Buildinglink helps building owners manage portfolios.

In the Internet's early days, the promise of web-enabled real estate platforms and tools elicited one of two responses from New York's real estate community: fear of disintermediation, or unrealistic dreams for complete web-automation.

Now that some time has passed and the technology sector has exchanged an emphasis on marketing for solid business development strategies, the real estate industry is beginning to embrace technologies that bring real efficiencies to the marketplace.

This is especially true in property management, the most hands-on of all real estate industry disciplines. One year ago, owners and managers did not have to struggle to attract tenants -- residential or commercial. Now, however, the market is softening somewhat, and owners and managers are focusing on attracting and retaining tenants by offering superior amenities and services.

A number of the region's leading owners and developers have found significant benefit from Buildinglink.com, a web-based property management and communication platform that enables owners and managers to more effectively and securely run their property or portfolio.

Many residential developers have implemented Buildinglink early in the building opening process to track last minute construction tasks and new tenant information (such as permissions-to-enter) as well as to provide new tenants with full information on building amenities, rules and procedures. This simplifies the tenant move-in process when a building opens, typically a period when building resources are strained and coordination of a myriad of punchlist items can be difficult. Buildinglink helps to manage this process and offers full record keeping for later reference.

Once the tenant move-in is completed, management and staff expand their use of BuildingLink's extensive array of functions, including public space reservations, inventory management, maintenance schedules and records, fire safety documentation, move-in/move-out dates and guest lists. These functions can be accessed from any web-enabled computer, whether at the front desk, the management office or anywhere in the world.

Tenants too use BuildingLink to access a library of building forms and notices, submit or check on repair requests, update their emergency contact information, post notices on the building's electronic bulletin board, or access information on local neighborhood resources.