Peter Lohmann's Podcast

What happens when a multifamily CEO with 18,000 doors under his belt jumps into single-family… and says SFR is the bigger opportunity?!Dan French nearly went bankrupt during the Great Financial Crisis, slept in vacant units, ruined his credit for a decade, and used every lesson to eventually scale a multifamily platform from 2,500 to 18,000 doors. Now he's CEO of Northpoint, one of the largest SFR management companies in the country, and he's building something fundamentally different: separate divisions for scattered-site SFR, BTR, and small multifamily - all running on a shared platform.We discuss:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:45) - Dan’s background and career(00:08:39) - Northpoint(00:14:54) - Sponsor - Enterprise Bank & Trust(00:16:18) - SFR following in the footsteps of multifamily(00:26:07) - The difference between BTR and SFR(00:30:47) - The division of labor in PM(00:34:28) - Sponsor - Haven AI(00:35:57) - How a PM would implement a BTR community(00:40:51) - Northpoint and their acquisition strategy(00:45:43) - Separating unit churn from revenue churn(00:50:27) - The melting iceberg problem(00:58:19) - Dan’s experience with Crane(01:00:44) - The competitiveness of MF property management(01:04:26) - The lack of ‘scaffolding’ in SFR(01:10:15) - Getting in touch with DanWe get into the "melting iceberg" problem that's killing PM roll-ups (and why most buyers underestimate churn), how to build a trust layer with owners that actually reduces churn, why he thinks tech is not a moat (and what is), and why the Innovator's Dilemma means SFR operators are better positioned to move upmarket than multifamily firms are to come down.Dan also shares his take on NRR vs. logo churn, the talent scaffolding gap between MF and SFR, and why North Point is keeping acquired brands intact instead of rebranding day one.Learn more and connect with Dan here: NorthpointLinkedinResources for Property Managers & Real Estate EntrepreneursCrane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribeRL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/___Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

🔗 Register for Crane's Access Granted launch (April 2)This week on Peter Lohmann's Podcast: What if your property management company had its own AI agents?... Ones you built yourself, running on your own server? Crane co-founder Wolfgang Croskey built two custom AI agents (Bruce and Sophia) that triage emails, delegate tasks via Slack, and pull AppFolio data, all on his own server. Chapters:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:09) - Meet Sophia and Bruce(00:04:23) - OpenClaw workflow wins(00:06:03) - Building agents on VPS(00:12:36) - Texting and voice assistants(00:18:03) - Crane HQ origin story(00:24:32) - Data providers and costs(00:29:00) - AI policy email alerts(00:31:33) - Crane launch details(00:36:53) - RL’s hybrid pod structure(00:43:31) - Early results and tradeoffs(00:50:09) - Phone and email setup(00:53:03) - Tech gaps and next steps(00:56:21) - Wrap up and outroWe get into the security scare that changed his approach, why messaging through your normal channels matters more than the AI itself, and what it takes to actually set this up.We also reveal a new Crane member benefit: an AI-powered local policy tracker that monitors city council, school board, and county meetings across your service area — down to cities with 2,000+ people.Then I break down something I haven't shared publicly: RL Property Management's shift from departmental to a pod hybrid model at 750 doors - the owner churn that drove it, how we structured one-person pods with centralized ops, and early results including two saves from churning clients this week.If you're thinking about AI agents, org design, or giving owners the relationship they actually want, this one covers it.🔗 Wolfgang Croskey on LinkedInResources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs• Crane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators• Free TWICE Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox• RL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio__Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

