- Apartment List and Grotto AI integrated their platforms so leasing agents see renters’ budget, move-in date, pets and must-have amenities before and during calls and tours.
- In a randomized A/B test across 311 Weidner Apartment Homes communities, lead-to-tour conversion rose 35% when Grotto surfaced Apartment List renter preferences and coached agents to use them.
- The partnership aims to help operators squeeze more tours out of leads they already pay for, while giving renters fewer repeated questions from search to tour.
Leasing agents can now see what renters want before they pick up the phone, thanks to a new Grotto AI partnership with Apartment List.
In a randomized A/B test at Weidner Apartment Homes, lead-to-tour conversion rose 35% once agents had those preferences up front and were coached to use them.
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How It Works
While searching, renters share their budget, preferred move-in date, pet details and must-have amenities with Apartment List. The integration sends those details to Grotto’s platform. Agents can then review them before calls and tours.
Grotto compares each renter’s profile with unit details and current availability. It also coaches agents in real time on when to use each detail during conversations.
A Two-Bedroom Example
For example, a renter might want two bedrooms, in-unit laundry and space for a pet. The agent can then discuss matching units right away instead of asking basic questions.
As a result, renters avoid repeating themselves and move through the conversation faster.
The Test Results
The companies ran a randomized A/B test across 311 communities operated by Weidner Apartment Homes, one of the largest U.S. apartment operators. Grotto showed agents Apartment List renter insights and coached them on how to use the information.
Lead-to-tour conversion rose 35% when Grotto surfaced renter preferences and coached agents to apply them.
What They Said
Apartment List Chief Sales Officer Mike Wolber said renters too often have to explain their needs repeatedly. The partnership gives leasing teams information renters have already shared. That way, agents spend less time starting over.
Grotto cofounder and CEO Nick Deveau said each stage of renting often starts cold. Inquiries, calls and tours lack shared context. However, he argued that Apartment List knows renters better than anyone. Grotto, meanwhile, knows how to put that information to work.
Why It Matters
The partnership aims to help operators get more value from the leads they already receive. Apartment List says its matching draws on outcomes from 12 million leases and 65 million renter-property conversations. It also says it only gets paid when a lease is signed.
Meanwhile, AI continues to expand across apartment operations. CRE Daily’s brief on EliseAI’s raise reported a $350 million funding round at a $4 billion valuation. The company also reached $200 million in annual recurring revenue as of June 2026.
What’s Next
The headline results come from one test at one operator. Therefore, the next question is whether the gains hold across more portfolios. Leasing also accounts for much of the industry’s hiring. Our leasing job openings brief found that 423 of 660 active roles across leasing, residential construction and brokerage were leasing positions.
Operators can learn more and request access through the partnership page.
