Vida Voice Agents: Michelle the AI Helps Me Get Sleep While Keeping Tenants Happy

Derek, who runs Starseed Property Management, shares his experience with Vida's AI Voice Agents below:

As a property manager, my phone seems to be a magnet for all kinds of calls—at all hours of the day and night. From clogged toilets to flickering lights, I’ve heard it all. But as anyone in property management knows, not every issue is truly urgent, even if it feels that way to the person calling. The challenge for me has always been balancing my need for uninterrupted sleep with ensuring my tenants feel taken care of, no matter when they reach out.

That’s where Vida—and my AI agent Michelle—have completely changed the game.

At first, I wasn’t sure how an AI could help me with something as personal as tenant communication, but the reality is that Michelle has become an essential part of my business. She’s taken on the role of screening calls from tenants, and she does it in a way that makes my life easier without sacrificing the quality of service my tenants expect.

I get calls 24/7, and to be honest, not everything is a middle-of-the-night emergency. But when you're the one receiving the calls, it's tough to know what you're waking up for until you're already wide awake. I have a pretty specific set of issues that count as “urgent” in my world—like a major leak, no heat in the winter, or a total power outage. Anything else? That can wait until morning. But tenants don’t always know that. So, I needed a system that could differentiate the true emergencies from the things that could wait, all while making sure my tenants didn’t feel ignored.

That’s exactly what Michelle does. I’ve configured her to take calls and filter them based on urgency. If someone’s calling at 2 a.m. about a locked door or a leaky faucet, Michelle will kindly take a message and let them know I’ll be in touch first thing in the morning. But if it’s a real emergency, like water pouring through the ceiling, Michelle knows to get me on the line right away.

What’s been really impressive is how she handles those non-urgent situations. Even when Michelle tells tenants that their issue isn’t classified as urgent, she does it in such a warm, professional way that they still feel heard. It’s not just about filtering calls—it’s about keeping that human touch in communication, even when I’m not the one talking.

Since implementing Michelle, I’ve been able to get more rest and focus on the tasks that really matter during the day. I’m no longer woken up for minor issues, but I know that if something truly critical comes up, I’ll be alerted right away. And the best part? My tenants appreciate it, too. They know their concerns are being heard and handled, even if it’s not me picking up the phone.

Michelle has become an invaluable tool for my business, and I honestly can’t imagine going back to the way things were before. Thanks to Vida, I can finally get a good night’s sleep without worrying about missing something important—and my tenants still feel like they’re getting the attention they deserve.