Property Management Business

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Welcome to the Property Management Business Podcast, hosted by Marc Cunningham, a veteran property manager with over 40 years of experience. This podcast offers practical insights for both beginners and experienced property managers, including topics such as industry trends, growing your business, increasing your income, marketing strategies, financial management, owner & tenant relations, and regulatory compliance. Learn valuable tips from an industry expert as you build, grow, and protect your property management business.

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November 10, 2026Episode 8754 min

87. Retaining Owners Through Property Maintenance With Ray Hespen of Property Meld

What if the secret to retaining more property management clients isn't better owner communication, but better property maintenance? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Ray Hespen, CEO of Property Meld, to explore the surprising connection between maintenance performance, resident satisfaction, and property management owner retention. Drawing on data from nearly one million rental units, Ray reveals that losing a resident during the first year of managing a property increases the likelihood of losing that owner client by 60.4%. He explains why the first two years of an owner relationship are especially critical and how maintenance performance directly influences resident renewals, turnover expenses, and investor confidence. Marc and Ray also discuss why property managers should focus less on individual repair costs and more on preventing expensive turnovers. They explore resident renewal benchmarks, the importance of measuring maintenance satisfaction, and why addressing problems with HVAC systems, water heaters, and toilets before move-in can significantly reduce resident turnover. Plus, Ray shares how Property Meld is using maintenance data to predict repair costs, identify potential resident and owner churn, and help property managers make more informed decisions about long-term property expenses. If you're looking to improve owner retention, reduce turnover costs, and build a more profitable property management business, this episode demonstrates why maintenance deserves a much bigger role in your company's strategy. More more about Property Meld: https://propertymeld.com/ Goodjuju Marketing - get more leads with superior strategies Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website

October 27, 2026Episode 8639 min

86. Does AI Recommend You with Andre Thivierge of Upkeep Media

When a property owner asks ChatGPT to recommend a property management company, does your business show up? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Andre Thivierge, CEO of Upkeep Media, to explore how AI is changing the way property owners search for property management companies and what businesses need to do to stay visible. Andre explains why traditional SEO is still important, but no longer tells the entire story. As more consumers turn to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and other AI platforms for recommendations, property managers need to understand how these tools find information, evaluate businesses, and decide which companies to recommend. Marc and Andre discuss the importance of fresh, localized website content, why specific Google reviews can improve your online visibility, and five essential elements every property management website should include. Andre also shares a free tool that allows property managers to test whether AI is recommending their business in their local market. They also examine new research from Upkeep Media showing how AI-driven website traffic is growing, why property managers shouldn't abandon traditional SEO, and how AI can improve marketing without replacing the relationships that make property management successful. If you're wondering whether your property management company is keeping up with the changing world of online search, this episode offers practical steps to help your business get discovered by more potential owner clients. Learn more at https://www.upkeepmedia.com/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

October 6, 2026Episode 8547 min

85. Using analytics to run you property management business with Peter Lohmann of RL Property Management

What would you do differently if you had access to more property management data, industry research, and operator insights than the average business owner? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Peter Lohmann, owner of RL Property Management and co-founder of Crane, to explore how Peter uses analytics and an engineering mindset to make better decisions inside his property management company. Peter shares how RL Property Management operates more than 700 doors while intentionally keeping its systems simple, limiting changes to its tech stack, and using client feedback to identify where the business needs improvement. He explains how NPS survey data uncovered a major problem with maintenance, why business owners occasionally need to override their leadership teams, and why speed of decision-making can be more valuable than waiting for the perfect answer. Marc and Peter also discuss simplifying your tech stack, avoiding duplicated data, creating separation between the owner and the business, and why stepping away from daily operations can actually make your company stronger. If you want to make decisions based on what the data is telling you instead of assumptions, this episode offers a practical look at running a smarter, simpler property management business. Join the CRANE PM group at https://www.joincrane.co/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

