A few years ago I remember a buzz in the industry about going paperless… I’m curious why this never seemed to evolve

A few years ago I remember a buzz in the industry about going paperless in our offices, reducing the use of leasing files, reducing our carbon footprint on the planet etc. I’m curious why this never seemed to evolve , and wondering if there is a legal or fair housing requirement that properties have to maintain paper versions of everything. (i.e. guest cards, copies of ID, print outs of daily availability, background checks etc). And Lordy, why are we still photocopying checks and money oriders with all the banking software, verifications, and depositing technology in the world. Does anyone else think we could streamline our admin and office environment if this were genuinely done? P.s. I like the IPads for leasing & availability too.

We went paperless years ago, totally paperless. All copies are kept in our OS aka realpage in the residents document management.

www.naahq.org/.../july-2019/article/paperless-office

We are totally paperless. Have been for years. Everything is uploaded or electronic from the start. And we don't photocopy checks or money orders. I think a lot of companies have already adapted and gone paperless.

We do paperless leases & take no checks all payments are online.

This sounds great on the surface, however there is a huge population of residents out there who are not computer savvy and would not even consider living at a communuty like this. It is quite frankly intimidating to them. I favor a more blended approach. Go as paperless as you like, but maintain the OPTION for people to pay in person instead of online, and come in and talk to you about their work order instead of just putting it in online.

We have been transitioning to paperless. The problem is time to scan all the paper we do have. Also very difficult to transfer the data/files to the buyer when you are selling the property.

I'm paperless! It's a god send.

Very good to hear. Now how to crusade to encourage my company to see the benefits.

We do a little bit of both paperless and not. We have many affordable properties that cannot go paperless due to HUD not allowing electronic signatures yet. We scan everything in to doc management in onesite for market rate and affordable. This way anyone who needs to access the file, can do so from anywhere.

We've been moving to paperless as well. It's a big under taking for sizable companies and takes a year + in preparation.

I refuse to give receipts - email only. Took me about a year to wean the residents from that. The previous manager of 45 YEARS would hand write receipts! I'm going paperless since Valence docs is free and unlimited storage

We never copy checks.

Please forgive the shameless plug ☺, but is anyone using paperless parking permits? Just wondering how many of you are at least liking the idea of virtual/digital parking permits.

Hanover is paperless there are a couple others that are paperless as well. I pads used daily by all staff members, even maint.

I was part of transitioning a 436 unit property to paperless. The biggest hurdle was getting the elderly on board. It took a lot of patience and helping them setting up gmail accounts. I also had a good relationship with our residents, I was there for 6 years. Going paperless was amazing!
I am now tackling this at my new property, no regrets!
I remember going to eviction court and not having to swing by office to print docs. I had my leasing agent email me the lease agreement/docs and our judge was perfectly okay with viewing docs on my phone. I will not have files on my property if I can help it

It is happening.....you just have to commit. We are all so used to our processes, many keep doing same thing even if it adds no value. Nothing to do with fair housing.

For the six years I was with Zinger, we were paperless. It’s really an undertaking because people would slide in paper addendums that they would make up ...
To Steve Matres point, it’s habits and those are hard to break when they are so familiar with a process. Rewiring the brain to fire differently takes a commitment

I’ve been paperless for a couple of years. Maintenace techs use iPads. Fujitsu scanners are expensive but worth every penny!! And we also accommodate people who need paper by printing, letting them sign, scanning that original, and then giving them the copy they signed. Love the digital organization!
Sometimes we still print out a bunch of paperwork for a difficult eviction case when we feel we need docs. Judges still don’t seem to like an iPad being handed over for evidence or documentation. But otherwise, paperless is the way to go!!

We are paperless at our community.