Challenge
ZPG Companies has spent over 20 years building a reputation as an trusted property management company in the Twin Cities.
But when their call center abruptly merged and dissolved with another service, General Manager Jody Steffan faced a sudden crisis in their phone management.
"Our call center for leasing disappeared. Our call dispatch for emergency maintenance disappeared. That was pretty scary."
Jody couldn't personally answer every leasing call or dispatch every maintenance request—and hiring full-time staff simply wasn't an option. Missing a single call could mean losing a long-term tenant or leaving a resident without support. In property management, every caller expects to be heard, and every minute counts.
Solution
Enter Upfirst. Jody describes the transition: "That's where you guys came in... you kind of just took a hold of my company, figured out my company and what you did is you created an entire program around me. That was amazing."
Setting up Upfirst took just minutes. The ZPG team quickly trained their AI receptionist with property details, office hours, and custom instructions for leasing and maintenance calls.
Calls to their different properties and the main office now ring directly to Upfirst. The AI receptionist greets every caller with a friendly, professional voice—no matter the hour.
She asks the right questions for leasing prospects, gathers details and routes urgent maintenance requests, and captures all the details Jody and his team need.
"Your AI, she’s amazing. She sounds great and is very responsive. Residents love it because they feel heard, and prospects get the information they need right away."
Results
For ZPG Companies, Upfirst delivered immediate peace of mind: "I know that everything is getting answered. And in this business, it's huge."
Even with the loss of their previous call center, ZPG different have to worry about missed calls. Leasing inquiries and maintenance requests are logged and immediately sent to the ZPG office staff, so nothing gets missed.
.jpg)
Jody doesn't have to be the one glued to the phone, nor does she have to hire additional staff or pay expensive per-minute answering fees.
"I can't tell you how much money I'd be spending if this was on a per minute basis." Instead, ZPG gets reliable, 24/7 call coverage for less than a traditional answering service. Prospective tenants feel welcomed. Residents feel supported. And the ZPG team can focus on running a top-notch property management business.
"It is just a peace of mind. Absolutely perfect for us."
Ready to make sure every call gets answered—without breaking the bank or adding stress to your day? Sign up for a free trial now here!