AI, fraud, and tech bloat are quietly reshaping property management… most operators just haven’t connected the dots yet. In this episode, I sit down with Dom Beveridge (20for20) to break down what’s actually happening inside large multifamily portfolios - and what it means for single-family operators.We discuss:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:23) - The 20for20 annual report explained(00:04:44) - Deep vs wide research(00:05:51) - Multifamily vs scattered-site differences(00:07:47) - Maintenance operations deep dive(00:15:52) - Sponsor - DoorLoop(00:17:28) - Cross-learning between SFR and multifamily(00:34:14) - Sponsor: Enterprise Bank & Trust(00:35:38) - Tech consolidation(00:42:00) - AI impact on property tech(00:43:54) - AI-first vs AI-enabled software(00:48:53) - PMS vendors heading toward irrelevance(00:53:04) - Data as the ultimate moat(00:56:23) - Accessing the report and speaking engagements(00:57:22) - Closing remarksWe get into why fraud isn’t really about “bad actors," it’s a bad debt problem hiding in plain sight. And why a lot of screening processes (yes, even yours) are more guesswork than science. We also unpack how tech stacks ballooned to 30–40+ tools, why that’s creating operational drag, and what companies are doing to fix it.Then there’s AI. We talk about the shift from “AI-enabled” to truly AI-first software, and why that distinction is about to matter a lot more than people think.Along the way, we compare multifamily vs SFR (especially in maintenance and leasing) and where each model is ahead (and behind).Learn more and connect with Dom here: Download the new edition of the 20for20 Annual SurveyLinkedInWebsite__Resources for Property Managers & Real Estate EntrepreneursCrane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribeRL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/__Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. I may have consulting agreements with, or financial interests in, companies mentioned in this podcast. Additionally, some of the links included may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you purchase through these links. Always perform your own due diligence before making any financial or business decisions.

What does it take to build a national property management franchise?In this episode, I sit down with Steve Hart, CEO and co-founder of PMI, a franchise network with nearly 500 locations and 35,000+ doors under management.We unpack how PMI grew from a startup during the 2008 financial crisis into one of the largest property management platforms in the country.We discuss:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:25) - Meet Steve Hart(00:05:09) - Building a franchise platform(00:07:22) - Five pillars explained(00:13:21) - HOA margins and revenue(00:16:00) - Sponsor - appgentic.ai(00:17:48) - Who should franchise(00:24:20) - Brokerage as bridge(00:29:21) - Multi-location franchise growth(00:30:08) - Acquisition engine explained(00:35:11) - Aligned incentives model(00:37:13) - Sponsor - Rentvine(00:38:19) - Breaking the 100 door plateau(00:41:31) - Stop competing on price(00:43:53) - Guarantees that build trust(00:46:21) - Churn trends and fixes(00:52:36) - Saying no to PE offers(00:55:47) - Consolidation and multi-unit owners(00:58:53) - Protecting the brand(01:01:13) - Final wrap and where to followSteve explains PMI’s five-pillar model (residential, multifamily, HOA, commercial, and short-term rentals), why HOA management is growing 60% year over year, and how their franchise partners are acquiring millions of dollars in PM portfolios annually.We also dig into some practical operator questions:Why so many PM companies stall around 100 doorsWhen to stop competing on priceHow acquisitions are changing the industryAnd why Steve has repeatedly said "NO" to private equityIf you’re thinking about scaling, franchising, or buying doors, this one’s worth a listen.Learn more and connect with Steve here: PMISteve on LinkedInLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠

What if you could manage 360+ units with no W2 employees??That’s exactly what Matt Luke is doing in Sioux Falls. In this episode, we break down his lean, AI-powered property management model - from AI leasing agent “Serena” to AI maintenance coordinator “Max,” automated workflows in AppFolio and LeadSimple, and a vendor-first partnership strategy that keeps his margins high.00:00 - Intro02:19 - Matt’s backstory04:42 - “No employees” explained06:35 - Pre-leasing playbook09:35 - The lean tech stack (including Haven.ai - https://www.usehaven.ai/)13:23 - AI leasing agent ‘Serena’15:36 - AI maintenance agent ‘Max’18:00 - Sponsor - Crane23:08 - Owner comms automation26:29 - Accounting without a bookkeeper28:53 - Application screening workflow30:43 - Process philosophy34:02 - AI tools that fell short38:09 - Margins & unit economics40:38 - Delinquency & evictions45:53 - The vendor partnership model50:46 - Touchless move-in52:58 - Inspections at scale55:05 - From property manager to wealth advisor01:03:06 - Pricing, adoption & upsell ideas01:05:42 - Wrap-upWe dig into how he pre-leases units 90 days out, runs daily bank recs without a bookkeeper, automates owner communication, and keeps friction out of the system (his word, not mine).But here’s the part that really stood out: Matt doesn’t just do property management. He positions himself as a wealth advisor, moving owners from day-to-day oversight into true asset management.Learn more and connect with Matt here: Luke PropertiesLuke Properties on LinkedInLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠

