Peter Lohmann's Podcast

Here’s what I’m covering in this one:00:00:05 — Pure + HRG Merger (40k doors 🤯) The Pure and HRG merger is officially live — and this new combined entity clocks in at 40,000 doors under management. I break down the numbers (or what we can piece together) and explain why this is a big moment for the industry. Spoiler: We need a national PM success story to prove the model works at scale. And it’s really hard to grow while fighting churn at that size. 00:02:22 — Elevate Sales Kickoff Postponed. Originally planned for this month, Elevate’s annual sales kickoff got pushed to March due to weather. If you’ve got salespeople on your team, this one’s worth looking into. New date is March 16–18.00:02:39 — NARPM Capitol Summit Preview. The NARPM Capitol Summit is coming up fast (February 17-19), and I think every property manager should consider going. It’s one of the few places where advocacy and policy work are being done for our industry, not to us. I share why I’ve personally increased my financial support for their efforts.00:03:25 — Peter & The Wolf Returns! Our informal monthly Zoom show is back! Wolfgang Krosky and I are kicking off Season 4 on February 12 at 3pm ET. It’s live, casual, and covers whatever’s on our minds — news, vendor gossip, random hot takes. Always a good time in the chat. 00:05:30 — Data Ownership, APIs & PM Software An interesting video from Divvy Homes co-founder Alex Klarfeld looks at data ownership and API access — and why more industries are starting to fight for their right to access their own data. I connect the dots to what’s happening in PM software (think: AppFolio, Beagle) and why this matters more than ever as AI tools emerge.That's all for this week! Please leave your thoughts in the comments. If you like this format, I’ll keep publishing these short, news-style updates in the NEW Tuesday edition of the newsletter.__Resources for Property Managers & Real Estate Entrepreneurs• Crane – 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/subscribe• RL 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.

Brad Johnson, CEO of ProfitCoach and former GM who grew a 1,300-door firm from 20% to 37% margins, discusses leadership and tough personal feedback that sparked his growth. He recounts selling to Roam, creating profit-based pay that changed incentives, building ownership without equity, and using data and AI to deliver live benchmarks and decision support.

In this chat, Matthew Whitaker, CEO of Evernest and a pro in property management, dives into scaling operations to 20,000 doors. He addresses challenges in owner communication, advocating for property managers as coordinators. Matthew highlights the importance of a robust tech stack and AI's role in improving service quality. He shares insights on acquiring 17 companies and the structural shifts within Evernest, including the shift from EOS to Scaling Up. Lastly, he discusses market trends, service fit for different owner categories, and the evolving rental landscape.

In this engaging conversation, Jennifer Stoops, SVP of Industry Relations at PetScreening and former leader at Park Avenue Properties, shares her journey in property management. She uncovers how unreported pets can negatively impact profitability and reveals why PetScreening is likened to the 'Carfax for pets.' Jennifer also addresses common misconceptions about pet policies, discusses the benefits of a dog-friendly office environment, and offers crucial insights into M&A pitfalls for property owners considering selling their businesses.

Monica Gilroy, founder of the Gilroy Law Firm, is a seasoned trial attorney specializing in property management law. She dives into essential strategies for property managers, detailing how to handle unexpected ICE visits and bulletproofing tenant screening processes to avoid discrimination. Monica shares insights on emotional support animals, effective insurance strategies, and the nuances of Section 8 laws. This engaging chat offers clarity on common legal pitfalls and empowers listeners to navigate the complex landscape of property management.

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 engaging discussion, Jordan Coleman, a Loan Officer at Live Oak Bank, sheds light on the intricacies of SBA loans for property managers. He shares how these loans can provide 100% financing for acquisitions and reveals the crucial factors lenders consider when evaluating buyers and sellers. Jordan also highlights the importance of clawback clauses to mitigate risks and offers practical insights on refinancing seller notes. With a deep understanding of the market, he emphasizes the significance of building relationships with lenders early on.

Allison DiSarro, Senior VP at Enterprise Bank & Trust, shares her expertise in property management banking. She dives into the importance of trust accounts and federal compliance, revealing how many banks mishandle these crucial funds. Discussing analysis banking, she explains its role as a compliant alternative to traditional interest rates. Allison also highlights the risks of frozen accounts due to misclassifications, emphasizing what property managers should ask their banks for protection. Her insights are essential for anyone navigating the complex landscape of property management finance.

Janine Steiner Jovanovic, CEO of LeaseLock and a PropTech innovator, discusses her journey from a family real estate business to leading a game-changing company. She highlights how LeaseLock replaces traditional security deposits with lease insurance, making renting more affordable. Janine delves into the future of property management, noting the impact of AI and data trends post-COVID. She emphasizes a renter-first approach in product design, ensuring fair pricing while addressing challenges like fraud and self-screening.

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