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AppFolio > Case Studies > Leveraging AppFolio Property Manager for Growth: A Case Study on Daniel Management Group

Leveraging AppFolio Property Manager for Growth: A Case Study on Daniel Management Group

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Application Development Platforms

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Finance & Insurance

Applicable Functions

Facility Management
Maintenance

Use Cases

Inventory Management
Leasing Finance Automation

Services

Training

The Challenge

Daniel Management Group, a property management firm based in Chicago, was facing challenges in managing its growing portfolio of nearly 2,000 multifamily units. The company was struggling with operational efficiency, transparency, and cost reduction. The existing technology they were using, Yardi, was found to be clunky and not user-friendly, making it difficult to communicate with residents and manage the portfolio effectively. The company was also facing high marketing costs and was in need of a solution that could help them win new business. The challenge was to find a technology solution that was easy to learn and use, provided a great experience for employees and residents, and kept costs low.

About The Customer

Daniel Management Group is a property management firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2013, the company manages close to 2,000 multifamily units and employs 35 people. The company was founded by Roger Daniel, who started his career in real estate after dropping out of medical school. He worked his way up from a leasing job to managing a 3,000 unit portfolio for a group focused on subsidized housing. With a unique skillset of knowing how to underwrite, acquire, and manage real estate, Roger set out to start his own property management company. Today, Daniel Management Group is a thriving business that competes with larger property management firms in the city.

The Solution

Daniel Management Group adopted AppFolio Property Manager as their technology partner. AppFolio was found to be more user-friendly and provided a search bar feature that allowed the company to find anything in their portfolio quickly, including reports. The platform was also less expensive than their previous solution. AppFolio's features helped increase operational efficiency and transparency, reduce costs, and win new business. The platform's payroll feature reduced the need for hiring many people, and those hired could be less experienced. AppFolio's leasing platform syndicated all of the company's advertising, dramatically reducing marketing costs. The platform also facilitated online maintenance requests and configurable workflows, adding transparency and efficiency to the company's operations.

Operational Impact

Adopting AppFolio Property Manager transformed the operations of Daniel Management Group. The platform's user-friendly interface and search bar feature made it easier for the company to manage its portfolio and communicate with residents. The online maintenance requests and configurable workflows added transparency and efficiency to the company's operations. The platform's payroll and marketing features helped the company reduce costs and win new business. The company was able to outseat a major management/development company on a property, thanks to the operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness brought about by AppFolio. The platform also made it easier to train new employees, reducing errors and eliminating the need to refer back to notes. Overall, AppFolio took Daniel Management Group's property management to another level, enabling them to compete with larger shops at less cost and less overhead.

Quantitative Benefit

Reduced the need for hiring many people, leading to significant savings in payroll costs.
Dramatically reduced marketing costs by syndicating all advertising through AppFolio's leasing platform.
Enabled the company to win new business and compete with larger property management firms.