September 22, 2026Episode 841 hr 6 min

84. Using AI to GROW your property management business with Lior Abramovich of Blanket

AI is changing property management, but the real opportunity isn't simply using ChatGPT to write emails or create content. It's using AI to actually grow your property management business. In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Lior Abramovich of Blanket to explore how AI is moving beyond basic automation and becoming capable of finding potential owner clients, nurturing leads, personalizing sales conversations, improving owner communication, and helping property management companies reduce churn. Lior explains the evolution from traditional CRMs that require your team to constantly enter information and maintain workflows to AI-native systems that can perform much of that work themselves. They discuss Blanket's new owner-focused CRM, its AI sales agent, Lead Finder, and how AI can identify and communicate differently with investors and accidental landlords. Marc and Lior also dig into a larger challenge facing property managers: what happens when the market changes but your business doesn't? From declining investor activity to changing owner profiles, they explain why property management companies need to adapt their marketing, sales, and communication strategies rather than waiting for the market to return to what it used to be. Plus, Marc shares his perspective on whether the AI revolution is really as unprecedented as the hype suggests or simply the latest major technological shift businesses need to learn how to use. Check out Blanket at https://blankethomes.com/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

September 8, 2026Episode 8350 min

83. Using your Property Management Company as a Business Platform with Katie Linkous of FIG Property Management

What would your property management company look like if it didn't depend on you to keep everything running? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Katie Linkous, owner of FIG Property Management, to explore how she has built a successful property management company around trust, accountability, delegation, data, and a willingness to challenge the way things have always been done. Katie shares how FIG developed a culture where employees can hold anyone accountable, including her, and how dashboards and measurable KPIs help the team identify problems before they grow. She also explains why FIG stopped answering every incoming phone call, eliminated walk-in office visits, and closes the office every Monday, all while continuing to serve hundreds of rental properties. But Katie's approach extends beyond operational efficiency. She shares how her nonprofit is creating housing opportunities for people facing significant barriers, including young adults aging out of foster care, and how changing one property's rent collection structure increased collections from roughly 76% to 97% in a single month. Most importantly, Katie explains why she doesn't consider a business successful unless she's creating something she can eventually step away from. If you're trying to build a property management company that can grow without requiring more and more of your time, this conversation offers a very different way to think about leadership, systems, culture, and what business success actually looks like. Contact Katie Linkous at https://figpminc.com/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

August 25, 2026Episode 8258 min

82. Tiered Pricing and Profitability with Deb Newell

Are more doors actually making your property management company more profitable? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Deb Newell, founder of Real-Time Consulting Services, to challenge some common assumptions about growth, pricing, and profitability in property management. Deb explains why door count can become a vanity metric and why some companies may actually become more profitable by fixing operational inefficiencies before pursuing additional growth. The conversation then turns to pricing, where Marc and Deb debate the pros and cons of tiered pricing models versus dynamic pricing. Marc explains why offering multiple service levels can undermine your position as the expert, while Deb explores how property-level profitability should influence what you charge. They also discuss identifying unprofitable properties and difficult owners, knowing when to raise fees or let an owner go, healthy client attrition rates, and why owners who refuse to delegate eventually become the bottleneck preventing their companies from scaling. If you want to grow a healthier, more profitable property management company—not simply accumulate more doors—this episode will challenge how you think about pricing and growth. Contact Deb Newell for Real Time Consulting at https://www.propertymanagementconsulting.com/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

August 11, 2026Episode 811 hr 1 min

81. How to Make Your New Employee Successful with Pete Neubig of VPM Solutions

Hiring a great employee is only the beginning. What happens during their first days, weeks, and months can determine whether they become a long-term asset to your property management company or another hire that doesn't work out. In this episode of the Property Management Business Podcast, Marc Cunningham sits down with Pete Neubig of VPM Solutions to break down how to successfully onboard and train a new employee. They walk through the entire process, from preparing for a new hire's first day and introducing company culture to creating a structured training program, evaluating performance, and eventually giving employees the independence to own their roles. Pete explains why training should move from broad company knowledge into role-specific responsibilities, how long training should last, and why new employees should build their own training manuals as they learn. Marc also shares how his team evaluates new hires, uses weekly one-on-one meetings, and determines when someone simply isn't the right fit. If you're investing time and money into finding great people, this episode will help you make sure that investment doesn't end on hiring day. Connect with Pete and VPM Solutions at https://www.vpmsolutions.com/affiliate/pm-build Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

