Lightbard for Real Estate Operators
Internal tools, AI agents, and operations systems
Property managers, real-estate investors, multi-family operators, and small brokerages all share the same operational shape: too many systems, too much email, too much tribal knowledge. I build the internal software that makes your operation legible, scalable, and finally yours.
- Property managers with 100–2,000 doors
- Multi-family operators and real-estate investors
- Small brokerages with operational mess at scale
- Real-estate operators with multiple asset classes or properties
- Anyone outgrowing AppFolio / Buildium / Yardi’s out-of-the-box flows
- I know AppFolio, Buildium, Yardi, Procore, QuickBooks — and where they break
- A decade-plus inside ops and finance — I read your P&L, not just your stack
- Six years of SF SaaS engineering (Knurld, Teachscape, Telegraph Hill) backing the “custom build” claim — not just consulting promises
- I build software you own — not another fragile Zap chain
- NDA-friendly, single point of accountability
Builds I do for real estate operators
Each of these is its own scoped engagement — usually $12k–$50k for the initial build, often rolling into a monthly retainer once the team adopts it.
Inbound email/form/SMS → AI classification → routed work order → SLA tracking → vendor management → owner reporting. Replaces the spreadsheet-plus-12-Zaps mess that property managers live in.
Pulls from your PM system, GL, and bank to deliver owner statements, investor reports, and NOI dashboards automatically — without your team rebuilding the same spreadsheet every month.
AI extraction of key terms, dates, escalations, and renewal triggers from leases. Pushes structured data into Airtable or your PM system. No more re-keying critical lease details.
Inbound deal flow → underwriting model handoff → diligence checklist → close tracker → onboarding into property management. Built for shops that move on multiple deals at once.
Track unit-level compliance, certifications, inspection cycles, and remediation. Automated alerts before deadlines. Audit-ready records when you need them.
When AppFolio/Buildium portals don’t fit how your residents actually communicate. Branded, simpler, and tied directly to your operations backbone.
Stack I plug into
I integrate with the tools real estate operators already pay for. The point isn’t to replace your PM system — it’s to make it cooperate with the rest of your operation.
Your stack not listed? Most operations work with non-obvious tools. Bring the list to the teardown call.
How an engagement starts
Free 30-min teardown
You show me one workflow that’s costing you the most time. I tell you what I’d build, what I wouldn’t, and whether it’s worth a deeper look. You keep the recording.
Operations Audit ($2,500)
If we want to go deeper, I spend two weeks mapping your processes, your stack, and where the leverage is. You get a written audit with prioritized recommendations. Fee credited if we build.
Operator-Led Build
I build the system the audit pointed to — end to end. Process design, data model, software, integrations, training, documentation. Usually 4–8 weeks, $12k–$50k+ depending on scope.
Embedded Operations (optional)
If the work continues, I stay on a monthly retainer as your fractional ops architect — iterating on the system, adding capabilities, owning the operational backbone as the business grows.