How Maple Leaf Doubled Their Properties Without Increasing Staff
This Seattle-based property management company more than doubled their portfolio while maintaining staff size by outsourcing fieldwork to Showdigs.
“We couldn’t have scaled the way that we did… It’s a perfect union because they are using people that are in our industry. They know how to show houses.”
— Kit MacPherson, Owner/Designated Broker, Maple Leaf Property Management
Maple Leaf is a Seattle-based property management company that has been operating since 2010. Today, the company manages a portfolio of over 1,600 doors.
When Maple Leaf partnered with Showdigs, they were able to more than double their unit count — without needing to hire additional staff.
The challenge
Scaling a property management business is often hampered by a lack of time. According to a National Apartment Association survey, 45% of property managers struggle to manage their existing workload due to time constraints, preventing them from spending time on growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average annual turnover rate in the real estate industry is over 20%. That turnover, along with seasonality, can disrupt workflows and make it difficult to maintain consistent service as the business expands.
Maple Leaf faced a roadblock to growth: their property managers simply didn’t have enough time. Showing properties and completing reports ate into valuable hours that could be better spent managing existing units. They hired assistants, but high turnover created inefficiencies and hindered their ability to scale effectively.
The Showdigs solution
By implementing Showdigs, Maple Leaf gained a network of trained Agents to handle showings, alleviating the time burden on property managers and allowing them to focus on core responsibilities like tenant communication and lease management.
Maple Leaf then started using Showdigs for move-in reports and mid-term inspections. This streamlined operations, reduced their reliance on leasing agents, and addressed the challenges associated with seasonal staffing fluctuations.
Outsourced showings
Maple Leaf offloaded showings to our network of local, licensed, and specially trained Agents.
Improved focus
With Showdigs Agents handling showings, property managers were able to hone in on tenant management.
Eliminated seasonality
No matter the time of year, Maple Leaf’s staff size could remain the same with Showdigs’ only-pay-for-what-you-use pricing model.
Increased capacity
With a more singular focus and stronger owner satisfaction, property managers could manage more units and acquire new properties.
The results
Since starting with Showdigs, Maple Leaf Property Management has more than doubled their portfolio size from 759 doors to over 1,600 doors — all without increasing their staff size.
- 120% portfolio growth while holding staff size steady
- 2x properties each property manager can manage
- Faster leasing — prospective tenants can often schedule showings the same day
- Higher owner satisfaction from faster leasing times and better property oversight through regular inspections
Maple Leaf improved efficiency by eliminating the need to train and manage in-house assistants for showings and reports, removing the impact of seasonality and reducing labor costs. Some property managers have even been able to move out of state and still keep their book of business, with Showdigs handling the in-person requirements of the role.