July 28, 2026Episode 801 hr 4 min

80. A Strategic Planning Session for Your Business with Andrew Smallwood of Second Nature

What separates property management companies that grow intentionally from those that simply react? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Andrew Smallwood, Chief Strategy Officer at Second Nature, for a deep dive into strategic thinking. Rather than discussing theory, Andrew walks Marc through a real strategic planning session, exploring how property managers can make better long-term decisions, identify the right customers, and build businesses around intentional choices instead of constant opportunities. Together, they discuss defining your ideal customer, knowing where not to compete, balancing focus with growth, avoiding common strategic planning mistakes, and creating a business that's known for something truly unique. They also explore why collaboration isn't the same as consensus and how leaders can confidently make strategic decisions while still involving their teams. Whether you're managing 30 doors or 3,000, this conversation will challenge how you think about building your business for the long term. Connect with Andrew Smallwood: andrew@secondnature.com https://www.secondnature.com/request-demo?utm_source=website&utm_medium=backlink&utm_campaign=pm_build Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

July 14, 2026Episode 7953 min

79. Where Your Owner Leads Are Coming From with Landon Murie of Goodjuju

Do you know where your owner leads are actually coming from or are you just guessing? In this episode, Marc Cunningham sits down with Landon Murie, Founder and CEO of Goodjuju Marketing, to discuss the results of a comprehensive marketing study analyzing where property management owner leads originate. Instead of relying on assumptions, Landon shares real data gathered from thousands of website visitors and lead submissions to uncover which marketing channels are producing results. Marc and Landon explore how Google search compares to AI platforms like ChatGPT, why educational content continues to outperform generic marketing, and what property managers should be doing today to improve their online visibility. They also discuss Google's increasing emphasis on expertise, authority, and trust, along with practical SEO strategies that can help companies generate more qualified owner leads. If you're looking to grow your property management company, this episode provides actionable marketing insights backed by real-world data not opinions. Connect with Landon Murie: Landon@gogoodjuju.com https://gogoodjuju.com/pm-build/ Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .

June 23, 2026Episode 7851 min

78. Why Grace Management Sold Their Property Management Company

Why would we sell our successful, growing property management company? In this special episode of the Property Management Business Podcast, the microphone gets turned around as Kit Garren interviews Marc Cunningham about Grace Property Management's recent sale to Associa and Rhome Property Management. After announcing the sale earlier this year, Marc received countless questions from industry peers: Was the company struggling? Was he burned out? Was this an exit strategy? In this candid conversation, Marc shares the real story behind the decision. You'll hear how Grace Management evolved from a family business founded in 1978 to one of Denver's most respected property management companies, why the company began exploring acquisition opportunities while business was thriving, and how concepts like risk management, succession planning, team stability, and long-term vision ultimately influenced the decision. Whether you have 100 doors or 10,000, this episode offers valuable insights into viewing your business as an asset, thinking strategically about the future, and making decisions that serve both your team and your legacy. Connect for Kit Garren: Kit.garren@rhomepm.com 828-779-5504 Property Manager Websites - the highest performing property management website in the industry Vendoroo - An always-on AI teammate to handle all aspects of maintenance Enterprise Bank & Trust - Property Management banking specialists Rentvine - the property management software you can trust Lending One - real estate loans for investors Reconcile Daily - corporate & trust accounting experts PMbuild - Marc's education for property managers Denver Property Management - Grace Property Management website This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative .