LPG Featured in Fortune Small Business for Use of DocuSign: What this Means for Residents

Today, Lightner Property Group was featured in Fortune Small Business for its use of electronic signature software, DocuSign. We are very excited about this piece, and want to share it with our readers.

The article in essence describes how LPG uses electronic signature software for every facet of its business (in addition to managing apartments, LPG also manages commercial office space, does real estate development and expert witness work) to reduce time and money spent, and also to reduce hassle for its clients (residents being one of our “clients”) and also to be green (we save a whole lot of paper using this technology).

So, how does using this service make our resident’s lives easier?

• Resident’s can sign leases from the comfort of their home or office.  Also, if at the time of the lease signing, they are living in a separate state, it makes the paperwork a lot easier for both the resident and LPG.
• Have you ever signed and faxed a document only to later find out that you by accident forgot to sign your name one place, and then have to fax it all over again? We have too. DocuSign makes sure that you do not miss any places where you need to sign.
• DocuSign is a binding contract. Yes, it offers all that convenience and it is binding, so you don’t have to worry about the legality of the document.

At LPG, technology is central to our success. In addition to DocuSign, LPG also uses the following technology services to offer convenience to our residents:

• FixIt: Residents can e-mail their repair requests instead of having to fill out a written form. Written forms are still available to residents, this is just another option.
• Central Desktop: LPG uses this Web-based, secure service to streamline key elements over the course of residency such as fix it requests, notices to vacate and more.  
• Comprehensive Web site: If you are a resident, you can register for our Web site and have access to tons of information that is helpful over the course of your residency.
• Vertical Response: This is helpful for both potential new residents who are looking for apartments and also current residents. Potential new residents can sign up to get weekly e-mail alerts about apartments that have just come onto the market for rent, and current residents get e-mail notifications regarding their building or LPG-specific promotions.

Let us know in the comments section if you have any questions about any of the technology LPG uses to provide convenience to our residents.

Top 10 People to Follow on Twitter if You Are a San Francisco Renter

At Lightner Property Group, we are all about social media and using it to reach out to San Francisco renters. We have made some great connections on Twitter, and want to share with you the top 10 people we recommend following if you are a San Francisco renter:

1. @FunSherpaSF: This Twitterer describes its feed as Your San Francisco concierge. Ask them a question or advice and they will satisfy. They are an excellent resource for great restaurant events and general happenings in the Bay Area. The great thing about this Twitterer is that this person is dedicated to interacting with the community instead of just blasting messages.


2. @SF311: This account lets you interact with 311 via Twitter. If you are unfamiliar with 311, this is a free service that provides information about the city and county of San Francisco. In addition to being able to call 311, you can now Twitter questions to them as well.


3. @SFgirlbybay: Our social media director discovered this person on Twitter and adores her blog. This blog in essence is pretty to look at and gives great tips from someone living in San Francisco. If you are looking for unique interior design ideas, check out this Twitterer and her blog for new products, shopping tips, photography and engaging stories.


4. @SfArtNews: There are so many creative people in San Francisco that this person is worth following, especially if you are looking to find some unique pieces for your apartment. This person tracks San Francisco artists and their events so you are always in the loop.


5. @SanFranciscoAHL: Learn tips like how to deal with noisy neighbors, how to green your apartment and unique decorating ideas.


6. @BayAreaGetaways: Even though we all love our charming San Francisco apartments, it is always nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Follow this person to learn about great deals and sweepstakes for fun events and quick getaways in the Bay area.


7. @Bayareatreks: This is another person to follow to find out about fun things to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area. What we find helpful about this Twitterer is that they put in all caps the event that they are publicizing, which normally can be annoying but in this case, makes it easy to scan.


8. @TrxMike: Follow this person for updates about San Francisco traffic.


9. @Emergency_In_SF: Just so you are prepared and in the know about emergencies as they happen, be sure to follow this Twitter feed.


10. @LightnerGroup: If you aren’t following us already, be sure to add us to your Twitter feed. We give you updates about new apartments for rent, links to our blog, which gives tips for San Francisco renters and more.

The truth is that there are tons of great people to follow on Twitter. If you know of a few other Twitterers that our readers should follow, list them in the comments section below!

Top 10 iPhone Apps for the San Francisco Renter

Since many of our residents are toting iPhones these days, we thought it would be useful to put together our list of the top 10 iPhone apps for the San Francisco renter. These applications will be helpful for those of you who are just moving in, learning about a new neighborhood, apartment hunting, or just balancing work and life in this fast-paced city.

• Epicurious: Many of us are constantly on the go, which means that poring over cookbooks to plan elaborate meals is not an every-day occurrence. This iPhone app is great for the apartment dweller who needs to stop by the market on the way home from work. Download this app for free and instantly get recipes and grocery lists on-the-go. Cost: FREE


• Dual Level: If you are hanging a bunch of pictures in your apartment you will find this application very handy. This is a free application that has two level vials that you can use horizontally, vertically and face-up. After you press calibrate, the application will instantly tell you if your picture is straight. Cost: $.99


• imeem: Having a shindig at your apartment and want to have the perfect playlist? Imeem is a fantastic free music service that allows you to search and play thousands of different music genres. For the less savvy music listener, it also puts together lists like the top 100 songs that week so your friends will think you are in the know about the hippest music at the moment. Cost: FREE


• Home Sizer: Just moved into a new place and on the hunt for some new furniture? Use this application to enter the name and sizes of each of your rooms and let this application determine the amount of usable space. Cost: $2.99


• Yelp: If you live in San Francisco then you may be one of the many people who use Yelp for just about everything including finding a dentist, identifying a good restaurant, or locating a new gym. This application is very useful if you’ve just moved into a new neighborhood. Type in your address and instantly find restaurants and businesses near your apartment.  Cost: FREE


• WeatherBug: Many of us San Franciscans have mastered the art of layering due to San Francisco’s ever-changing weather. WeatherBug is a great free app that gives you live local weather conditions and forecasts (7 day and hourly), so you can be prepared before you leave your apartment. Cost: FREE


• Pennies: Many people are setting budgets these days to ensure they can pay rent on time, cover all their bills, start saving and still have some money left over to have fun. This application helps you track your budget and even has a nifty fuel-like gauge to see how well you are doing with your budget. Cost: $2.99

iPhone applications that are great for Apartment Hunting:

• Apartment Guide: If you are out and about searching for new apartments, you will want to see listings on the go. This application lets you browse apartments for rent and has many user-friendly features. Cost: FREE


• Craigsphone: This application brings Craigslist to your iPhone. You can use this app to sort through dozens of listings to find your perfect new apartment. Cost: FREE


• Apartments.com: You can search thousands of apartments nationwide using this iPhone app. It also delivers Google maps so you can easily find the apartment you would like to view. Contacting the property manager is simple and you can easily set up an appointment. Cost: FREE

Bonus: Free Podcasts:

• Take a Walk: If you are exploring the city you will love these podcasts. It gives you free walking tours of various cities around the country. For San Francisco, you can listen to walking tours of museums like the SFMOMA. Cost: FREE