In this episode, Vanessa Anderson digs into the biggest leasing challenges PMs are facing right now: flat rents, longer days on market, and growing regulatory pressure around fee disclosures. Vanessa shares how ShowMojo & Tenant Turner are helping PMs stay compliant, fight listing fraud, and optimize conversions, even in a soft market.(00:00:00) Intro (00:01:28) Vanessa's early career and real estate background (00:04:16) Transition to institutional ownership and tech (00:11:36) Recent developments and innovations (00:14:23) Sponsor - ShowMojo (00:15:44) Differentiating rental prices via fees (00:17:14) Addressing fraud and security in property management (00:22:54) Leveraging AI and future roadmap (00:30:59) Lead sources and leasing widgets (00:31:28) Sneak peek: latest leasing report (00:32:30) Challenges in the leasing market (00:33:56) Using data to communicate with owners (00:37:08) Regional market insights (00:39:07) Sponsor - ShowMojo & TenantTurner (00:40:40) Future leasing trends (00:53:35) Metrics for property managers (00:56:27) Importance of clear policies (01:01:03) Conclusion and contact information We also get into how AI is (and isn’t) being used in leasing workflows, the surprising market insights from their latest leasing report, and why a clear pet policy might save you 2–3 days on market. If you’re thinking about your tech stack, lead sources, or how to justify pricing with owners, be sure to catch this one.Learn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠Learn more and connect with Vanessa here: Vanessa on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessaanderson/Tenant Turner - https://tenantturner.com/ShowMojo - https://hello.showmojo.com/Programming note: This episode contains sponsored content.

In this episode, I’m joined by Brad Johnson, CEO of ProfitCoach and former GM of Sweyer Property Management.We discuss:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:52) - Bradley's journey in property management(00:05:04) - Lessons in leadership and personal growth(00:09:54) - The sale to Roam(00:19:54) - Sponsor - Rentvine(00:20:51) - Life post-sale(00:22:41) - Transition to profit coach(00:35:09) - Sponsor - Crane(00:39:42) - Identifying the right candidate for property management(00:42:24) - The importance of character and integrity(00:44:25) - Creating a sense of ownership in employees(00:46:20) - Innovative compensation strategies(00:50:24) - The value of hands-off leadership(01:00:59) - Profit coach services and future plans(01:04:38) - Live industry benchmarks and financial clarity(01:15:16) - Leveraging data and AI(01:17:29) - Conclusion and contact informationBrad shares how he took a 1,300-door PM company from 20% to 37% margins - all without equity, and without a background in single-family PM.We dig into what it really takes to find (or be) a #2 who operates like an owner, why Dave Sweyer hired Brad with no direct experience, and how a comp structure based entirely on profit margin changed everything.Learn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ Learn more and connect with Brad here: ProfitCoachBrad on LinkedIn

