AUSTIN, TX—Of the countless ways COVID-19 has impacted the multifamily industry, one of the most lasting effects may be package volume. As brick-and-mortar stores temporarily closed and consumers became hesitant to venture out, renters increasingly turned to online shopping.

For property managers, the result has been an onslaught of packages being delivered to multifamily communities. Unfortunately for those managers, that trend won't be slowing anytime soon. And in fact, the data suggests just the opposite.

"COVID-19 may have accelerated online buying behavior, but the shopping habits of residents won't just regress when virus concerns subside," said Michael Patton, Fetch founder and CEO. "E-commerce is here to stay and package management is a burden that property managers will be forced to deal with at increasing levels for the foreseeable future."

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Lisa Brown

Lisa Brown is an editor for the south and west regions of GlobeSt.com. She has 25-plus years of real estate experience, with a regional PR role at Grubb & Ellis and a national communications position at MMI. Brown also spent 10 years as executive director at NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area chapter, where she led the organization to achieving its first national award honors and recognition on Capitol Hill. She has written extensively on commercial real estate topics and edited numerous pieces on the subject.