Multifamily Insiders

How do you handle the stress & emotional side of being a Property Manager? - by: Nate Thomas

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:11:20 +0000

Hello Jolene, First off it is a complaint driven industry and you have to be strong. When you care and it seems you do that is good. Everyone is different how they cope and I will just speak about myself when I had a highly stressful position: 1. The first thing I did was seen what I had to work with: a. Staff how long they had been there and the experience level b. Property the condition it was in and what were the short and long range plans that were in place. c. Ensured the tenants knew who I was and listened to the issues they had. d. Ensured the management, the tenants, and me were on the same sheet of music on the plans for the community and what was needed. 2. I made sure that I had a plan each day when I went into work with a prioritized list of things to be done. Sometimes where were things which came in that made me have to adjust that list. As I got things done I ticked them off. 3. Ensured that I got exercise and plenty of rest. 4. Kept my staff informed on what the priorities were and ensured that we all had a schedule for the day and at the end of the day seen what we accomplished and what new things were added to the list. 5. Ensured that the tenant issues were taken care of and we always did the easy first so they seen we were working it and they seen progress. 6. Have me time with God to ensure that I stayed humble and listened. 7. Ensure there was quality family time Now there were a lot of other things that I did, but these kept me focused and it was a little at a time. I hope this helped. For sure this job is not for everyone. You have to be tough, yet understanding, able to accept criticism and not be thin skinned. Knowing that you also will not be able to please all folks, but honestly try to do the best for all concerned and that is the majority of your tenants. When you are wrong and make a mistake, be able to own up to it. I also found it useful to have someone you trust that you can talk offline to who will listen and maybe even mentor you if need be.

Helicopter Parents - by: Nate Thomas

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:39:59 +0000

Sometimes it is just that the parents has more experience than their child and are there to ensure the right questions are asked. I find it good to give the child (of legal renting age) a copy of the contract to read ahead of times and to formulate whatever questions that they are their parents may have. This normally sets everyone at ease as everything is transparent. Sometimes though; the parent is no more informed than their young adult. This is why I think it imperative that the leasing associate know every part of the contract and be able to talk to it. The other thing is even though it is not a requirement if your contract is more than a page, have each page initialed and have the pages numbered such as 1 of 20; 2 of 20 and so on. May not be important until you end up in court with a tenant that thinks that have been wronged and the copy of their contract says something different than the one you have.

Social Media Playground — Time to play foursquare? - by: Tashina Wortham

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:54:20 +0000

Four square was never really a popular game during recess. Tether ball, red rover, and mutilate-other-people’s-snowmen were the playground fads when I was a kid. Several years and many ill-conceived wardrobe choices later, foursquare has finally reached popular acclaim; well, its title at least — I’d be surprised if 3r...

Bed Bug Detectors That Work - by: Lianna

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:07:04 +0000

We have used a pest control service that has a trained dog who goes through the apartment. I think the dog in addition to using a heat/steam treatment is the best way to allievate bed bugs!

Designations, designations, designations everywhere....which is the BEST? - by: K David Meit, CPM®

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:30:47 +0000

The ARM® designation is the stepping stone to earning the CPM® designation for residential managers. The experience, reference and ethics requirement and RES201 course training are excellent. However, I would be remiss for not mentioning NAA's highly regarded CAM accreditation. NAA is the only trade association to offer training and accreditation for leasing (NALP) and service staff (CAMT), too. For the scoop on NAA accreditation, follow this link: http://bit.ly/zk6wYF

Does your apartment community have a "mascot"? - by: Sandy Martin

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 09:34:05 +0000

I have had people horrified of dogs and cats. I don't think they make good mascots. Really, scared to death!!! How about a Beta fish or a bird? A bird that talks would be great!! Especially if you could teach it to say "Welcome Home" or "Lease Today." Or just "Hello!" It would be "memorable."

"It’s business, not personal.” If that is true, then why does it feel so personal? - ...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:07:14 +0000

A memorable line from one of the Godfather movies — “It’s business, not personal.” turns out, is one of the most important and yet the most ironic things I have learned in my career. As a manager, I find myself forced to make unpopular decisions almost every day. And so, I deal with the impact or perceived impact that my decisions make on my employees on a regular basis. I try to follow the mantr...

Pictures vs Virtual Tours - by: Helen Kozak

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:56:05 +0000

Pictures are the better medium to use. I have been shooting properties for the past ten years and many times the virtual tours are on the clubhouse TV's. Unless they are done really well, they start to make me feel dizzy watching them. A slide show with multiple images has smoother transitions. Plus you can use your pictures for print media as well as on the web which gives you more bang for your buck.

LOOKING FOR COMMERCIAL/MULTIFAMILY APARTMENT BUILDINGS? - by: joe

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:35:23 +0000

Hello Friends/Clients, Those who are looking for commercial and multifamily apartment buildings please feel free to email me for inquiries. You can also visit me at my FB account: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joseph-Helstab/109268665861988 Cheers, Joe

LGBT and Roommates.com - Do they really matter? - by: Nadeen Green

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:13:40 +0000

Well, the past several days have been interesting for those of us who follow fair housing issues. Some big decisions were made, one by HUD and one by the courts. I geared up to write some really pithy and eloquent material for my various postings and articles. I wanted to give tons of helpful information to those of you in property management. And then I came to the realization that things really should not change much for...

The Circle of (A Property’s) Life - by: Buildium LLC

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:04:29 +0000

By Linda Day Harrison, Manager Labs, Chicago, IL

There are business models in all shapes and sizes. There are retail stores, medical and legal practices, cleaning companies, general contractors, grocery stores, etc. So when you think about a business, how many business models do you know of where the business owner outsources the entire business to another party? For instance, if you visit your local grocery store, is it managed by a grocery management company? How about a retail store...

Social Media: Managing the Dark Side - by: Jim Baumgartner

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:54:00 +0000

Betty’s a self-described ‘old-timer’. She has been through more up-and-down economic cycles than she would care to number. "Happy Days are here again!" she told me. "But you know, it doesn’t last."

Way to kill the mood, Betty.

She is right. Cycles are calle...

Decision maker for purchasing pet waste products? - by: Nate Thomas

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:32:12 +0000

Kostas, Forgot to mention that you also may want to look at the military and the privatized housing. Lincoln Military Housing is a big one. If you have a military installation close to you, you may want to get into the procurement system where when they are looking.soliciting for some items you can make a bid. GSA is another one you may want to look into and get into their system and listed. This makes it easier when the government impact cards are used for you to be able to get a foot in as well. Now there is the potential for there to be some large orders dropped and there is the 30 day prompt payment act, so you cash can be tied up and if you are a small business like me, then you cannot afford to have large amounts of money tied up. There is this thing called factoring. They basically front the money, pay you and the vendor pays you and there are many ways to skin that cat. Find-out who does factoring in your area and if you do not have anyone, I can provide you an email to a father and daughter who are good people to work with. They are well trusted and I met them through a networking event.

Leasing doesn't have to be difficult...so don't make it so hard! - by: Lawrence Berry, CPM

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:31:44 +0000

First let me say thank you to the now over 3,000 people that have visited my blog site. I hit that mark over the weekend, and am excited to reach this milestone. I also have received hundreds of great comments about some of my topics, and a few phone calls saying they appreciate the forum. Those that know me understand I do this to keep our industry as professional as possible and hopefully help others with subject matter than can help apartment professionals exceed an...

Apartment Guide allowing Internet-only ads? - by: Fernando Ortiz

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:56:40 +0000

I heard from the grapevine that soon Apartment Guide will stop the paper print and will only focus to do online advertising.. Heads up!

Seeking to ENTER Property Mangement...employers already want experience!! - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:20:11 +0000

Hello Christina, Take those past positions that you had in Customer Service and talk to it as it would relate to Leasing. Then the work that you did in the housing and how it relates to leasing. Then network in your local apartment association with others in the industry. You have the time do a little volunteer work that relates in the area, so you can see the different techniques used. I am just brain storming here. Not cutting any advice that you have received thus far. Just throwing something else out there to consider. Face to face works and when they see what you can do, hey sky is the limit!

Police and Data Privacy - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:09:22 +0000

Hello Luke, Stephani is right on target and my two cents to this is when they come in, I ask can I have the number of the department that they are working for phone number and then I call there to see if it is legit. This way I am not telling them no, just verifying that they are who they say they are and everything is on the up and up. Normally asking for that number and giving their badge numbers will tell you if they are or not. It also helps to know a person or two you can call at the local police station that can verify if everything is on the straight or not.

The SOPA & PIPA Breakdown-Will the Multifamily Housing Industry Be Affected? - by: Brittany ...

