moves between systems?
• Accuracy. What controls what the AI says about pricing, availability, fees, and amenities? How does that information stay up to date?
• Scheduling. Can the tool accommodate your tour types and leasing agent coverage? How does it handle blackout dates?

Test the renter’s experience yourself. Ask questions, book a tour, reschedule it, and check what your staff sees in their primary CRM.

Involve your leasing team

It’s vital to have on-site teams buy in to have a successful AI leasing automation deployment.

If they aren’t willing to step back and let the AI leasing assistants handle the workflows they are supposed to automate, it can lead to redundant communication to prospects and negatively impact prospect experience. It doesn't matter if the demo looked good if the onsite team refuses to adapt. We’ve worked with onsite teams that have insisted that the AI leasing assistant isn’t helping when all data and evidence points to the opposite conclusion. Pilots under these circumstances never succeed.

Know who will help after launch

Ask who will provide training and support after rollout is completed. Understand what information will update automatically and how changes to the system get made when they don’t.

At Respage, we know from experience that providing training and ongoing support matters because getting value from AI takes more than turning it on. Your team needs people who are invested in making sure your AI gets the continuous training it needs and help making adjustments.

Agree on cost and results

Understand the full cost, including setup and monthly recurring fees up front. Understand the supplier’s roadmap and what will be included in your current package and what might cost more for you to add on in the future.

Before you sign, also understand how you will measure success. If missed calls are the problem, track the improvement in call answer rates. If follow-up needs improvement, review response times and how inquiries convert to tours.

One size doesn’t fit all. When selecting software, consider not only the work you need help automating but the tools you already use in your leasing environment and feedback from your team.

If you are considering Respage, bring us your team’s everyday concerns and challenges. We’ll help you honestly assess if we are a good fit for you and how we’ve supported thousands of communities to adopt AI leasing solutions.