Matthew Whitaker is back! And a lot’s changed since his first appearance.We discuss:(00:01:38) - Introducing season six(00:02:44) - Matt’s background and career(00:07:04) - Dealing with owners(00:20:47) - Sponsor - RentEngine(00:22:41) - Evernest’s tech stack(00:28:03) - Transitioning away from eos(00:33:35) - Dealing with management layer issues(00:40:31) - Sponsor - Crane(00:42:35) - Categories of owners(00:44:05) - Multifamily experiences(00:52:38) - The state of Evernest’s acquisition appetite(01:02:38) - Leadflow realities(01:06:57) - The state of the industry(01:09:41) - Get in touch with MatthewLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ Learn more and connect with Matthew here: EvernestMatthew on LinkedIn The Evernest Property Management Show Podcast on Apple Today, Evernest manages nearly 20,000 doors across 50+ markets. We dig into how they’re structured, what they’ve learned from buying 17 PM companies in six months (!), and why the “property manager” job title is making a comeback.Matthew breaks down their tech stack, AI experiments, and how they think about scaling operations without sacrificing owner experience. We also talk about churn (especially from mid-sized investors), how valuation multiples have shifted, and what he wishes more property managers understood about communication vs. execution.If you’re rethinking org charts, prepping to sell, or just trying to reduce chaos, this one’s worth your time.

In this episode, Jennifer Stoops shares how she scaled a PM company to 3,600+ doors before transitioning into her current role as SVP of Industry Relations at PetScreening. We dig into that journey - from building systems and PM pod structures at scale to managing an office with 30 dogs (yes, really).Jennifer explains what most PMs get wrong about pet policies, how unreported pets erode NOI, and why PetScreening has become the “Carfax for pets.” We also cover M&A pitfalls, vendor risk, breed restrictions, and why the portfolio model often breaks past a certain door count. We discuss:(00:02:04) - Jennifer’s background and career(00:11:35) - Incident tracking(00:14:59) - Breed restrictions in insurance policies(00:16:51) - Sponsor - ⁠Crane⁠(00:19:04) - Discrimination by weight and breed(00:20:32) - Americans spending more on pets than kids(00:22:19) - Jennifer’s time at Park Avenue Properties(00:23:47) - How to organize a larger PM company(00:34:11) - Sponsor -⁠ RentEngine⁠(00:36:04) - Multi-market operations(00:50:00) - Advice to PM owners considering selling(00:53:59) - Non-obvious things to improve sales prospects(00:58:24) - Advice for considerations to take seriously in 2025 if you’re looking to acquire other companies(01:01:05) - How to approach an owner when you want to acquire them(01:07:26) - Getting in touch with JenniferLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ Learn more and connect with Jennifer here: Jennifer on LinkedInPetScreening

Monica Gilroy is the founder of the Gilroy Law Firm and a legal powerhouse in the property management space.In this episode, she shares what to do if ICE shows up, how to bulletproof your application process, and why short leases are fine (if your systems are solid). We also dive into lawsuits, insurance gaps, and why you can say no to Section 8 in some markets (if you do it right).If you’ve ever felt legally exposed running your PM biz, this episode brings clarity - and a few fun “ask me how I know” moments.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:56) - Monica’s background and career(00:04:09) - How PMs can handle ICE enforcement (00:08:09) - Approving renters(00:14:19) - Emotional Support Animals(00:16:00) - Sponsor - CallRail(00:17:18) - Appealing PM laws(00:23:33) - Waiving late fees(00:25:32) - Insurance(00:32:32) - Sponsor - RentEngine(00:34:26) - Putting a non-disparagement clause in a lease(00:43:02) - ADA Website lawsuits(00:48:38) - Section 8 nuances(00:54:31) - What are property managers afraid of that they shouldn’t be, and what are they not thinking about that should worry them?(01:00:41) - Getting in touch with MonicaLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ Learn more and connect with Monica here: The Gilroy FirmMonica on LinkedIn

