Stephanie Johnston fell into the multifamily business when she was in college. She needed a job, so she got hired at the student housing community she lived in. Then she spent seven years in the fascinating student housing industry, a world that she sometimes misses today.
Now, Johnston is a division president with RPM Living, overseeing all property operations across the company’s Midwest, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions, as well as their affordable portfolio. She specializes in capital improvements, associate development, budgeting, and market analysis.
READ ALSO: Breathing New Life Into Older Apartment Properties
In this podcast discussion with Multi-Housing News Senior Editor Laura Calugar, Johnston dives into the ins and outs of property upgrades, touching on what residents want most in their apartments—yes, smart home technology is still at the top of the list—and the amenities they expect. The conversation is sprinkled with apartment marketing tips, as well, so tune in now to find out all about cost-effective renovations that can be performed even in an environment “when everyone is counting pennies across the board.”
Here’s a dropdown of what you’ll hear about in this episode:
- Johnston’s professional path (0:57)
- The hardest thing about being a multifamily property manager-operator today (2:41)
- RPM Living’s approach to value-add investments (3:45)
- The most in-demand in-unit improvements (4:38)
- Upgrading amenity spaces (7:10)
- Why outdoor amenity spaces and signage can’t be overlooked (9:49)
- How can these property upgrades be financed today? (13:31)
- Can working with local contractors save time and money? (15:18)
- Working in multifamily management (16:47)
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (19:22)
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