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:12:58 +0000

Dark Virtual Storm Still on the Horizon?

It was a dark day on Wednesday, January 18, 2012—for some of us more than others. Murphy’s Law was in full effect the moment my feet hit the ground that morning, and the string of mishaps continued when I got to work and turned on my computer. I opened Google to check my email, and I saw a thick, black bar covering the logo at the top of the page.

Resident in the wrong keeps blasting property annonymously! - by: Garrett - OP

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:03:54 +0000

You also have to take into consideration people browsing apartmentratings.com during their apartment search - before they have even chosen a specific community to research. Say you have a list of 10 apartments sorted from highest % to lowest... These negative reviews are bringing down the overall percentage and moving the property down the list.

Active Listening - Seven Steps to Improve - by: Jonathan Saar

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:35:58 +0000

Active listening is challenging. We are bombarded with distractions all the time. I always love reminders on how to listen better since it can be such a challenge these days. We get into the habit of hyper-tasking to the point where everything around us is just a fog and we are only focused on processing everything that we have to achieve for that day. So hear are some reminders. Active listening is the process of looking at the words and the other factors around...

The Top Secret Apartment Marketing Weapon: Your Maintenance Team - by: Michael Cunningham

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27:37 +0000

Hidden on each of your apartment properties is a secret marketing weapon that can help in your never ending battle to improve resident retention: your maintenance staff.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “Well, duh Michael. Quality and timeliness of maintenance service is a key factor in resident renewals. Don’t you keep up with SatisFacts Research’s data?”

Well, Duh:

Based on a national study entitled, “Getting Inside the Head of t...

Reach more renters where it counts…their inbox! - by: Omer Navaid

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:59:59 +0000

Here are three quick tips to help your email messages reach your subscribers’ inboxes, avoid spam complaints and maintain your status as a reputable sender:

1) Ensure you are sending relevant messages to subscribers who have expressly opted in to receive your emails. For example, if a prospective renter signs up to receive property lis...

Rent Roll Buying and Selling – More Than Meets the Eye - by: Buildium LLC

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000

By Jo-Anne Oliveri, ireviloution intelligence, Brisbane, Australia

Recently, I have been involved in the sale and purchase of a rent roll. I had the rare opportunity of consulting for both the buyer and purchaser. Let me say, this was the smoothest and least stressful rent roll transfer I have ever witnessed!

Now some might say there is a conflict of interest by consulting to both the seller and the purchaser, and yes, I would agree! I definitely had my reservations about consul...

Postmortem; The Apartment Developers' Dilemma - by: Ross Blaising

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:21:43 +0000

Regardless of our role within an organization, we will be
asked throughout our careers to participate in, lead or evaluate various corporate
initiatives. After all, most of what a company really ‘is’ is a series of
interrelated initiatives. These could
range from the acts of sales, operations, marketing, and acquisitions to
finding efficiencies, fixing problems launching new products, etc. Generally we
would like to succeed in whatever in...

How much do you charge to rent out your clubhouse? - by: Lisa Scimeca

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:02:22 +0000

We only charge $60 with a $200 deposit and a signed Clubhouse Addendum.

Apartment Measurement - by: Nate Thomas

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:54:08 +0000

I use the property blue prints to calculate my measurements; if you are talking about knowing the right information to advertise. If for other reasons, then I may be able to give you a method which will be better. They have lasers for measuring and that is very accurate as well. For painting, if you are using paint from the same location, you can have them come out do the measurements and at the same time get samples for your walls and trims, so that when paint is being ordered they will know up front your color scheme as well as how much they should be making for you. You can always check their measurements against what you have. I would also check your historical records to see if there is a difference as well. I hope this assisted somewhat!

Maintenance/ Vendors Painting - by: Mark Cukro

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:24:54 +0000

The management company should be the one to generate a scope of work and the insurance should be faxed and mailed to you by the insurance company. A contractor cannot legally provide proof of their insurance. Just my two cents but I wouldn't ask a contractor to provide a service for free any more than I'd ask a mechanic to make a repair for free or ask a potential employee to work for a day for free. Far too often I have seen too many people on site call a contractor and say they are looking for a painter, get a unit painted for free, and have no intention of ever calling them again even when the work is excellent. Contractors have to deal with that way too often and it ultimate affects their bottom line which will ultimately affect yours. Pay them for the unit and if it isn't up to your standards communicate what you want and have them make the corrections or get a different painter.