In this episode, I sat down with Lisa Horner, Chief Marketing Officer at AppFolio - LIVE at the AppFolio FUTURE Conference. We talked about what’s actually working in property management marketing today, digging into AI hype vs. real impact, why understanding your customer beats clever tactics, and how to market without sounding like… well, a marketer.Lisa shares how AppFolio stays close to operators (literally - engineers on the tradeshow floor), why branding starts with asking “who are we?” and “what do we care about?”, and how the best marketing campaigns begin with deep empathy and strategic constraints.We also touch on leadership transitions, the role of experimentation, and how business owners can prepare for AI-powered change (without panicking).We discuss:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:44) - AI in Property Management(00:06:03) - Marketing Strategies in the AI Era(00:09:17) - Understanding Customer Needs(00:16:31) - Sponsor - PropertyManagement.com(00:20:53) - Leadership and Management Insights(00:30:41) - Reflecting on Personal Beliefs and Values(00:30:53) - The Fear of Defining Your Brand(00:31:33) - Strategic Planning and Constraints(00:32:16) - The Importance of Targeted Marketing(00:33:00) - Sponsor - RentEngine(00:34:54) - The Impact of AI on SEO and Digital Marketing(00:37:47) - Embracing Experimentation in Marketing(00:40:23) - Understanding Your Customer Base(00:46:45) - Balancing Inbound and Outbound Marketing(00:49:15) - Leveraging Technology for Business Growth(00:55:34) - The Role of Marketing Beyond Lead Generation(00:57:21) - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsLearn more and connect with Lisa here: Lisa on LinkedInAppFolioLearn more & connect with me here:⁠⁠⁠Crane⁠⁠⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠⁠⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠⁠⁠ 

In this episode, I’m joined by Jordan Coleman, loan officer at Live Oak Bank - one of the few banks that truly understands property management. We break down how SBA loans can unlock 100% financing for acquisitions, the hidden pitfalls in seller notes, and what lenders really look for in both buyers and sellers. Jordan also shares practical tips for navigating SBA terms, structuring clawbacks, and avoiding red flags (like client concentration risk). We even cover how to refinance a seller note and why time kills deals more often than you think. If you’re considering buying, selling, or just want to understand your options, this episode is packed with insight.Timecodes: (00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:39) - Meet Jordan Coleman from Live Oak Bank(00:01:53) - Understanding Live Oak Bank's unique offerings(00:02:15) - Jordan Coleman's background and role(00:03:21) - Live Oak Bank's industry focus(00:04:45) - Live Oak Bank's property management focus(00:05:55) - Importance of SBA loans and preferred lenders(00:07:22) - Qualifying for an SBA loan(00:08:47) - Live Oak Bank's loan products for property management(00:11:05) - Analyzing buyers and sellers for acquisitions(00:18:37) - Sponsor: PropertyManagement.com(00:20:31) - Loan terms, interest rates, and closing process(00:28:44) - Understanding SBA loan trade-offs(00:29:23) - Pros and cons of SBA loans(00:31:38) - Importance of clawback clauses(00:34:13) - Sponsor: AppFolio(00:35:50) - Navigating SBA lenders(00:38:57) - Pre-qualified buyers and sellers(00:46:23) - Refinancing seller notes(00:48:38) - Horror stories and lessons learned(00:53:44) - Building relationships with lenders(00:54:53) - Conclusion and final thoughtsLearn more and connect with Jordan here: Jordan on LinkedInLive Oak BankLearn more & connect with me here:⁠⁠⁠Crane⁠⁠⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠⁠⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠⁠⁠ 

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I’m joined by Allison DiSarro, SVP of Property Management Banking at Enterprise Bank & Trust. We break down what every property manager really needs to know about trust accounts, FDIC protection, and compliance risks (yes, even if your state auditor says you’re fine).Allison explains why most banks get this wrong, how “analysis banking” works (and why it’s not interest), and the real risk of having your accounts frozen due to liens or garnishments.We also dig into how Enterprise structures its earnings credit program, why longevity matters more than flashy rates, and what to ask your bank to protect client funds.Chapters:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:02:20) - Alison's journey into property management banking(00:03:42) - The importance of sticky deposits in banking(00:07:19) - Federal compliance in trust accounts(00:08:14) - Challenges with state regulations and banking expansion(00:10:08) - Why Enterprise Bank stands out in property management(00:11:49) - Earnings credits and analysis banking explained(00:16:50) - Sponsor - Second Nature(00:18:21) - Setting earnings rates(00:30:06) - Sponsor - Rentvine(00:31:28) - Navigating state compliance and interest regulations(00:35:17) - Understanding client trust accounts(00:36:32) - Federal compliance and bank account structure(00:37:23) - Key questions to ask your bank(00:39:37) - Impact of governing entity liens and lawsuits(00:41:09) - Challenges with bank compliance and account management(00:45:25) - Recent changes in banking regulations(00:46:32) - Finding the right bank for property management(00:54:00) - Integrating technology with banking(01:03:31) - AI's impact on banking and fraud(01:06:15) - Conclusion and contact informationLearn more and connect with Allison:Enterprise Bank & Trust (PM Division)Allison on LinkedInLearn more & connect with me here:⁠⁠Crane⁠⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠⁠ 

