"New normal" is a phrase heavily used to describe life after COVID-19. But property management software provider MRI Software argued more leasing officers and property managers will remotely leverage technology for efficiency and make leasing offices for multifamily properties a thing of the past.

To be sure, COVID-19 is only accelerating the previous trend of leasing offices going paperless and working in smaller offices, MRI Software noted. However, COVID-19 forced many leasing offices to rapidly adopt tech-based solutions to remain productive without unnecessary exposure to the public.

In six months, leasing offices quickly transitioned to self-guided and video tours of properties, online applications, e-signatures and online payments, MRI Software said. "It is safe to say that we are operating our properties very differently than we anticipated at the start of the year," said MRI Software industry principal Brian Zrimsek in a company blog post.