THE SOLUTION
Implementing TouchTour for iPad
Holmes was first introduced to Engrain and its product offerings in Atlanta at the 2017 NAA Conference & Exposition (now Apartmentalize). Although he was visiting the Engrain booth for background purposes at that time, he envisioned TouchTour For iPad as the perfect antidote to increase leasing velocity in the lease-up stages.
He also viewed demos of similar products for the sake of comparison, but throughout the next year, he became convinced that the TouchTour For iPad solution would have the greatest impact. At the Apartmentalize Conference in San Diego the following year, Holmes decided the time was right to adopt TouchTour For iPad as part of an Engrain platform onboarding, also including TouchTour and SightMap.
"I just felt the level of customer service execution and personalization options were better with this product."
Antonio Holmes
Director of Leasing
Trinitas Ventures
“What was key for us was the ability of TouchTour tointegrate with our property management system, Entrata,” Holmes said.
Holmes utilized real-time support when Trinitas had questions during the initial rollout and said his onsite teams seldom have to wait for answers whenever they request guidance, feedback or required technical support.
"I’ve always asked the team what they consider their number one leasing tool, and it’s always Engrain’s TouchTour for iPad for them. They love it—they feel like it’s a big iPhone. Parents love it, students love it, it’s easy to interact with and they get it.”
Antonio Holmes
Director of Leasing
Trinitas Ventures
THE RESULTS
More effective lease-ups stronger prospect reach
A primary ambition for Trinitas was to increase its lease-up efficiency to 80% leased before opening on a portfolio-wide basis. In 2019, the first year after adding TouchTour For iPad, that percentage vaulted to a portfolio-wide 81% and Holmes anticipates those numbers will continue to climb.
“It made a pronounced year-over-year impact simply based on the level of interaction and engagement we were getting through the system,” Holmes said. “Part of our leasing process is to allow the consumer to engage with the system, and we always get solid feedback from that.”
Trinitas initially used TouchTour For iPad on a demo basis during the lease-up period, but the company now utilizes it year-round. The leasing season at student communities generally ranges from August through July, but Trinitas gets started on the following leasing season well ahead of time in October, and the Engrain platform has assisted in that pursuit by offering prospects increased visualization to their potential home.
Members of Trinitas’ onsite teams have provided glowing feedback and often relay how much the TouchTour For iPad has assisted as a sales-enablement tool.
“I’ve always asked the team what they consider their number one leasing tool, and it’s always the Engrain system for them,” Holmes said. “They love it—they feel like it’s a big iPhone. Parents love it, students love it, it’s easy to interact with and they get it.”