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I’m joined by Janine Steiner Jovanovic, CEO of LeaseLock - a company rethinking how the multifamily industry handles security deposits, risk, and renter experience.Janine shares how LeaseLock replaces traditional deposits with true lease insurance, protecting property owners and improving affordability for renters. We also talk about leadership, data, and what it means to build renter-first products in a profit-driven world.If you care about PropTech innovation, risk analytics, or the next wave of AI in property management, this one’s a must-listen.Jump to a topic:(00:01:47) - Janine's background in property management(00:03:21) - The evolution of technology in property management(00:05:33) - Challenges with security deposits(00:08:53) - How LeaseLock works(00:15:48) - Sponsor - Utility Profit(00:17:12) - Janine's early career and innovations(00:19:53) - Current trends and data insights(00:27:34) - Ledger-based information and property focus(00:27:47) - Empowering renters to screen themselves(00:29:15) - Zillow's influence in the rental market(00:31:01) - Renter-first approach and product design(00:32:51) - Sponsor - Second Nature(00:35:09) - Economic health and long-term strategy(00:37:14) - LeaseLock's insurance model and partnerships(00:42:54) - PropTech landscape and funding challenges(00:50:56) - AI integration in property management(00:52:29) - Conclusion and contact informationLearn more and connect with Janine here: Janine on LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/janine-steiner-jovanovic/⁠LeaseLock - ⁠https://leaselock.com/⁠Learn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ 

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I’m joined by Gail Phillips, the retiring CEO of NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers), after more than 20 years of leadership.We dig into how NARPM evolved from a few hundred members to the national force it is today - from the early “mom-and-pop” days and paper rent checks to COVID-era virtual everything.Gail shares the real story behind NARPM’s antitrust saga, how fee models and tech reshaped the industry, and what she’s learned about leadership, delegation, and culture after decades in the trenches.We also talk about why some local chapters thrive while others struggle, what the “haters” get wrong about NARPM, and her advice for the next generation of association leaders.If you’re a property management operator or NARPM member, this episode is a must-listen.(00:00:00) - Intro(00:03:07) - Gail’s background and career(00:08:17) - The early day’s of NARPM conferences and the industry as a whole(00:16:30) - The state of conferences in the early days(00:18:23) - Sponsor - PropertyManagerWebsites.com(00:20:00) - Late 2000’s concerns and focuses(00:22:02) - How NARPM has evolved(00:27:47) - Success and Failure amongst different NARPM chapters(00:29:38) - Behaviors of great NARPM leaders(00:31:56) - Sponsor - SecondNature.com(00:33:27) - The state of the industry in 2025(00:36:01) - Antitrust philosophies(00:41:15) - FTC guidance for Trade Groups(00:47:53) - Effective membership drives(00:53:41) - What the haters get right about NARPM(00:59:14) - Thoughts for the incoming NARPM CEO(01:01:05) - Gail’s futureLearn more and connect with Gail here: Gail on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gailphillips/Organization Management Group - https://www.managegroup.com/NARPM - https://www.narpm.org/Learn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I’m joined by DD Lee, former owner of Skyline Property Management, now Industry Liaison at PURE and President-Elect of NARPM National.DD shares her path from managing 12 personal rentals to running a 500-door PM company with a 3,000-door HOA division, and what it was really like to sell that business to PURE. We get into the emotional side of selling (“detach” became her mantra), how HOA management differs from single-family, and what she’s focused on now as NARPM transitions into its “2.0” era.If you’ve ever thought about selling your management company, navigating NARPM leadership, or just trying to scale without burning out, DD’s story will hit home.Chatpers:(00:00:00) - Intro(00:01:39) - DD’s career and background(00:03:59) - Challenges and differences in property management(00:07:40) - HOA management(00:10:10) - NARPM involvement and designations(00:12:57) - Sponsor - PropertyManagement.com(00:14:53) - NARPM leadership and election process(00:17:18) - NARPM 2.0 and organizational changes(00:25:32) - Comparing small business to NARPM(00:30:50) - Continuing education and licensing challenges(00:32:14) - Sponsor - Rentvine(00:33:35) - The emotional journey of selling a property management company(00:38:26) - Detachment and transitioning after the sale(00:42:23) - Advice for selling your property management business(00:45:40) - Finding purpose post-sale(00:48:43) - Working with Pure and future plans(01:00:00) - Conclusion and final thoughtsLearn more and connect with DD here: PURE Property Management - ⁠https://www.purepm.co/⁠DD on LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddlee-purepm/⁠Learn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ 

