Jayel Solutions Network

Transforming the way we draft contracts! In just 10 years, with the help of AI, I've gone from weeks of work to mere hours. Curious how? Discover the journey on our blog! https://wix.to/RUL4xtq

From Weeks to Hours: How 10 Years and AI Changed the Way I Write Contracts Roughly 10 years ago, after years of feedback from clients and staff, I sat down to draft a new service agreement for our property management company. It was long overdue. The first draft alone took a week of focused work. The final version? Months of back-and-forth collaboration, refining everythin...

In case you missed it, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) has split their website content into two separate sites: one for consumers, and one for industry members.

I know some will inevitably curse the red tape, bureaucracy, and spending... (don't worry, RECA is not taxpayer funded. Unless you're a member of the real estate industry - in which case, you can complain about their spending until you're blue in the face.)

I appreciate the clarity this change brings.

Both sites are less cluttered.

I only spent a few minutes on the new consumer site, but quickly found this page about Property Management, that was a breath of fresh air: https://www.recaprotects.ca/condo-manager-vs-property-manager/

I've had a lot of conversations with people - both in and out of the industry - who don't understand what the different licenses are, or don't know that Condo Managers now need to be licensed through RECA. (A relatively recent development).

What do you think?

Property Management Both professions are licensed and regulated by RECA to ensure they meet high standards of professionalism and consumer protection. Check RECA ProCheck to see if your condominium manager or property manager is licensed, qualified, and accountable.

“If you’re not taking notes, you’re fired.”

That’s how the VP of Sales opened our class over a decade ago.

He continued:
“This time it’s a test—but if I ever walk in again and you’re not taking notes, you will be fired. Two reasons:
1. What I’m telling you now is important.
2. What your clients tell you is important.

I want you in the habit of taking notes—because it signals to them that what they say matters to you.”

That moment stuck with me. Since then, I’ve filled dozens of notebooks—even though I know I've missed more than one opportunity to take notes.

I’ve come to appreciate and find joy in using quality tools"
📝 A good notebook (Moleskine or Leuchtturm)
✒️ A solid fountain pen (I rotate between a Faber-Castell e-Motion and a Kaweco Sport in stainless steel)

For webinars, I type notes directly on my computer. My fingers can usually keep up with the flow, or at least the high points.

Over the years, I’ve learned that taking notes isn’t always the answer.
🧠 Writing things down helps me remember—especially with ADHD.
🤝 But... head-down notetaking means you might miss body language, tone, or subtle cues.
🔁 And when something is repetitive, it may be better to focus and just listen.

When I can, I use an AI notetaker.
I’ve tested a few—Fathom.ai is the best. Great transcripts, solid summaries, and it sends the notes to everyone after the call.
I pay for Premium. If you want to try it, here’s a link for a free month for both of us: https://fathom.video/invite/xx2sMw
(Only downside: no mobile app yet!)

Spent the morning as a judge Enactus Canada’s national semifinals. I saw impressively polished and coordinated presentations and annual reports. Entrepreneurial students spoke about a variety of social enterprise. All were purposeful, passionate, and impactful. Very inspiring!

It turns out I don't know everything! I asked the audience of property managers and landlords I spoke to last week, and here’s what they had to say about AI…

During my talk "The Future is Now: Leveraging AI for Landlords and Property Managers," I asked Calgary Residential Rental Association members 3 key questions:

📊 1. How often do you personally use AI tools?
🏢 2. What level of AI adoption does your organization currently have?
🔍 3. What Rental-specific AI tools have you tried?

📈 Personal AI Usage Results:
• 46% use AI tools daily
• 25% use AI tools weekly
• 21% use AI tools occasionally
• Only 8% never use AI tools

💡 Not surprising! Free standalone AI tools create rapid value, and AI features are becoming ubiquitous in our everyday tools, like email.

🏢 Company-Level Adoption:
• 38% are experimenting with AI tools
• 35% are actively integrating AI
• 24% see no AI use yet
• 2% have AI as a core part of their business

🎯 Key Insight: Corporate adoption is significantly slower than personal experimentation - matching both my experience and data from Prairies Proptech Association.

⚠️ Companies who hesitate or aren't sure where to apply AI tools risk being disrupted. While AI isn't magic, it's already creating incredible efficiencies and driving productivity gains.

🏘️ The Big Picture:
Canadian society is shifting - more people are renting versus becoming homeowners. This means growing demand for Property Management professionals. Companies embracing AI will make the profession more rewarding by automating routine tasks, creating space for meaningful human connections.

📌 Interesting Note: While I'd heard some companies were blocking AI tools, none of our respondents reported this - possibly a selection bias, but intriguing nonetheless!

Check out the attached photos for some rental-specific AI tools that the audience have tested.

💭 What's your take on AI tools? Are you seeing similar adoption patterns in your organization?

