SunRidge Management Group

Featured Challenge

SunRidge Management Group, which manages multifamily residential communities across 12 states, faces significant challenges in highly competitive urban markets. In these markets, the pressure to quickly lease available units can sometimes lead to the approval of problematic residents. As Training Director Meghan Ensminger explains, “in highly competitive markets with substantial concessions and a high volume of housing units—especially during lease-up phases—efforts to mitigate fraud can often slow down the application process. However, by leveraging Verifast, we are able to verify the authenticity of prospective residents efficiently. This not only streamlines the leasing process but also helps reduce the risks and burdens associated with evictions, non-payment, and re-leasing due to unexpected vacancies.” Expanding on the growing challenges SunRidge was experiencing, Training Director Meghan Ensminger emphasized the need for more rigorous applicant screening: “We recognized the need to enhance security within our application process and conduct a deeper evaluation of each applicant’s financial background and rental history to ensure they genuinely met our communities’ qualification criteria,” she explains. “It became essential to implement measures that would allow us to effectively identify and filter out fraudulent applications.” Identifying trustworthy applicants has become increasingly challenging, particularly as falsified documentation becomes more accessible and sophisticated. “This is a nationwide issue that extends beyond multifamily asset management,” explains Ensminger. “In the markets where we operate, individuals are often willing to pay third-party services to generate fraudulent income statements, rental histories, and credit reports.”

Featured Solution

SunRidge Management recognized that fraudulent applicants often find it easier to exploit major online leasing platforms. While their existing online portal and payment processors included security measures, the team understood that digital activity remains susceptible to falsified information. To strengthen fraud prevention and enhance applicant screening, SunRidge implemented Verifast—a solution that, according to Ensminger, offered an “extremely streamlined” onboarding experience. The team was particularly impressed with Verifast’s scalability and speed of deployment. Ensminger shared, “I emailed yesterday requesting rollout at an additional property, and was pleasantly surprised to learn the site would be live before the end of the month. It’s also very straightforward for our onsite teams to use. Adding Verifast doesn’t create a heavy lift; it integrates seamlessly into their daily workflows.” Since the initial pilot across two to three communities, SunRidge has expanded Verifast to more than 15 additional properties, with plans to continue scaling adoption. As Ensminger explained, “We keep identifying communities that would greatly benefit from this product, and I continue to advocate for expansion.”

Featured Results

From both a financial and operational perspective, Verifast has proven highly successful for SunRidge Management. According to Ensminger, the platform has not only delivered measurable financial value but also elevated team performance and confidence. “It has given our staff more assurance when handling applications and asking key screening questions,” he noted. To further emphasize this commitment, SunRidge has added the Verifast logo to its community websites, signaling to prospective residents that the application process is taken seriously and aligned with established rental criteria. This visibility, combined with stronger screening capabilities, has empowered on-site teams to engage more effectively with prospects. Verifast’s ease of use has also simplified both application management and internal oversight. Ensminger explained, “I oversee five or six different monthly and quarterly calls. Our fraud prevention review is the most frequent call, and thanks to Verifast, it’s the one I look forward to the most. All of my team members agree it is by far the easiest product we work with.” Ultimately, Verifast has reduced unnecessary stress and inefficiency across SunRidge’s operations. As Ensminger summarized, “The greatest testament to this product is that, when used as intended, it saves time and effort by eliminating applicants who should never have been approved in the first place.”