PropertyManagement.com’s “Top 100” list is coming! Apply before 11/30/2025 to get verified, build credibility, and win your market: https://propertymanagement.com/verificationIn this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I sit down with Matt Speer of PropertyManagement.com (yes, greatest domain ever) to unpack their “TrueMatch” score, or what Matt calls the “Carfax of property management.” We talk about why credibility is the new currency, how AI search like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews are changing local lead flow, and what it takes to get your company verified without paying a dime. Matt also reveals new details on their Top 100 Property Managers campaign.Here’s what we go deep on:🔎 How the TrueMatch scoring model works by looking at performance, trust, experience, and verification🤖 The AI search shift and why zero-click results are pulling away the “best property manager in [city]” leads that used to land on your site✅ How verified profiles and owner survey data can help you close faster and keep more clients🚫 Why PropertyManagement.com refuses to be a pay-to-play lead gen marketplace and what their actual monetization looks like🌍 If you’re in multiple markets, how the system creates city-specific scores instead of lumping you under one grade.Want your spot on the Top 100? Apply and get verified for free before 11/30/2025: https://propertymanagement.com/verificationProgramming note: This is a mid-season sponsored podcast special with PropertyManagement.com. I accepted support to take a deeper look at their platform, but the conversation, opinions, and questions are my own.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Intro01:27 – What is PropertyManagement.com?02:58 – The vision behind PropertyManagement.com04:16 – Building trust in property management08:01 – Navigating the AI search era19:26 – Matt’s journey and industry insights26:49 – Verified performance data32:11 – Monetization strategy and AI search37:35 – Top 100 property managers list40:44 – Balancing integrity and business growth44:49 – Handling large property management companies49:10 – Credibility platform: A new category51:37 – Conclusion and call to actionResources for Property Managers & Real Estate EntrepreneursCrane – Private PM Owner Community → Join a private network of property management owners and operators: https://joincrane.co/Free Weekly Newsletter → Property management insights, strategies, and industry updates direct to your inbox: https://peter.beehiiv.com/subscribeRL Property Management → Learn more about Peter’s company and services in Columbus, Ohio: https://rlpmg.com/