Advise on best advertising sources? - by: Kelly

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:55:53 +0000

For a service such as yours, I would recommend you advertise/connect where most of your customers are, i.e. if you do any print advertising, advertise where the rentals are advertised. As you are National, you might want to look at Search Engine Marketing aspects and tie any print products together so you are driving traffic back to yourself.

Tenant with a Problem! - by: Nate Thomas

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:58:26 +0000

You are the manager of property (x) and one of the tenants come up; as they have done time and again, and says they have a problem. Each time it was nothing to get excited about. It is time to go home and: get something to eat, play with the kids, have that time to chat with that significant other, catch that favorite program, and here comes that tenant again and each time it can take from 10 minutes to...

value of an apartment complex - by: Lezlie

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:26:21 +0000

Is there a way to ballpark the value of an apt complex by door? I'm interested in researching the value of a CA apt complex 74 units cell ph. 714 504-7276

Could use a lesson in customer service - by: Nate Thomas

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:22:51 +0000

Hello Stephani, you are right on target! My two cents to all is Customer Service is not rocket science. All people have to do is treat others the way they would want to be treated. When taking care of a customer, just put yourself in their shoes and say OK, what would I expect if I am talking to the subject matter expert in this area? I think most of all customer service issues would be solved before they became major concerns! Now me, I know that there are things which are out of our control, so I try to give the customer a little something for their inconvenience with no strings attached. It is basically to let them know we understand and appreciate their business. If the business was concerned about a rating I would look at it as a bribe and not caring about me as a customer.

Technology and the Successful Property Manager - by: Buildium LLC

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:50:35 +0000

By Phoebe Chongchua, SD Real Estate Help, San Diego, CA

It’s the kind of job that requires a lot of patience, and today being a property manager also requires keeping up with technology. Property managers work with many different ...

Cigarette smoke - by: Michele Daily

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:33:40 +0000

Hi, we often have this problem. We do the usual, remove carpet, ozone machine and thorough cleaning of walls. If that doesnt eliminate the problem.... we have our carpet guys spray a special deoderizing liquid into the a/c and ducts.. works like a charm.

Do Mystery Shops Need to Just Go Away? (part 1 in a 2 part series) - by: Lisa Trosien

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:15:34 +0000

I've had clients asking me this very question for years. Are shops really valuable to a company? Is there a better way? Let me give you some reasons why mystery shops just might not be the answer you're looking for at your company. For the sake of this discussion, we're limiting this to phone and in-person shops.

1. Shoppers have bad days. Just like Leasing Professionals, shoppers have 'off' days, too. And this is reflected in the shopping report that describes the Le...

Experienced multifamily investment mentor / coach wanted - by: Bruce Thomas

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:44:15 +0000

I will let you know. Thanks Nate and that is a good last name. :)

3 Quick Tips to Increase Your Facebook Likes - by: Jennifer Stith

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:19:27 +0000

1. Give prospective residents an incentive to check-in at your community. Consider waiving or reducing their application fee if they check-in while in your office. What’s the big deal about checking in? Hello! When they check in, ALL their friends see YOUR community name. And the more other peeps see your name, the better the chance they’ll like your page.

2. Hold a contest at your community to increase engagement on your page. Do you have great views? How about a &ld...

Is Your Self-Esteem Holding You Back from Climbing UP the Career Ladder? - by: Dori Locke

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:28:01 +0000

Yesterday I was reading an update from a great blog posted on this site. It was a lively discussion concerning the need for a college degree to advance your career. The topic really got me thinking about my own journey and how I had achieved my career success without a college degree.

Bedbugs-Which treatment works best? - by: Kimberly Evans

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:13:54 +0000

Hey Stephanie, what company here in Houston did you use?

Force Shopping - by: David Sayers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:08:35 +0000

My first question is how many of you automatically thought Star Wars when you saw the word "force"? My real question, do you think prospects are looking to lease an apartment because they are forced? Yes / No, what percentage are? Let me define "forced". Didn't get up today and say, I love my place, but I want a different one.

How much does role playing fit into your training program? - by: David Sayers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:57:55 +0000

I agree with most everyone in this blog. Without role-playing, either formally in a classroom setting or informally with a team in a huddle, you never get to listen, see and discover how team members will react in a scenario. Let's face it, most people will say they don't like it, yet surveys show they appreciate seeing how to resolve issues in role-play.

