# Smartmove Tenant Screening: What Property Managers Need to Know in 2026

Staying Ahead in 2026’s Fast-Evolving Property Management Landscape

Look, here’s the deal: property management in 2026 feels less like a desk job and more like a strategy game on hard mode. Moves are faster, expectations are higher, and the margin for error? Pretty thin. Every week it seems like there’s some new app, regulation tweak, or resident demand you’ve gotta keep up with.

It’s not about working longer hours. It’s about using sharper tools, better data, and a team that actually knows how to pull it all together without burning out.

If you’re wondering what the top operators are doing differently right now, you’re in the right place. Let’s make your next move count.

What’s Defining Property Management Success in 2026?

Success in 2026 isn’t coming from just one thing. It’s a mix—data, smart software, and real human connection all working together. And not in theory; in the day-to-day grind.

Here’s where the future-focused managers I talk to are putting their time and budget:

• Centralized Data Dashboards: Real-time visibility into occupancy, maintenance tickets, rent rolls, and tenant satisfaction—so you’re not guessing in meetings.
• AI-Powered Insights: Spotting tenant churn risk and upcoming maintenance issues before they blow up your budget is a major NOI win.
• ESG & Sustainability: “Green” isn’t a cute buzzword anymore. Eco-friendly buildings attract higher-paying tenants and often shave costs off your utility and operating bills.
• Next-Level Communication: About 8 out of 10 renters expect fast, digital replies. Self-serve portals, text alerts, and even chatbots are changing how you handle everyday requests.

Is it a lot? Yeah. But when you’ve got the right systems working together, it starts to feel less like chaos and more like momentum.

2026 Property Management Data & Market Trends

Let’s get specific for a second. Opinions are everywhere; numbers are what actually move owners and investors.

Leasing Demand & Vacancy: What the Data Says

• Multifamily vacancy rates are holding steady at just 6.1%. That’s the lowest since 2022, according to Yardi Matrix's May 2026 report.

• Average rent growth slowed to 2.8% annually. You can’t just push rents and hope for the best—residents want clear value for every extra dollar.
• Short-term rentals? Still evolving. Platforms like Airbnb saw urban occupancy drop 4% year-over-year, while smaller cities and suburbs are basically flat and holding steady.

Tech Adoption: The NOT-So-Secret Weapon

Honestly, “basic” tech is table stakes now. A simple online payment portal doesn’t impress anyone in

Here’s what’s actually shifting performance:

• 74% of PM professionals use AI leasing assistants or chatbots (NMHC 2026 Tech Insights Survey).
• 55% rolled out IoT-driven smart maintenance systems—we’re talking predictive alerts instead of just reacting when something breaks.
• 84% of renters want digital communications options (APT Renters’ Choices Survey, April 2026), not just email packed with attachments they never read.

Emerging Must-Haves for Forward-Looking Property Managers

So what should you actually be doing this quarter—not next decade?

Here’s the short list.

1. Master Your Metrics

If you’re still pulling numbers from three different systems and copy-pasting into spreadsheets, you’re already behind. The top shops run their properties like mid-size companies with real dashboards and real accountability.

Dial in these:

• Occupancy/Pacing: Track week-over-week, by floor plan, and by season so you can actually forecast traffic and pricing.
• Delinquency Trends: Use automated reminders, flexible payment plans, and clear policies to smooth out cash flow instead of chasing from behind.
• Turnover Costs: Line-item visibility into paint, cleaning, repairs, and days vacant. Not “kind of,” but actually broken down per move-out.

And the best part? Modern platforms show all of this in real time. No more waiting for an end-of-month report to learn something you could’ve fixed two weeks earlier.

2. Build High-Touch, Tech-Enabled Teams

The truth is, tech doesn’t replace your team—it makes the good ones unstoppable. The properties with the stickiest retention almost always share the same formula: fast service plus smart systems.

That usually looks like:

Tenant portals for bill pay, FAQs, and amenity booking—so residents can get stuff done at 11:30 p.m. without emailing you.

Scheduled maintenance supported by AI-driven dispatch and routing, cutting down windshield time and back-and-forth calls.

Proactive check-ins before renewal season and after big work orders, so small annoyances don’t grow into move-out decisions.

I’ve seen teams cut formal complaints by about 40–50% just by adding automated status updates on maintenance tickets. No fancy rebrand. Just honest communication.

3. Embrace Sustainability (ESG Isn’t Optional)

This part’s easy to ignore—until your investors and higher-income tenants start asking pointed questions.

In 2026:

• Properties with recognized “green” certifications earn 11–14% higher rents (JLL Green Buildings Report 2026).

Upgrades like better insulation, low-flow fixtures, and smart HVAC controls often save roughly $200/month per building in utilities, sometimes more.

Major investors want hard numbers on energy use, water performance, and emissions—not just a line on your brochure saying “we care.”

If you’re not tracking at least energy usage, water, and basic retrofit projects, now’s the time to start.

