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A daily property walk is a routine inspection of a multifamily community’s visible areas, usually completed at a consistent time each day. Teams walk the grounds, common areas, tour path, amenities, parking areas, and other high-traffic spaces to spot cleanliness, safety, maintenance, and curb-appeal issues. Findings are typically documented with a checklist, notes, and photos so follow-up work…
Learn moreA dashboard is a visual screen that brings important metrics and KPIs into one easy-to-read view. In multifamily operations, it may show items like occupancy, revenue, NOI, delinquency, work orders, leasing activity, or maintenance backlog. Dashboards are often updated in real time or near real time so teams can see where attention is needed.
Learn moreData privacy is the practice of collecting, using, sharing, storing, and protecting personal information in ways that respect residents’ and applicants’ rights. In multifamily operations, this often includes handling personally identifiable information such as names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, financial records, and screening data. Because privacy laws and security…
Learn moreA data silo is a set of information kept in one team, system, spreadsheet, or workflow that other teams cannot easily access or use. In multifamily operations, silos often appear when leasing, maintenance, accounting, resident communications, or reporting tools do not share consistent data. The result is fragmented visibility, duplicate work, and decisions based on partial information.
Learn moreA data warehouse is a central place where an organization stores structured data from multiple systems so it can be analyzed and reported on. In multifamily operations, it may bring together leasing, rent roll, maintenance, delinquency, accounting, and other property data into a consistent format. Unlike day-to-day operating systems, it is designed to help teams compare trends, build dashboards,…
Learn moreDate ready is the calendar date when a vacant apartment has completed the make-ready process and is ready for the next resident. It usually follows required repairs, cleaning, paint touch-ups, inspections, and a final walk-through. It is different from the move-out date or scheduled move-in date because it marks operational readiness, not resident activity.
Learn moreDays on Market is the number of days a rental unit remains vacant and available before it is leased. In multifamily operations, it is often tracked as an average across leased units for a property or portfolio. Teams should define the start and end points consistently, such as from listing live to lease signed, so results are comparable across sites.
Learn moreDays open is a counter that shows how many days have passed since a work order was created. In multifamily maintenance, it helps teams see how long a repair or service task has remained unresolved.
Learn moreDays Vacant is the number of calendar days a rental unit is unoccupied and not generating rent. In multifamily operations, it is commonly measured from a resident’s move-out date to the next resident’s move-in date, though teams should define the start and end dates consistently. Average Days Vacant is calculated by dividing total vacant days across turns by the number of units that turned during…
Learn moreDebt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) measures whether a property’s net operating income can cover its debt payments. In real estate, it is commonly calculated as net operating income (NOI) divided by annual debt service, including principal and interest. A DSCR above 1.0 means the property generates more income than its required debt payments; a lower ratio signals tighter cash flow.
Learn moreDeferred maintenance is maintenance work that should have been completed but has been postponed, often because of budget, staffing, or competing priorities. In multifamily operations, it can include delayed repairs, skipped routine services, or unresolved work orders that remain open past the point when they should have been addressed. Some timing decisions may be intentional, but unmanaged…
Learn moreDelayed Unit Assignment is a leasing workflow setting that lets a team accept or process applications without immediately tying each application to a specific apartment unit. It is typically enabled at the company-preference level so onsite or centralized teams can decide when unit selection should happen later in the application or move-in process.
Learn moreDelinquency, or rent delinquency, is the status of rent or other charges that have not been paid in full or on time. In multifamily operations, it usually refers to late or missed resident payments that remain outstanding after the due date. Teams manage delinquency through outreach, task follow-up, payment commitments, and balance resolution.
Learn moreDelinquency management is the process of tracking and resolving unpaid rent or other resident charges after they pass the due date. It typically includes aging reports, resident follow-up, documented communication, payment plan monitoring, and escalation when required. A strong process uses clear timelines and consistent criteria so balances do not age without action.
Learn moreDelta T means the temperature difference between two measurement points. In multifamily HVAC work, it usually refers to the difference between return air entering a system and supply air leaving it across the evaporator coil. It can also apply to water loops, where the difference between supply and return temperatures helps show whether heating or cooling energy is being used effectively.