Training Director - by: David Sayers

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:48:57 +0000

I also see this role as someone who is ready to forefront training in a new direction past current standards by identifying needs though analysis (improvement / efficiencies), connect with Operations (relationship/client management) and can design or work with a design team to intiate new learning. Someone who will "direct" the functionality of learning. This equates similiar to a Director in a movie. They put all the pieces of training together to make it flow intuitively through an organization.

What is your Service Team Wow Factor? - by: Mark Cukro

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:48:11 +0000

A genuinely sincere attempt to make it right or make up for something not done as intended always goes along way. It shows that they are not only human but that they truly care and most customers want to deal woth someone that cares about what they are doing. Thanks for posting.

Creative Financing - by: Bruce Thomas

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:08:53 +0000

That would be great Bolaji. I am not wanting to do a complete rehab but looking for master lease deals if possible. My email is bruce.business@hotmail.com

Motivate Your Leasing Team in the “Slow Season” - by: Emily Goodman, CPM®, ARM®

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:58:09 +0000

We recognize that this time of year can be a naturally quieter
time for traffic. However, when we know
that it is a “slow season” it becomes even more important for your leasing team
to inject energy into their working week and be proactive in their activities
so that their performance does not lag. Of course we set goals to achieve our
business objectives. However, setting goals is sometimes the ea...

Does She Have a Case? - by: Nate Thomas

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:53:54 +0000

A young lady I had trained at a property called me as she would when she had questions on certain property issues; called to let me know that she was released from her position as manager.

She said that the owner’s son stayed at the property where she was employed and he was always asking her out on a date. She said she would smile and say she did not date her tenants as this would be ...

ApartmentRatings.com - by: Emily Goodman, CPM, ARM

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:50:15 +0000

Yes I know that people now use them to find their new apartment home. So we can’t ignore them. We are compelled to read them and make sure they say only good things about us for the sake of our livelihood, let alone our egos. Many of these reviews are not only inaccurate but they also can be very personal. Even though you can remove the names from the ad they still can refer to people by title. I am almost convinced that many of these ads are posted by disgruntled employees or former employees due to their personal nature. When I look at the scenario from a consumer standpoint, even if I did have a bad experience with the company I don't believe that I would personally attack someone that provided me a service or even have enough information about them to attack them personally unless I worked with them. I read one the other day that cited that the leasing person was socializing with the resident when she should have been doing _______ . The review cited a very specific term for a task that would have been assigned to this person that no one with outside knowledge of the property operations would've ever known about. So I'm certain that employees are involved but there is no way for me to prove it therefore resulting in no way for me to discipline.

Trade Show Talk - by: Gita Faust

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:29:04 +0000

One of the vendor was giving away stress balls. We were a vendor as well, we took couple balls. I would call out CATCH and throw the ball to them. That broke the ice and the converstion went very well. Our closing rate was higher to those we made the connection. Good Luck!

Team Building Activities - by: Lori Doles

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:16:52 +0000

great ideas. Thanks Brent for leading me in the right direction.

Working for a property w/horrible ratings and high turnover w/mgt companys - by: Stephani Fowler

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:42:10 +0000

Renae, RUN the other way! I too love a challenge, and many times have been very successful; however that success only came with awesome support. If you don't have support you are only beating your head against the wall. You will only succeed in creating frustration and resentment for yourself. Follow you instincts. The fact that you posted here in the first place says you had serious questions about this community and instead of the RPM making you feel excited about the challenge, she made you feel distrustful. If that person misrepresented the situation to you before you are even hired, it's a good sign of what's to come. I’ve been in the business for 14 years and like to say I’ve worked for the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ve worked for private owners, a REIT and a management company. Every property I’ve ever had has been a problem child. The only communities I felt I’d made an impact on were those where I had outstanding support form the RPM and Corp. I once had a property that was on its way to a full turn around. The residents were satisfied, rent collections were on the upswing, but we weren’t leasing fast enough. Rather than discuss the situation with me the RPM decided I wasn’t getting the job done and transferred me to a smaller site. I later found out this was only done because one of her friends was about to lose her position so she moved her to my old site where I had done all the work and all she had to do was ride the wave. It worked out okay for me though as I just chilled at the smaller site, caught up on my reading, updated my resume and was hired at the company I’m with now. If you question the integrity of a person or company from the beginning it’s a sure bet that it’s not going to get any better. There are many communities out there that need someone like you so don’t settle. GOOD LUCK!

