What is a signal?
In property management, a signal is a raw data point that indicates a potential issue. Unlike a completed maintenance task, a signal is an immutable record. It exists to provide context for long-term risk assessment.
Signal vs noise
Property teams are flooded with information every day. Noise consists of one off requests that are resolved and have no further impact. A signal is different. It is information that, when combined with others, reveals a pattern.
How patterns form
A resident mentioning a musty smell in a review is a signal. A resident reporting a small leak is also a signal. On their own, they are minor. Together, they can reveal a pattern of moisture intrusion that becomes a serious mold risk.
The anatomy of a signal
A high quality signal contains the original report, a timestamp, and property context such as unit or staff involvement. Preserving these elements ensures the report is never lost, even after a ticket is marked resolved.
Why signals matter for liability
In a claim, the key question is what the operator knew and when they knew it. Signals create a defensible timeline of awareness and help leadership show they were monitoring for risk patterns before they became incidents.
Common Questions
What is a risk signal in property management?
A risk signal is an immutable record of a resident or staff report that indicates potential risk. It is preserved so patterns can be identified over time, even after tasks are marked resolved.
What is the difference between a signal and noise?
Noise is a one off request that gets resolved with no lasting impact. A signal is information that becomes meaningful when repeated or combined with other reports, revealing a pattern.