Peter & Wolf’s AI AHA Moments (Plus Why They Matter)

Property Managers…

The Most Important Conversation in Property Management Might’ve Just Happened.

Let’s be honest—most of the industry still thinks AI is just a better way to write emails.

But what if it’s not just a tool...

What if it’s a teammate?

That’s the idea Peter Lohmann and Wolfgang Croskey started circling—maybe even unknowingly—in a recent episode of Peter’s podcast. And for the first time, two of the smartest operators in the space are not just talking about AI...

They’re starting to see it like we do- “It’s time to go beyond writing better emails with it.”

It’s time to go:

• From SaaS to agents.

• From workflow automation to outcome ownership.

• From being efficient to becoming irreplaceable.

And if you’re a property manager, coach, vendor, or tech builder—you need to hear what they said.

Because the insights they dropped? 🔥

Let’s just say they had me nodding so hard I almost spilled my mushroom coffee.

So here they are—

The AHA Moments from Peter & Wolf’s conversation (and why they matter a lot more than you might think).

What Was Once For Big Spenders, Is Now For Everyone

AHA Moment: 

Chatbots and voice agents aren’t just for the Fortune 500 anymore. Thanks to vibe-coding and low-cost tools, any PM can build them today or hire someone who can for a bargain. 

Why it matters:

The cost of buying (or building) world-class technology for your business is falling quicker than the stock market after a tariff tweet. And that’s great news!

But it also means something else-

In a world where everyone is getting access to task automation, phone trees, and property accounting systems that they can afford, it’ll be harder and harder for owners to tell the difference between your mature PMC, the new PMC that just hung up their shingle, or the DIY investor/real estate agent that’s dabbling in property management as a side hustle.

So enjoy the cost savings now, but make sure you’re investing in the next thing that will differentiate you.  More on that later.

RSVP To The BYOA (Build Your Own Agent) Party

AHA Moment:

Wolf visited a couple smart PMs who didn’t like what was out there, so they built their own AI agents, so he’s started building his own too. 

Why it matters:

You’ve always known that off-the-shelf SaaS just doesn’t flex the way you need it to, but developing your own was cost and effort prohibitive.  That’s why you put up with ticketing systems, waiting for features, and a black hole of customer.

You don’t have to anymore.

The next leap won’t come from legacy SaaS companies bringing you solutions. It'll be a renaissance of makers that bring their own solutions.   Which leads to the next couple of AHAs…

Coaches Will Go From Building Process To Building Agents

AHA Moment:

Wolf makes a bold claim:

Process coaches who once built Zaps and SOPs will soon be building AI agents instead. 

Why it matters:

Coaches and consultants, contrary to popular belief, stand to benefit the most from this new AI renaissance.  Here’s why-

I built an agency before joining Vendoroo.  It was one part service/ one part coaching.  I made a handsome living.  I loved my work.  But I knew that I wasn’t really building a passive income or a sellable asset.   I was building cash flow (and investing in real estate).

My pipe dream was that I’d unlock some sort of insight into part of what I do for people that I could build a software around and sell to my community… but I couldn’t wrap my head around it.

This is what agents represent for coaches today.

If they decide to start training their own agent from scratch, or build on top of another agent to put their expertise into it, they can scale their knowledge, impact, and income way beyond their current time constraints.

I’ve not heard anybody say this before…. But I 100% agree: It’s actually a huge opportunity and one we’re actively investing in.

If you’re a coach, let’s talk. Vendoroo might be able to help you get rolling there.

^{Closed PM Softwares Are Not Your Friend}

AHA Moment:

Wolf makes a strong case for open APIs in PMS platforms. If you can build your own agents (and we now know you can), you should be able to plug them into your stack—without waiting for the mothership to update.

Why it matters:

I completely agree, which is why I’ve been an unapologetic champion  of Rentvine “Open-source” philosophy. 

As we’ve exhaustively covered in “The Innovators Dilemma”, companies that have won in the past are prone to hang onto it too long.  The biggest SaaS companies in the PM space will likely do the same.

They should all be in a board room, right now, thinking about how to build their product from the ground up, and no doubt some are.  But I guarantee you there is multiple people in that board room fighting hard keep the old party alive.

It’s a real threat to them.  But it doesn’t have to be a threat to you.

All they need to do is open up their software with API’s, let your agents, and other agents operate seamlessly in their system, and everyone wins.

If they’re not doing this, they’re not being the best partner they can be.