4. Intelligent Vendor Partnerships

Not all vendors are created equal, and in 2026, the gap is obvious.

You’ve got one set that just shows up when scheduled. Then you’ve got the group that sends updates, plugs into your tech, and actually helps you hit NOI targets instead of dragging you behind them.

Look for:

App-based RFP management and onboarding, so you’re not chasing PDFs and lost emails.

Automated service logs, time stamps, and photo verification tied directly into your maintenance stack.

Those details sound small. They’re not.

The New Age Renter—What Matters to Them in 2026?

Here’s what most people miss: it’s rarely just about “cheapest rent wins.” Not in

A lot of today’s renters—roughly 6 out of 10 by most surveys—are choosing places where life feels easier and more connected.

They’re asking for:

• Rapid, digital-first communication: Email alone feels slow. Text and in-app messages rule.
• Flexible lease terms: Options for subletting, pet allowances, furnished units, and even hybrid “live-work” layouts are getting more popular.
• Connected devices: Keyless entry, smart thermostats, leak sensors, and real-time package notifications actually influence renewal decisions.
• Real community feel: Monthly events, co-working spaces, outdoor lounges, and fitness-on-demand make a difference when people compare properties.

If you only modernize one area this year, make it communication. Adding a tenant portal plus two-way SMS became the top driver of five-star reviews for several portfolios I’ve seen in 2025—and that trend’s not slowing down.

Tech That’s Worth Your Budget in 2026

There’s a ton of noise in proptech. Some tools earn their keep. Some just look nice in a pitch deck.

Let’s sort them out a bit.

Standouts

• AI Leasing Agents: They handle initial inquiries, schedule tours, and pre-qualify prospects. You easily get hours back every week, and your staff can spend time closing the most qualified leads.
• Predictive Maintenance: By catching issues early—like small HVAC irregularities or slow leaks—you can cut repair and replacement costs by roughly 18–22% on average.
• Centralized Communication Platforms: Everything—texts, emails, portal messages—in one place. Faster resolutions, better documentation, fewer “he said, she said” moments.

Caution

• Legacy Accounting Suites: If your core accounting won’t talk to your CRM, leasing tools, or screening platforms, you’ll keep drowning in duplicate work.
• Basic Package Lockers: They’re still useful, sure, but residents are starting to expect direct integration with major delivery services, real-time notifications, and easy access codes, not clunky workflows.

Real-World Example: How Tech & Data Changed the Game

Let’s walk through something real instead of theory.

Maintenance costs were climbing fast, and tenant turnover had crept up to almost 50%. That’s brutal for any owner.

Here’s what they did:

Rolled out Yardi Voyager to centralize KPIs, automate emails and texts, and flag red-flag accounts early.

Dropped in IoT sensors for leak detection and smart HVAC scheduling across about 80% of their units in phase one.

Launched consistent neighborhood events—food trucks, small resident meetups, and seasonal gatherings—to build community and drive better online reviews.

The results weren’t vague. Maintenance costs dropped by 31%, occupancy climbed to 97%, and renewals hit an all-time high by early

Real dollars, real impact—not just “we upgraded our tech” vibes.

2026-Proof Your Portfolio: Where to Start

Feeling like there’s a lot to tackle? That’s normal. Don’t fix everything at once.

Pick one or two moves and commit:

1. Automate Your Basics: Move rent payments, late notices, and lease signatures out of your inbox for good.
2. Mine Your Metrics: Shift away from static monthly reports. Set up daily or weekly dashboards that your team actually checks.
3. Double Down on Retention: It’s easier to keep the residents you have than constantly replace them. Simple gestures—a renewal incentive, faster responses, clearer expectations—go further than most people think.
4. Relaunch Your Green Initiatives: Track energy and water use, then share quarterly progress with owners and investors. It builds trust and justifies upgrades.
5. Upgrade Team Training: Your tools are only as strong as the people using them. Host workshops, do short monthly refreshers, and share internal “playbooks” for tricky situations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Level Up?

Look, the “wait and see” era is done. You’re either actively sharpening your operations or you’re slowly falling behind the properties down the street.

I’ve seen portfolios flip their story in under a year just by tightening screening, leaning on better data, and cleaning up communication. And in 2026, the gap between the top performers and everyone else is only getting wider.

If you’re sorting through options—Smartmove, new PMS tools, reporting dashboards—and not sure how it should all fit together, line up a free consult with Tivio’s top experts. Honestly, guessing your way through the next 12–18 months is the most expensive option on the table.

Let’s unlock what’s actually possible for your portfolio this year.

In conclusion—yeah, we’re really going there—staying ahead in the 2026 property management game means leaning into the right tech, paying careful attention to what renters actually care about, and not treating sustainability like an afterthought. By using Smartmove for tenant screening and backing your decisions with real data, you can keep your properties competitive and your owners happy.

So take the leap, set up the right tools, adapt to where the market’s clearly headed, and watch how quickly your results start to shift.