Who Stole My "Community?"; The Apartment Developer's Dilemma - by: Ross Blaising

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:09:40 +0000

No matter what our role is within the multi-family industry, there is always one word which is used more than any other; “community.” Some of us own communities, some of us develop communities, some of us design communities and others of us lease or operate them. And chances are that many of us live in an apartment, condominium or townhome community as well. So then why is it that there is so little ‘community’ in our communities?

When it comes down to this fail...

Who Should Be Involved with School Lunches - by: Nate Thomas

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:34:36 +0000

You know when I was younger and I seen the older personnel engaged in political debate about this or that and I would think they must not have anything better to do. Now, I am there and I understand that they were concerned about the government and where it was headed and they stayed engaged and did not take things for granted. So, now we have the big talk about one party saying the other should not be involved in school lunches and it should be the parents saying what should be in the school lunch program. Do, you smell a rat? I do, as I believe that it is good for the government to be involved if it is for the correct reasons. Health is a good reason and the government is involved in a lot of other areas which affect our health. For some children, school may be the only healthy meal that they will get and I see nothing wrong with placing more vegetable and fruits in the meals. It is in our best interest to have the healthy meals and children learn what is correct. Fast food in school is not the way! Watch this in your area and look at what is currently being served and where it comes from. Once you know where the items to make up the meals comes from you can follow the money to who it benefits the most. For sure the parents should be involved in the school lunch program, but it should be parents that have been educated first on proper nutrition. You want a real eye opener? Go to a large supermarket and sit back and watch what is going through the checkout line. Then read this again and see if there is truth or this is a bunch of junk I am talking! Look at the number of children that we have that are obese, have high blood pressure, and other health related conditions which can be linked to diet. Then look down the road on who will be defending our country and the physical condition they will be in. I never preach one party over another, but what I do preach is whatever it takes for our country and the people living in it! Time to vote is coming upon us, so get informed, be informed, and vote!

The Market Rate and Rent Concessions - by: Mindy Sharp

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:12:35 +0000

Please don't move into an apartment that you already don't like. You will be miserable and looking to move from Day 1. I would not want any Resident to go into the community on their Move-In day already unhappy. I would rather lose $250 than pay thousands of dollars over the course of - did you say 18 months? to a management company I feel mistreated me. I would put my requests in writing to the manager and forward a copy to the corporate headquarters and see if you can achieve some remedy. In your search for a new home, NEVER look at the model until after you have seen the unit you will be renting, if at all possible. I always want Prospective Residents to see what THEIR home looks like bare walls and all. Then have the Leasing Professional or Manager take you to the "tricked out" model unit. That way, especially if the two units are the same floor plan, for example, you might get some nice decorating tips after seeing the Model. I won't go into all the business side of this topic right now; however, our company gives Prospects all the charges up front in writing as far in advance of the scheduled move in date as possible, so there is time to answer questions. Sometimes, move in dates are incorrect or the agreed upon rent is miscalculated, etc. Because a lot of management companies utilitze revenue management software that sets the rent rate every day based on market conditions, it is important that Prospective Residents know this. I feel badly that you are experiencing such stress at a time when you should be feeling happy anticipation. I agree - see if you can go month to month at your current apartment. If you can't, then call around for a short term rental, or put your things in storage and live in your family's Guest Room. There are apartment communities where the management and maintenance teams love to provide great service to their Residents and they want you to be happy. Those communities are worth the wait. Just for the record, I am not an attorney, but I have worked with many new Residents who were or who had their attorneys on the phone or brought them while we signed the lease paperwork. I have literally had to answer every single point (to the best of my ability) and I can't tell you the number of times people have asked me to change something in the Lease. I am not an attorney and I did not create this Lease; therefore I cannot alter the terms of your Lease, but I will enforce them so it is imperative we all understand what it says. Those Lease Signings take up to four hours to complete. One took place as I was driving from one property to another and the Manager called me to talk to the girl's attorney on the phone (good thing it was a 4 hour drive.) If you, as a Prospect, have questions about Lease terms, ask them! Don't ever put yourself in the position of feeling "stuck." Should the leasing person or manager not know how to answer your questions, they should be able to get someone on the phone at least, who can. I know you are upset now, but not every management company operates like the one with which you are dealing. There are many reputable companies. Call some local Realtors in your area and the local Apartment Association and see if they can help you locate an apartment community that will meet your needs. I work with a lot of Realors to find housing for their clients. Good Luck!