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I sit down with my mom, Susan Lohmann, who spent nearly 50 years building a career in the horse business: running farms, teaching lessons, and judging competitions.We talk about what it takes to manage barns (and difficult customers), the surprising parallels between horse boarding and property management, and what really happens when a client stops paying board (spoiler: yes, you can evict a horse).If you care about small business lessons, negotiation tactics, or building a career around passion, you’ll enjoy this conversation.00:00 – Intro02:04 – Susan’s background and career06:32 – Dealing with difficult customers12:13 – Sponsor – The Elevate Sales Kickoff Event13:34 – Susan’s experiences as a woman working in business20:04 – Firing customers24:18 – Unethical behavior in the industry29:59 – Learning the industry33:28 – Sponsor – Nutiliti34:53 – How the lack of technology affected industry collaboration36:59 – The power of work ethic39:50 – Restarting a business 3 times over44:32 – Raising children while working from home50:50 – Negotiation advice55:06 – Passing on the entrepreneurial spirit to your kids56:46 – Building niche skillsets and knowledge1:00:30 – Advice for parents with kids wanting to get involved in horse riding.Connect with SusanLearn more & connect with me here:⁠Crane⁠⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with Tollie Brown, Principal at Mainsail Partners and board member at Rentvine.We talk about why Mainsail, a $4B growth equity firm, invested $74M into Rentvine, and what that means for property managers. Tollie breaks down the differences between venture capital, private equity, and growth equity, and why those distinctions matter when choosing software.We also cover what makes PropTech appealing to investors, why trust matters as much as features, and how AI, integrations, and consolidation are shaping the future of property management software.(00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:32) - Tollie’s background and career (00:02:36) - Mainsail’s investment in Rentvine (00:07:03) - The importance of a technical co-founder when investing in SaaS companies (00:08:38) - Mainsail & growth equity firms (00:11:51) - What customers can expect from companies that take growth equity (00:14:38) - What makes PM interesting to growth equity firms (00:16:12) - Sponsor - RentEngine (00:18:09) - Why Rentvine was so interesting to Mainsail (00:23:25) - Risks and downsides for the PM industry (00:25:48) - What causes PMs to switch software providers? (00:32:32) - Founder reception to growth equity (00:35:01) - Sponsor - Crane (00:36:25) - Predictions for the industry (00:39:50) - The pressure on vendors to do more and charge less with technology (00:43:41) - Integration vs. consolidation (00:46:44) - The future of Mainsail (00:49:04) - Advice for folks getting into the equity side of business (00:51:27) - Get in touchLearn more and connect with Tollie here: ⁠Mainsail Partners⁠⁠Tollie on LinkedIn⁠Learn more & connect with me here:Crane⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠ 

In this episode of Peter Lohmann’s Podcast, I sit down with Valeria (“Val”) Urcuyo - VP of Operations at Appliance Repair Professionals, a nationwide appliance repair company serving property managers in 40+ states.Based in Nicaragua, Val runs the business remotely, coordinating hundreds of subcontractors and thousands of repair jobs each month. We talk about how she makes this model work without a U.S. office, the shortage of appliance techs, and why some vendors inflate diagnostic fees. Val also shares how her team vets technicians, the repair-vs-replace math, and her candid take on appliance obsolescence.On leadership, Val explains how she earned the trust of the company’s owners, lessons from her mom’s Taco Bell career, and the hard calls that come with scaling a business nationwide.If you’re in property management and juggling vendor relationships, repair costs, or company culture, Val’s story is packed with takeaways.Episode Chapters00:00 – Intro02:03 – Val’s background and company overview04:22 – Running a U.S. company from Nicaragua09:20 – Challenges and strategies in appliance repair16:46 – Sponsor: Utility Profit18:21 – Expanding services and industry insights22:01 – Pricing models and property management35:41 – Factors influencing repair decisions36:40 – Customer communication and empowerment39:01 – Sponsor: Crane40:29 – Planned obsolescence in appliances43:38 – Val’s journey and leadership insights52:38 – Scaling challenges and lessons1:03:46 – Team building and company culture1:06:24 – Conclusion and contact infoLearn more and connect with Valeria here: Valeria on LinkedInThe Appliance Repair ProfessionalsLearn more & connect with me here:⁠⁠Crane⁠⁠, the private community for property management business owners.⁠My Free PM Newsletter⁠⁠RL Property Management⁠⁠