What "functioning by close" actually means
Everything is built and switched on by Aug 31. But two halves behave differently, and it's worth being straight about it:
Live at close (acquisition engine)
- Listings live on Apartments.com / Zillow
- AI speed-to-lead agent answering in <5 min
- Lead flow + logging into Entrata
- Listing scorecard running
- Website /rentals + /map live
These work on day one. A vacant unit can lease the first hour.
On at close, ramps after (retention + data)
- Recognition engine (needs residents + Welcome Profiles)
- Reviews velocity (needs happy residents to ask)
- Retargeting audiences (need traffic to build)
- KPI dashboard (needs leads/leases to measure)
Switched on at close, but they accumulate value as residents flow through. Nothing to recognize on day one.
The long pole is Entrata API access. Liberty has to request it week 1. It needs Entrata's signed agreement + an Internal API User + IP whitelisting, 1 to 3 weeks plus a possible fee, all Entrata-gated. If it slips, the deep integration (live availability on our site + lead logging) slips with it.
The acquisition engine doesn't depend on that long pole. Entrata's native ILS syndication to Apartments.com/Zillow and the lead-email-to-agent path both work WITHOUT the full API. So listings + speed-to-lead are live at close even if the API integration lands a week or two after. Don't let the contract gate go-live.
The plan, by owner
NPI (Brent) builds the systems
Liberty / LAG (incoming PM) acts
Entrata / CoStar / vendors (external)
Owner / task
Jun 30
Jul 7
Jul 14
Jul 21
Jul 28
Aug 4
Aug 11
Aug 18
Aug 25–31
Liberty Asset Group · the incoming PM, owns everything property-side
Request Entrata API access (agreement + IP user)
Provide unit / floor-plan data + pricing
Turn on Entrata ILS feed → Apartments.com / Zillow
Apartments.com account/tier + point lead email at agent
Coordinate photographer property access
Agree lead-ownership policy (agent owns first-touch)
Move-in workflow + maintenance SLA trained (24h / 4h)
Set turn SLAs (normal / reno) + pre-move-out inspection flow
Entrata · CoStar · photographer · external, on someone else's clock
Entrata: provision Internal API User + sign + whitelist
CoStar: wire Apartments.com→Entrata feed (24–48h)
NPI / Brent · builds + runs every system
GHL delivery + nurture workflows
Website /rentals + /map for both properties
Property data spec + load structured data
ILS listing scorecard (grades → emails PM)
AI speed-to-lead agent (build + test)
Entrata integration: avail pull + lead logging
Reviews engine + AI response drafts
Resident materials (packet, cards, pet gift) ready
Welcome Profile form + GHL field mapping
Retargeting pixels + audiences
Recognition engine v1 (Entrata facts + our DB)
KPI dashboard (CPL / CPLease by source)
Pre-leasing turn engine (vacate + turn SLA → waitlist priority)
★ CLOSE + GO-LIVE
AUG 31 — BOTH PROPERTIES LIVE
Weeks are Monday-dated. The red line is the Aug 31 close. Bars move as dependencies clear, the dependency notes show what's waiting on what.
Who owns what (the short version)
| Owner | On the hook for | First move (week 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty / LAG | Everything property-side: Entrata API request, ILS feed, Apartments.com account, unit data + pricing, photographer access, lead-ownership policy, move-in + maintenance workflow | Request Entrata API access + send unit/pricing data |
| Entrata / CoStar | Provision the API user + sign the agreement + whitelist our IP; wire the Apartments.com→Entrata lead feed | Respond to Liberty's API request |
| Photographer | Photos, video, Matterport 3D, drone, per floor-plan type | Get booked + scheduled once access is set |
| NPI / Brent | Builds + runs all systems: website, GHL, AI agent, scorecard, Entrata integration, reviews, recognition engine, retargeting, dashboard, all resident materials | GHL workflows + website + agent build start |
Dependencies that gate the date
Entrata API access (Liberty → Entrata). The single thing that, if it slips, slips the integration. Request week 1. Confirm the cost. Details →
Property access for the photographer (Liberty / seller). Pre-close access needs the seller's OK. If it waits until close, the media lands just after go-live, get permission to shoot during due diligence. Shot list →
Unit data + pricing (Liberty). Listings, the site, and the scorecard all need it. Week 1 hand-off.
Gift / perk + merch budget (Brent). Recognition engine and the pet gift can't run live until it's set.