Six Manual Processes That Are Like Speed Bumps for Multifamily Building Operations
In multifamily building management, every delay in a leasing application, tenant request, or payment flow adds up. While technology has transformed many parts of real estate operations, a number of daily workflows remain stubbornly manual—slowing teams down, creating unnecessary risk, and eroding the resident experience.
Below are six common manual processes that bog down multifamily building operations and the Camber Creek portfolio companies that solve these issues.
1. Manual document inspection for tenant screening
Tenant screening services generate roughly $1.3 billion in annual revenue, yet at the building level, leasing teams often still rely on paper forms, phone calls, and hours of manual document review to verify work, income, and housing history. Incomplete or inconsistent documentation only adds to the workload.
Fortunately, 100 eliminates this burden with its Verified Renter Network. 100’s AI – driven platform identifies applicants who present minimal fraud and/or security risks. Renters complete one streamlined background check and can then apply more quickly at participating properties. Owners benefit from lower fraud risk, higher payment rates, and dramatically reduced administrative time.
2. Using paper documentation and phone calls to validate service and support animals
Pet-related requests can be complex for leasing teams, who must balance fair housing compliance with the need for quality information. While managers can confirm the existence of an emotional support animal letter and check vaccination or behavioral records, doing so manually takes time and opens the door to errors.
PetScreening streamlines this process at no cost to the property owner. It validates assistance-animal documentation, enforces pet policies, and has helped owners and operators capture nearly $300 million in pet-related revenue since 2017—money that might otherwise have been missed.
3. Processing security deposits using checks and money orders
Collecting security deposits via physical payments creates logistical headaches and risk. Payments can be lost, misplaced, or delayed.
Whale solves this with a renter-owned, high-yield savings account that locks for the lease term. The landlord has guaranteed access to the deposit during the tenancy, and funds are released automatically at lease end. The service is free for landlords, eliminating both administrative burden and physical payment risk.
4. Processing rent payments via check and money order
Rent payments carry the same challenges as deposits: physical handling, record-keeping, and risk of loss. Bilt Rewards enables landlords to accept rent payments electronically at no cost to management or the tenant while renters earn rewards points that are as good as cash.
5. Not triaging maintenance work orders
With one maintenance technician often responsible for 100 or more units, prioritizing work orders is essential. Without triage, urgent issues can slip through the cracks, and technicians waste time on tasks that could have been resolved remotely.
HappyCo’s Happy Force acts as the first line of defense, resolving simple tickets instantly and remotely while escalating only those that require onsite attention. This maximizes technician efficiency and shortens resolution times for residents.
6. Manually compiling rent comps
Building a competitive rent strategy requires accurate, current market data. But manually gathering and analyzing that data can take days.
Keyway’s KeyComps leverages generative AI, machine learning, and data science to scrape, clean, and analyze multifamily market data in minutes. The result: precise, actionable comp sets that empower faster, better-informed pricing decisions.
Multifamily real estate thrives on speed, accuracy, and resident satisfaction—three things manual processes often undermine. By removing these operational speed bumps, owners and operators can focus more on strategic growth, tenant retention, and creating a living experience that stands out in a competitive market.
Photo by Goh Rhy Yan on Unsplash