CBRE CostLab vs VTS Activate Multifamily

CBRE CostLab is a web-based application for estimating and comparing facility operating costs across more than 400 locations and 75+ asset types worldwide. It provides equipment-level estimates for maintenance and repair, custodial work, energy, grounds management, and pest control. Its Cost Library includes labor, utility, and inflation rates, maintenance tasks, operating details, recapitalization assumptions, and national indexes. The Building Wizard uses seven questions to create a component-level estimate; Project Builder groups maintenance and repair work into projects and estimates material, labor, and equipment needs. For capital planning, CostLab estimates equipment failure probability and helps prioritize replacements by portfolio risk and budget. Users can customize building models and adjust rates and task assumptions. It also identifies deferred maintenance by equipment and provides deferred-cost reports and Facility Condition Index estimates. Mass Data Export sends annual and average asset costs, yearly task costs, deferred costs, and inventory to Excel. Access is through a browser on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Paid plans include a 7-day trial; there is no free plan.

VTS Activate Multifamily connects residents with building management, staff, amenities, and community services through a staff operations dashboard and resident app. Property managers, maintenance staff, concierges, leasing teams, marketing teams, and residents are among its intended users. Building teams can handle mobile access, work orders, maintenance, communications, package management, and rent payments. Residents and visitors can use centralized access management to unlock units, amenities, and shared spaces. Teams can create interactive content, communications, events, surveys, and targeted experiences, and promote building features. Residents can book and pay for spaces, amenities, and services. VTS describes real-time resident and property insights for understanding preferences, risks, and opportunities. Residents may receive partner discounts and deals, or purchase products and services through in-app payments or a linked POS system. Listed integration partners include Resman, Yardi, Entrata, VingCard, and Genea, with integrations using APIs or SDKs. The product supports Android, iOS, and web. Pricing is on request; the product page invites visitors to book a demo rather than listing a price.