Procurement Software/Program/ or System - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:48:47 +0000

Thanks Michelle! I am trying to find something where you do not have to buy the software and it will be maintained for you. May be a system out there which is not as widely used as Realpage and YARDI. Property on a tight budget!

one flew over the cuckoos nest! - by: jenn cove

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:34:04 +0000

Yes Pt that is the solution I came up with! I offered to give him the model unit parking spot and try the snake/owl. He seemed ok with the answer.

To Small to Hire Full Time Maintenance Person? - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:16:23 +0000

Not all properties are large enough to hire a full time maintenance person, so they contract out their maintenance. They crunched their numbers and found it was cheaper than paying for one man year. So, one property had a manager right out of college and where as they were quick learners, they did not know if they were getting the best from the maintenance contract. So what was done to solve this issue? There was a solicitation for a retired former maintenance lead person to provide quality assurance of the contracted maintenance work. They were placed on retainer and given a minimum guarantee for one year up to (x) amount of work. It was a win, win situation for this property as they got expertise on their side and the retired maintenance lead was not working full time, but was able to get a little more money. Does not work for everyone, but was the solution for one property!

Community manager? Property manager? Asset manager? - by: Victoria

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:22:06 +0000

I feel the title should be determined by the persons credentials and experience that holds the position verses using a "generic title." The term Property Manager is used for several positions. I have been both an on site manager as well as a multi site manager and have had the same title for both positions. I would love to see the industry come up with more guidelines and maybe more "titles" for companies to follow. Maybe working with companies such as IREM, NAA, etc. we can create guidelines for companies to follow to make the industry more consistent. Looking at the size of the community as well as staff, the person's experience and creditials should be considered when giving a title to the position. In my current situation, I no longer manage multiple properties (due to relocation). The property I manage is just under 100 units and I am the only person other than one maintenance technician. I am responsible for everything I did as a multi site manager. I also have my real estate license and am an ARM® through IREM. I personally am glad I was able to bring multi site experience to this position. It makes life so much easier for the owners and I really enjoy being so closely involved with the residents again! In my case, even though I am an on site manager again, I do more and am responsible for more than what I previously did as an on sight manager. In this industry, there are so many variables to consider in all aspects of property management and this will continue to change. I guess this is one of the reasons I have stayed in this industry for 20 years!

Leasing Contracts - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:06:21 +0000

By having my photo on here it keeps me from being able to do some of the things that I normally get paid to check on. But here is one whoever it is that touches a prospective tenant, it is important that you know the contract which is placed in front of them. Look at it your contract and read it line for line. If you have a question, then get the correct answer because if you have a question that perspective tenant may also. If you cannot answer the question, what do you think happens? Get someone else who has nothing to do with the business and have them read the contract and find out what questions they have. It is important to know each and every part of your contract and be able to talk to it. You need to know if there is something that they want taken out if it can be. Keep track of those things which come up the most as objections and then see if there is something that can be done about it? Maybe there is nothing, but get informed. One company had hired a leasing person who had been in the industry with other properties and was doing a great job, so they recruited this all star and she was not getting the same results. They had tried a lot of things and were coming up empty. Sometimes it is the simple things that we over look. The leasing contract was the problem and she did not understand it as it was not fully clear to her and when she asked the question of her manager she was given some answers which were not 100% correct. So, I went in and I had a lot of questions on the contract. I knew the answers because I went to the headquarters talked to them and their legal section which had put the contract together. I did not fight what they wrote but there were things which I thought were confusing. When I was finished at the property with the leasing agent, I then said I wanted to talk to someone that could answer my questions. I got the manager and she had a problem as well. The end was the leasing agent as well as everyone needed to know their contract. Some of the points being changed is another blog. So, do you understand and can you explain each on every point on your leasing contract? This is one where 99% does not work, it has to be 100%!

