How Sharp Management Improved Leasing with Obligo + Yardi
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For a multifamily operator managing thousands of units across multiple states, inconsistent security deposit processes can create unnecessary complexity for both property teams and renters. Sharp Management oversees more than 9,000 residential units across 14 states.
As its portfolio grew, the company needed a more consistent approach to security deposits - one that could reduce move-in friction for renters without creating additional work or introducing another standalone tool for onsite teams. Sharp turned to Obligo, embedded within Yardi, to standardize the experience across its portfolio.
The results: 1,608 leasing days saved, 1,203 administrative hours saved, and 93% of renters saying they would recommend Obligo.
The Challenge: Inconsistent Deposit Options Across a Growing Portfolio
Before Obligo, security deposit options varied from property to property across Sharp Management's portfolio. That inconsistency created complexity for teams and made it harder to deliver a standardized renter experience. Sharp needed a single security deposit provider that could work within the systems its teams were already using rather than adding another tool to their workflow.
At the same time, high move-in costs were creating another challenge. Large upfront security deposits can increase the amount of cash renters need to secure a home, adding friction at a critical point in the leasing process. Sharp wanted to give renters greater flexibility while maintaining security for its properties.
The Solution: A Consistent Security Deposit Experience Embedded in Yardi
Sharp Management implemented Obligo directly within its Yardi environment, giving its properties a consistent way to offer renters greater flexibility around their security requirements. Rather than requiring onsite teams to manage another standalone system, Obligo became part of the existing leasing workflow.
For renters, that meant access to an alternative to a large upfront security deposit. For Sharp, it meant maintaining security while reducing one of the financial barriers that could stand between an applicant and move-in. Most importantly, the approach could be standardized across the portfolio.
“From the proof of concept it was immediately obvious to our regional teams that properties with Obligo were doing much better occupancy-wise than those we hadn’t rolled out to yet.”
-Jessica Stark, Executive Vice President of Property Management, Sharp Management
The Results: 1,608 Leasing Days Saved
The impact extended beyond simplifying security deposit administration. Across Sharp Management's portfolio, Obligo delivered measurable improvements to both leasing operations and the renter experience:
- 1,608 leasing days saved
- 1,203 administrative hours saved
- 93% of renters would recommend Obligo
The results also gave Sharp's regional teams an opportunity to compare properties using Obligo with those where it had not yet been rolled out. As Jessica Stark noted, the difference was apparent during the proof of concept: properties offering Obligo were performing better from an occupancy perspective than properties that had not yet implemented it. That provided Sharp with a compelling reason to expand the program.
Reducing Move-In Costs Without Adding Operational Complexity
Security deposits present multifamily operators with a balancing act. Properties need appropriate security, but requiring renters to put down a significant amount of cash before move-in can make an already expensive transition even more difficult. And for large operators, solving that problem with a separate system can create additional administrative burden. Sharp Management's approach addressed both sides.
By offering Obligo within Yardi, Sharp could give eligible renters a more flexible way to meet their security requirement while keeping the process integrated with the tools property teams already used. That meant less move-in friction without sacrificing security or adding another disconnected workflow.
Why Embedded Security Deposits Matter for Yardi Operators
For operators managing thousands of units, technology adoption has to work at portfolio scale. Even a valuable solution can struggle to gain traction if onsite teams need to manage separate logins, duplicate information between systems, or learn an entirely new workflow. An embedded security deposit solution changes that equation.
With Obligo integrated into Yardi, Sharp Management could introduce a new renter offering while minimizing the operational overhead associated with deploying it across a large, geographically diverse portfolio. The result was a security deposit experience designed to work for renters, onsite teams, and the broader organization.
A More Consistent Approach to Rental Security
Sharp Management's experience shows that modernizing security deposits can have an impact well beyond the deposit itself. By standardizing its approach with Obligo, Sharp was able to reduce move-in costs for renters, simplify workflows for property teams, and support stronger leasing performance, all while maintaining security for its properties. For multifamily operators using Yardi, it also demonstrates that improving the security deposit experience doesn't have to mean introducing another standalone system.
Ready to Modernize Security Deposits in Yardi?
See how Obligo can help your portfolio reduce move-in friction, standardize security deposit workflows, and eliminate unnecessary administrative work—all within the systems your teams already use.