Learn moreDemand fundamentals are the underlying demographic, economic, and housing-market forces that shape renter demand in a market. In multifamily, they include household growth, population trends, homeownership rates, immigration, vacancy levels, replacement needs, and the share of rental demand that can be served by apartment properties. They help explain whether a market has enough renter demand to…
Learn moreA demand notice is a formal written notice sent to a resident with past-due rent, typically stating the amount owed and the deadline or action needed to avoid the next legal step. In many jurisdictions, it is a required step before filing an eviction for nonpayment, and the content and service rules must be followed carefully. In multifamily operations, demand notices are often tracked through…
Learn moreDemand notice generation is the process of creating formal notices for residents whose accounts meet delinquency criteria. In multifamily operations, it typically pulls account information into a notice, prepares the required language and balance details, and routes the notice for review, signature, service, and documentation. The process must follow applicable state and local requirements before…
Learn moreThe denominator effect happens when a metric changes mainly because the bottom number in a ratio changes, not because the underlying performance changed. In real estate, this can happen when a portfolio, unit count, square footage, or potential rent changes and makes costs, revenue, or allocation percentages look better or worse. For multifamily operators, it is a reminder to ask whether a KPI…
Learn moreA deposit alternative is an approved option that replaces or reduces a traditional cash security deposit at move-in. It may take forms such as insurance, a surety bond, a fee-based program, or another structure that helps cover eligible damage or lease-related charges. For residents, it can lower the upfront cash needed to move in; for operators, it requires clear rules, documentation, and…
Learn moreDigital transformation is the strategic use of technology, data, and redesigned processes to modernize how property management work gets done. In multifamily operations, it can include automating manual tasks, improving resident communication, using data for decisions, and aligning teams around new workflows. It is not just a software project; it also requires changes to strategy, roles, culture,…
Learn moreA direct line is a phone number that connects straight to a specific office, team member, or destination without a phone tree, IVR menu, or recorded greeting. In multifamily call routing, it is often used as a dedicated back-end number so calls can ring the leasing office first before overflowing to another answering path. This number should not be publicly advertised if it is only meant for…
Learn moreDispatch is the process of assigning and sending the right maintenance technician or vendor to handle a service request or work order. In multifamily operations, it usually considers the issue type, urgency, technician skills, location, availability, travel time, and needed parts. Dispatch may be handled on site or through a centralized team that coordinates work across multiple properties.
Learn moreDisposition is the sale or transfer of a real estate asset, such as an apartment community. In multifamily operations, it is the opposite of acquisition and often involves preparing the property, financial records, leases, and operating data for a buyer review and closing.
Learn moreDraft Status is a workflow label for a record, lease, file, or message that is still being prepared and is not yet final, active, or sent. In leasing, a draft can hold information such as application details, screening results, contact information, communications, and related documents before the lease becomes active. Some systems limit reporting or downstream activity while a record remains in…
Learn moreDue diligence is the structured review used to verify important facts before a multifamily property acquisition, major contract, or other high-risk decision. In property operations, it commonly covers the property’s physical condition, financial records, legal status, tenant and lease information, service contracts, and maintenance history. The goal is to uncover risks, confirm assumptions, and…
Learn moreA due diligence period is the set window after a purchase agreement is signed and before closing when a buyer investigates a multifamily property. During this period, teams verify the property’s physical condition, financials, leases, legal standing, and other risks before deciding whether to proceed, renegotiate, or terminate the deal. In multifamily acquisitions, this window is often measured…
Learn moreA duplicate invoice is an invoice that appears to be the same bill as one already received or processed. AP teams typically flag possible duplicates by comparing fields such as vendor code, invoice number, invoice date, and amount. A duplicate may need review before payment so the organization does not pay the same charge twice.
Learn moreDynamic pricing is a revenue management approach that adjusts apartment rents as conditions change, rather than relying on a fixed price for long periods. In multifamily operations, it uses signals such as available units, demand from prospects and residents, market conditions, lease expirations, seasonality, and unit-specific features to recommend rent changes. The goal is to keep pricing…
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