Tech Talk with 20for20

S4 E05: Simplicity vs. Security: The Application Process Tradeoff


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Multifamily operators face a growing tension: how to build strong fraud protection without creating too much friction in the application process. In this episode of Tech Talk with 20for20, Dom Beveridge brings together Christopher Cunningham (RPM Living), Steve Carroll (Findigs) and Mark Fiebig (Payscore) to discuss how operators and suppliers are finding the right balance between screening depth and user experience.

The conversation explores:

  • Active vs. passive fraud prevention: Active methods (like bank linking, ID scans, and liveness checks) are now standard, while passive data checks run quietly in the background to flag inconsistencies.

  • Friction as a feature: The goal is “easy for good actors, difficult for bad ones.” Controlled friction helps deter fraud without derailing conversions.

  • Balancing integrations: Some platforms run as standalone experiences (Findigs), while others embed directly in property management systems (Payscore), giving operators different control and UX trade-offs.

  • Resident experience: Prospects are increasingly comfortable with digital screening tools and bank linking—but only if the process feels fast, secure, and seamless.

  • The metrics that matter: Operators track not just fraud caught, but also eviction rates, conversion times, and occupancy impact to measure real value.

  • Centralization and training: As screening moves into shared-services teams, success depends on keeping workflows simple, results reliable, and associates focused on leasing—not document review.

Sponsors for this episode:

Western Reporting, resident screening and income verification  by Inhabit

EliseAI, AI-driven automation that helps streamline communications and improve operational efficiency.

To get access to the latest 20for20 articles, papers and news about forthcoming events, subscribe to our blog at 20for20.com.

Connect with Dom Beveridge (Principal, 20for20) via LinkedIn, or email to [email protected].

Our theme, “Beautiful Geometry” by Phish Funk is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 International License.

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Tech Talk with 20for20By Dom Beveridge

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