AI leasing has officially entered the chat. From virtual leasing assistants to AI chatbots handling prospect inquiries, AI is transforming multifamily fast. However, the way you talk to AI can make or break the outcomes you achieve as a multifamily professional. That’s why Jacob Carter, CEO of Nurture Boss, breaks down one of the most overlooked parts of working with AI: how you talk to it.
How to Communicate With AI
AI leasing tools are powerful but only perform as well as the inputs they receive. If you want better outcomes from your AI multifamily tools, whether you’re chatting with a virtual leasing assistant or using a platform like ChatGPT, you need to understand one thing. How you communicate with AI determines what you get out of it.
Most of us are still learning how to talk to AI. We fall back on old habits, like repeating the same word over and over because we’re used to outdated phone bots that barely understand us. Think about calling Walgreens to check a prescription. You probably say “Pharmacy” a dozen times, hoping the system catches on and connects you.
But generative AI works differently. Take this example. A virtual leasing assistant picks up the phone and says, “Thanks for calling. How can I help you today?” The caller responds with one word: “Leasing.” The assistant asks a clarifying question, and again, the caller just repeats: “Leasing.”
That back-and-forth goes nowhere fast. It creates frustration and makes the AI look ineffective. But the problem isn’t the technology. It’s how we speak to it.
The fix is simple. Be clear. Be patient. Be specific. Give it context. Instead of saying “Leasing,” try: “Hi, I’m looking to tour a one-bedroom apartment this weekend. Do you have any availability?”
That kind of detail gives the AI what it needs to understand your intent and provide a helpful response. Taking a few extra seconds to be clear can save you time and prevent the back-and-forth. And the eye-roll.
Talk to AI Like It’s a Teammate
Think of AI as your always-on assistant. It can do a lot, but it can’t read your mind. Just like a new coworker, it needs direction. If you give it vague instructions, you’ll get vague results. If you treat it like part of your team and share the right context, it can help you do your job faster, better, and with less stress.
For example, with AI leasing tools like the ones from Nurture Boss, the more context a prospect or resident provides in a message, the more helpful the AI can be. If prospects want to book a tour and mention the number of bedrooms or preferred move-in date, the system will respond more accurately and cut down on unnecessary back-and-forth.
But what if prospects and residents aren’t being specific?
Train Your Residents
Talking to AI isn’t just a leasing office problem. Residents also need education on how to talk to AI. If you’re rolling out new tech, include tips in your welcome emails or resident newsletters. Remind them to be specific when they engage with your tools whether they’re booking a service request, scheduling a tour, or asking a question. Still, you may be worried residents won’t talk to AI correctly.
In that case, there’s no reason to worry if you have the right AI provider like Nurture Boss. Our platform uses advanced AI that understands intent, even when questions aren’t perfectly worded. It picks up on repeated questions and automatically routes prospects and residents to the right answers — or flags a leasing agent when it’s time to jump in. Our personalization keeps it simple for on-site teams to stay confident and in control while using AI.
What about on-site teams?
As for making sure your on-site teams get more value out of AI, consider holding a quick training. Encourage them to learn from Nurture Boss’s AI experts. Or teach them how to phrase requests clearly based on our suggestions. These small changes can make a big difference.
How to Talk to AI: Why This Matters for Multifamily
AI in multifamily isn’t a novelty anymore. It’s a business advantage. Tools like AI virtual leasing assistants are already streamlining the resident journey, helping teams respond faster, nurture leads more effectively, and reduce operational load. In fact, one of our clients has had a 40% increase in tour conversions since implementing Nurture Boss’s Virtual Leasing Assistant.
If your teams, prospects, or residents interact with AI like it’s a clunky phone tree, you won’t unlock its full potential. That could mean missed leads, slower leasing velocity, or lower satisfaction scores. On the flip side, clear and context-rich communication with AI leads to smarter responses, better outcomes, and more efficient workflows.