Yesterday, I had the privilege of speaking to nearly 100 landlords, property managers, and service providers about AI tools. For those who couldn't make it, here's my roundup of productivity enhancing Canadian PropTech AI solutions:

🏢 Propra
More than just accounting software - it's a comprehensive solution that replaces 4 separate tools. Their AI integration is subtle yet powerful, thoughtfully solving real bottlenecks in rental management and improving communication.

🔍 SingleKey
Screening tenants properly is one of the most impactful risk-management activities for any landlord. SingleKey's ID verification is driven by AI - and makes the process much faster!

🤖 ePlatform
Affordable AI workflows that pack a punch! Their AI receptionist and calendar tools are perfect for private landlords and small teams.

📱 KnowHow
Focused on the restoration industry, but I like it for Property Management too - think of it as your AI-powered knowledge base for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). Perfect for staff training and on-demand support.

📊 Rhenti
Smart property marketing with data-driven insights. Their "Leasa" chat function is an ideal use-case for property managers who get the same questions about their listings! It helps prospective tenants to narrow in on the right property for them, reducing frustration all around.

💰 TraceRent
Taking the guesswork out of rental pricing with real-time market data and predictive analytics, that is transparent and fair to all parties.

🛠️ Wreno
Smart vendor marketplace making contractor matching and bid management effortless.

Thank you Calgary Residential Rental Association (CRRA) for having me speak at lunch! Always a pleasure to share insights with your members.

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Here's a recap of Canadian PropTech AI solutions!

Next week, I’ll be speaking about AI at the Calgary Residential Rental Association (CRRA), and how it is becoming a game-changer in property management.

For landlords, property managers, and REITs, AI isn’t just a futuristic concept—it’s a practical tool that can streamline operations, enhance tenant experiences, and improve decision-making. From automating maintenance requests to optimizing leasing processes, and even predicting market trends, AI is already reshaping the industry.

Best of all, some of the best solutions for Canadian landlords are based right here in Canada.

In my talk, I’ll cover:
✅ Practical use cases and solutions (beyond the hype)
✅ How to implement AI and automation effectively
✅ Resources and organizations that can accelerate adoption

When: February 20th 11:30am - 1pm
Where: Blackfoot Inn Ballroom
Lunch is included!

DM me for registration details and a discount.

If you’re attending, I’d love to connect and hear how AI is impacting your business. If you’re curious but can’t make it, let’s chat—I’m always happy to discuss ways technology can make property management more efficient and profitable.

What’s one AI tool or process you’re considering (or already using) in your business?

Fortunately, the AI and automations I've looked at lately are far more robust than my image-generator. Clearly I'm not an AI artist! 😅

January 2025 - Build Your Business Bulletin - https://mailchi.mp/fa530cd2cd7a/january-2025-build-your-business-bulletin
Tips, resources, and stories that will help you systemize your business to scale up, sell, or both.

Why You Need Both Big Picture and Frontline Perspectives to Solve Problems

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a leader is this: successful problem-solving requires both the big picture and the on-the-ground perspective.

As a manager, owner, or operator, you’re responsible for understanding how all the pieces fit together—the wider goals, strategies, and long-term vision. But the people doing the job day-to-day? They have the clearest view of the processes, the challenges, and often, the best ideas for fixing what’s broken.

Here’s why both perspectives are crucial:
1️⃣ Frontline Insights: Your team on the ground knows the details and nuances of the work. They often see problems—and solutions—that you might miss when looking at spreadsheets or high-level reports.

2️⃣ Strategic Alignment: Big-picture thinking ensures that fixes at the process level don’t create bigger issues for the broader goals of the business.

It’s a balance. Without the frontline perspective, you miss the details that make solutions practical. Without the strategic perspective, you risk implementing changes that hurt the overall operation.

This is why open communication, team scorecards, and collaborative problem-solving are essential. Make space for conversations with your team. Listen to their ideas. Then, work together to align solutions with your business’s wider goals.

What’s your approach to balancing big-picture strategy with frontline feedback? Let’s share ideas in the comments!

Cash Flow: The Lifeblood of Every Business

During my 14 years as COO of a property management company, my primary mission was simple: keep the operations running like clockwork. From implementing new tech to navigating regulations and managing teams, I took on a wide range of challenges. At first, I thought the lessons I learned were unique to property management. But over time, I discovered they apply to any business—whether you’re in trades, home services, or beyond.

The most valuable lesson I learned? Cash flow is critical.

Every project I led may have had other business reasons, but they all had one ultimate goal: improving the company’s cash position. Through market fluctuations, tough client relationships, keeping staff happy, and operational hurdles, one truth remained clear—the businesses that thrive and grow sustainably are those that manage their cash flow effectively.

Today, in my consulting practice, I use what I’ve learned to help other businesses strengthen their cash flow. I’ve developed a resource that helps owners:
✅ Identify their most impactful priorities (Rocks).
✅ Align their team’s efforts with what truly matters.
✅ Free up time for owners and staff to focus on working smarter, not harder.

No matter what industry you’re in, a healthy cash flow isn’t just about survival—it’s the key to unlocking sustainable growth.

Let’s build purposeful, lasting businesses together! 💡