Real talk on tech, trust, and what comes next
Featuring insights from Vanessa Anderson of ShowMojo and Tenant Turner and Randall of Rentvine
The property management market is not getting easier, but it is getting clearer. In a recent conversation, Vanessa Anderson, CEO of ShowMojo and Tenant Turner, sat down with Randall, VP of Partnerships of Rentvine, to unpack what is really happening in the industry right now. From rising vacancies to the role of automation and artificial intelligence, the discussion offered a refreshingly honest look at where property management stands today and where it is headed next.
From analog roots to industry innovation
Both leaders share something that matters. They did not start in technology.
Vanessa Anderson grew up in real estate, managing the books for her father’s rental properties before moving into institutional ownership and private equity. Over time, she became increasingly frustrated with how slowly real estate adopted modern tools. After working in operations at Guaranteed Rate and helping modernize its title department, she transitioned into property technology. Today, her focus is leasing automation, with an emphasis on helping leasing teams work more efficiently. Under the Property Tech umbrella, ShowMojo and Tenant Turner are built to remove friction from leasing and help property managers turn interest into signed leases.
Randall followed a similar path. Raised in a family of entrepreneurs, he started working early, earned a math degree, and managed property for the Salt Lake Olympics. He later built and sold his own brokerage and property management business, gaining firsthand experience with how resilient property management can be during economic uncertainty. After spending a decade helping scale operations at PMI, Randall joined Rentvine as COO, bringing deep operational experience and a strong belief that technology should strengthen relationships, not replace them.
A tougher market without the sugarcoating
The market realities discussed were direct and familiar to many property managers.
Days on market have been climbing steadily since their low point in 2021. That means vacancies are lasting longer and filling them is becoming more challenging. Prospecting activity is down, and seasonality is playing an even larger role, especially in colder regions where the first and fourth quarters tend to be slower.
At the same time, homeowners are uneasy. Home sales are sluggish, and affordability is strained by the unusual combination of high prices and high interest rates. Rent growth has flattened, with multiple quarters showing little to no movement. These conditions are creating pressure on property managers to operate leaner while still delivering results.
One stat stood out in the conversation. Only about 30 percent of single family property owners use a professional property manager, and many only seek help when they are struggling to fill a vacancy. That reality reinforces a core truth of the business. Filling vacancies efficiently is one of the most critical responsibilities a property manager has.
Why automation matters more in uncertain times
When markets tighten, efficiency is no longer optional.
Vanessa emphasized that automation should be implemented before times get tough, not after. When leasing workflows are automated during stronger markets, property managers can avoid hiring additional staff just to keep up. That flexibility becomes crucial when the market slows and cost cutting becomes unavoidable.
ShowMojo and Tenant Turner focus heavily on improving conversion at two key points in the leasing funnel. The first is converting an inquiry into a scheduled showing. The second is converting that showing into a signed lease. Through automation, their customers average a conversion rate of roughly 54 percent from lead to scheduled showing. That kind of consistency matters when every vacancy day impacts revenue.
Taking a practical approach to Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence was a major topic in the discussion, but the tone was grounded and realistic.
Both leaders agreed that artificial intelligence only matters if it produces measurable outcomes. It cannot exist simply because it is trendy. Any future tools must directly improve conversion, reduce workload, or enhance service quality.
At Rentvine, artificial intelligence is viewed through two distinct lenses. Assistive tools help teams move faster inside the software, such as triggering actions or populating information with simple commands. Agent based tools, which interact directly with renters, owners, or prospects, require much more caution.
Property management is fundamentally a people business and a trust business. Relationships matter deeply, and that is why Rentvine is intentionally careful with how conversational automation is deployed. When property management companies change hands, it is common to see significant portfolio loss in the first year because relationships are disrupted. That reality shapes how Rentvine approaches any technology that interacts directly with customers.
Where Artificial Intelligence can add real value
Rather than trying to solve everything at once, Rentvine is prioritizing artificial intelligence in specific areas where it can provide immediate value.
Maintenance is one of the first opportunities. Helping renters diagnose issues or answer basic questions before submitting a work order can reduce noise and improve response times for true emergencies.
Front office communication is another area of focus. Many incoming calls go unanswered, and most callers do not leave a message. Research shows that responding to an inquiry within the first five minutes dramatically increases the likelihood of securing a lease. Intelligent routing and response tools can help close that gap.
Process automation is also on the roadmap, particularly for complex workflows like owner onboarding. While these processes are nuanced and vary by company, they represent a major opportunity to save time and reduce errors.
Vanessa added a fifth area where artificial intelligence can shine. Analytics. Smarter dashboards, clearer reporting, and faster access to meaningful insights can help property managers explain market conditions to owners and retain doors during slower periods.
Why an open platform matters
One key advantage highlighted in the discussion was Rentvine’s open API.
Having access to clean, structured data such as balances, maintenance history, and owner activity creates powerful opportunities when paired with modern intelligence tools. An open platform allows property managers to connect the systems they rely on while keeping Rentvine as their operational hub.
This approach also reinforces Rentvine’s philosophy of fewer logins and more options. Property managers should not have to bounce between disconnected systems just to run their business effectively.
Looking ahead with purpose
The takeaway from the conversation was clear. The market is challenging, but it is also clarifying what matters most.
Property managers who invest in smart automation, focus on trust, and choose technology partners who understand the nuances of the business will be better positioned to weather uncertainty. At Rentvine, the goal remains simple. Build the property management software that the industry and its professionals truly deserve.