SaaS Has A Decision To Make- Adapt Or Die

AHA Moment:

Wolf and Peter have an open dialogue about what we’re just been discussing-

Why would you pay for a software that helps you manage tasks when an agent can just DO the tasks?

Why it matters:

The traditional SaaS model is under threat. Why? Because AI agents are showing the ability to go from “better tool” like SaaS to A-level employee.

The first proof of that was in our AI Pavillion at NARPM Broker/Owner, where we asked hundreds of property managers on how they’d rate Vendoroo’s Agents, if they were applying for a job interview.

The results of the survey were broadcast live to a screen for all to see.  Here are the final numbers:

76% said it was an A Hire.

0% said it was a D Hire.

The old model says, “Use our checklist until we build you an agent.” But the truth is that there are agents out there in the market that are ready to be your last hire for specific jobs.

And they don’t require you to learn a new software, hire someone to use it, or even create a new password.

Big Money Value Extraction Is Happening, But That’s An Opportunity For You

AHA Moment:
Peter calls out a painful truth: when investment banks acquire a company, they often raise prices, cut service, and start extracting value from customers.

Why it matters:
This isn’t just about one company. It’s a mirror of the SaaS era’s ethos:

• Automate the human out.

• Cut service overhead.

• Treat the user like a data point, not a partner.

But you’re not a bank.
You’re a builder. A guide. A trusted advisor.

That’s the fork in the road AI gives you right now:

You can use it to:

🔹 Automate your humanity away...
🔹 Or clear the runway for deeper human connection.

Tony Cline said it best:

“Go from being the most important person every day to the most important person in the business.”

And that only happens when you remove yourself from low-value firefighting... and inject yourself into high-value relationships.

Because the real win in the AI era isn’t efficiency.
It’s proximity.

The SaaS Mindset Has Perverted Our Thinking.

AHA Moment:

Peter points out that the PM Trends report has made it very clear owners want a phone call, so he went to his financial advisor to ask him how he responds to his high value clientele… and his response was dumbfoundingly simple:

He calls them.

He says he’s still processing it, but it leads to a great discussion between him and Wolf about how all other professions that proclaim themselves to be “asset managers” understand they need to have real relationships with the owner of these assets.

But they’ve gotten so used to using SaaS products (and getting treated like a SaaS client) that they’ve unconsciously adopted their approach- distance.

Why it matters:

Because your owners want a relationship, not a response. So removing yourself from the process is not the goal.

Because that is what we expect our most trusted advisors and highest value relationships to be the ones we have the most access to.

Because that’s what you’ve always wanted to do anyway- bring the most value to the equation.

But the task-intensive nature of property management always stood in the way… until now, when AI agents offer a new way.  

A way to inject yourself in the moments that matter most. Which, in our industry are the moments when owners need YOU.

This is now possible because agents are getting better at doing the repetitive, task intensive, low value/high risk work in a consistent manner in ways (and capacities) that humans just couldn’t.

They are increasingly allowing you to not have to count on B- and below teammates, and just build a team of A players that you don’t have to micro manage.

This gives you and your team the time (and mental bandwidth to show up at your best- when it matters most. 

This is the future. We’re not optimizing for less contact. We're building capacity for more meaningful contact. 

You want to reduce churn? Be seen. Be heard. Be there.

Welcome To The Human Era

For years, property managers have been stuck in what we call the invisibility trap—working harder and harder behind the scenes, only to become less visible to the very owners they serve.

That era is over.

AI isn’t here to make you less human.

It’s here to give you back the one thing you never had enough of: time.
Time to build trust.
Time to show up when it matters.
Time to create the kind of owner experience that sets you apart.

Because the future of property management won’t be won by the cheapest platform…
Or the most automated back office…
It’ll be won by the property managers who are closest to the customer.

Those who use AI not to disappear—but to double down on relationships.
Those who choose to be more present, more proactive, and more personal.

That’s what Vendoroo was built to do.
To handle the work that slows you down, so you can focus on the work that lifts you up

Ready to Step Into the Human Era?

If you're done being the invisible hero...
If you're ready to reclaim your time, deepen your relationships, and scale without sacrifice…

Book a Demo
Let us show you what it looks like when AI isn’t just another tool—
It’s your most reliable maintenance teammate.

💬 One Final Thought

The PM Trends Report made it crystal clear:
Your owners want to hear from you.
They want a phone call. A voice. A presence.

AI can’t replace that.
But it can make space for it.

And the property managers who understand that?
They’re the ones who’ll win the future.

Let’s build that future—together.

See you soon,
 Pablo Gonzalez
Chief Evangelist @ Vendoroo