How Outsourcing Move-In Reports Improved Urban Key’s Tenant Relationships
After outsourcing move-in reports to Showdigs, Urban Key's tenant relationships improved, profit margins increased, and productivity skyrocketed.
“They (Showdigs) actually went to real estate agents, licensed agents, that have fair housing training. They found people that are reputable, know the area, know the markets, and actually have a lot of housing knowledge because that’s their profession.”
— Ty Cayce, Business Owner, West Seattle PM
Urban Key is a Seattle-based property management company that has been operating since 2010. Today, the company manages a portfolio of over 500 doors.
Urban Key’s in-house inspections caused delays, inconsistency, and tenant tension. When they outsourced these reports to Showdigs, they immediately noticed how the change streamlined operations and improved tenant relationships.
Why move-in reports matter
Move-in reports are vital tools for property managers. Thoroughly documenting the condition of a rental unit at the start of a tenancy promotes fairness and transparency for both tenants and property managers.
While creating a detailed move-in report is essential, the process can be time-consuming and subjective. Outsourcing this task to a trusted third party like Showdigs ensures a professional and objective inspection — giving property managers and tenants peace of mind.
The challenge
Urban Key, like many property management companies, traditionally handled move-in inspections internally.
- Time-consuming inspections — scheduling ate into other important work for staff
- Inspector subjectivity — different inspectors captured varying levels of detail
- Tenant discomfort — tenants often felt self-conscious under the watchful eyes of their landlords, making it harder to objectively assess the property
Urban Key realized this traditional approach was hindering efficiency and needed a strategy that was both thorough and respectful.
The Showdigs solution
Urban Key outsourced move-in and mid-tenancy reports to Showdigs. That freed property managers to focus on active tenants, while tenants benefited from transparent report copies and a neutral third party that reduced conflict potential.
Increased productivity
Outsourcing move-in reports allotted more time to core tasks, like tenant applications and communication.
Improved record-keeping
Urban Key now had consistent and detailed reports for smoother move-out processes.
Enhanced tenant experience
Using a third party allowed for transparent communication and reduced conflict.
Significant cost savings
With variable costs per inspection based on tenant activity, Showdigs allowed for better cost control compared to fixed staff salaries.
The results
Outsourcing fieldwork gave Urban Key a competitive advantage through reduced staff costs and an improved tenant experience — without sacrificing documentation quality.
