SANTA BARBARA, CALIF., Aug. 12, 2009 – Yardi Systems, a leading developer of real estate investment and property management software, announced today that property developers and managers The Hignell Companies have selected Yardi Voyager™ and Yardi Portal™ to streamline property management operations and improve customer service across their portfolio of more than 25 multifamily communities, eight commercial properties, and 42 homeowner and property owner associations.
Yardi Voyager will replace the time-consuming, labor-intensive spreadsheets that The Hignell Companies currently use to manage their properties. “Voyager’s fully integrated, Web-based solution will eliminate the multiple data entries that slow us down,” said Philip Larios, president and chief operating officer of The Hignell Companies. “Streamlining our workflow allows our employees to focus on higher-value tasks and on building customer relations. It will also allow us to grow our portfolio without hiring additional staff.”
Larios also added, “Voyager will also centralize all information our property managers need. It will make all vacancies and planned movements across their portfolios visible in real time, so they don’t have to wait for onsite resident managers to call with the information.”
Responding to demands from residents, tenants, and community associations for improved access to crucial information, The Hignell Companies turned to Yardi Portal. Apartment residents will be able to make rent payments and submit work orders through Portal, and homeowners can pay homeowners association dues — all online. Association board members will be able to view financial information and outstanding work orders for their associations’ properties. “Everyone will get information instantly, without having to spend time telephoning us,” Larios said.
The Hignell Companies also elected to take advantage of Yardi’s Application Service Provider (ASP) hosting. Yardi hosts the application and database, assuming all responsibility for network support and resources, system security, and business continuity. This arrangement will allow The Hignell Companies to focus on their principal business rather than network maintenance and IT.
“Using a single platform that integrates property and association management with the online services provided by Portal, The Hignell Companies can offer significantly enhanced resident services,” said Terri Dowen, Yardi senior vice president of Sales. “Because Voyager is an end-to-end real estate business solution, they are also poised to take advantage of many other value-added products that would not be available to them in a simple association management system.”
About The Hignell Companies
The Hignell Companies, founded in 1948 and based in Chico, Calif., build commercial and residential properties and manage community associations in Northern California. They have built numerous residential and commercial complexes, including The Courtyard at Little Chico Creek, a 41-unit residential care facility for the elderly. Along with general contracting and management, The Hignell Companies also offer electrical, painting, maintenance, plumbing, cleaning services, heating and air conditioning, and sheet metal services. For more information, visit www.hignell.com.
About Yardi
For more than 25 years, Yardi Systems has been solely committed to the design, development, and support of real estate investment management and property management software. Recognized as an industry leader, Yardi continues to develop and deliver software and services with the highest dedication to responsiveness, quality, innovation, and customer focus. Yardi Systems has offices throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. More information about Yardi products and services may be found by visiting www.yardi.com.
Trade Media Contact: Joel Nelson 805.699-2040, ext. 1255