Seeking well occupied 100% HAP Section 8 multi family assets - by: Alice

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:09:25 +0000

We are seeking to acquire project-based section 8 properties - can be both Family and Elderly. All locations are ok. If within California: 15+ units (or otherwise if a portfolio) If in other states: 50+ units newmarkproperty at gmail.com

Electoral College and Your Vote - by: Nate Thomas

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 23:22:07 +0000

OK, I am on my political soap box again. I am not going to get into how many years ago it was, but government was something that I had to take in high school. So, it was so dull and boring and now that I am older (much older) I wish I had asked more questions. Maybe I would have changed my path in life. Did you know that the President can win by popular vote, but lose the election because they did not carry the Electoral College majority? Well, that is true and it can happen. In our history (check it out) we have had three Presidents that have been placed into office because the won by electoral votes and not by popular votes! I will go from the most current to the oldest: 1. George W. Bush beat out Gore, but it was Gore who had the most popular votes, but Bush carried the most electoral votes. Gore had almost 500,000 plus more votes 2. Grover Cleveland beat out Benjamin Harrison, but Harrison has the most popular votes. 3. Rutheford B Hayes beat out Samuel J. Tilden, but Tilden had the most popular votes. Why do we have the Electoral College? It was put in place by our founding fathers so that no one part of the country would have control of our government. It is good and has a sound basis and for its time it served its needs. What makes me nervous today about Article II, section 1 of the Constitution. That there are those that serve in the Electoral College may not vote the way their people vote and vote the opposite. This has happened in our history. There is no federal law that requires an elector to vote according to their pledge (to their respective party) More than a few electors have cast their votes without following the popular vote or their party. These electors are called "faithless electors." There are some states that have placed into law making this action a misdemeanor and charging $10,000 fine. But legal laws being what they are if challenged the guilty party would get off because it would not survive a constitutional challenge. So, what is my point, we are betting on the good character of those in the electoral College to support and vote the way of the party in their area. So, those with money who spend millions to make billions may just say hey vote for this person and we will get you this. So, can someone by say 280 personnel with some getting maybe a million and others more, just to vote in favor of this person or that? What are the required qualifications for an elector? Hey guess what? There are none! Here are some of the people that can be electors: people who are politically active in their party, or connected to the political circle, like: activists, party leaders, elected officials of the state and even people who have ties (political and/or personal) to the Presidential candidates, themselves. Now given today’s climate, tell me if the government can be bought if there is enough money floating around? I am less scared by one part of the country having more influence that I am about the greedy few that will buy what they want in order to further their own gains. We are at a very important point in our country where we need to be focused, ask questions, challenge the process, be open minded, but check and cross check our sources of information. The President can only be in office for two four year terms, well maybe that needs to flow down. Having professional politicians in this day and age may not be the answer. I do not have the answer, but I know there are a lot of people out there far smarter than me and I think we are at a point where we need to ensure that the common man is back in position to understand the real feelings of our country. Sorry for this long soap box ranting, but we need to be involved in the process before we are taken completely out of it.

Democracy for the Many and not the Privileged Few - by: Nate Thomas

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 04:21:50 +0000

Being an American means different things to different people. To those who have fought, lost limbs, seen friends killed, and the emotionally scarred, have given for our country. To those folks being an American will have a different meaning than those who have never had to defend their freedom. Freedom comes at a cost that many will never know, but go to the veteran cemeteries, go to the Wounded Warrior Centers, and look upon these brave few individuals whose lives will be changed forever. If one goes to war it should be to protect our country and free the oppressed. A soldier raises his right hand to protect our country against its enemies both foreign and domestic. We expect that our forces fight for the people and not for the pampered few and not for greed. What is my point, we as a people trust our elected officials to look out for us, but some of them have sold their positions to the greedy rich (notice I wrote the greedy rich). The honest elected officials, who try to do the right thing, do not receive the support they need because they have to get their hands dirty. If they do not get their hands dirty, they are blackballed and we think they are not living up to their promise. I am not here to say one party is better than the other. What I am here to say is that you need to look at who has lobbyist on Capitol Hill. You need to see who is donating money to the political candidates. You need to get more familiar with political action committees called PACs. A Supreme Court ruling in 2010 allows corporations and unions to raise unlimited funds to buy ads that encourage or discourage the election of specific candidates. When there is a bill up for vote to pass you should look if the bill is passed who is it good for? My thinking is if a candidate receives a contribution, they cannot vote on any bill that will be to the advantage of the company or individuals that made the contribution to them in a direct or indirect manner and if it is anything where it benefits the organization or company more than it does the people then it should automatically be voted down. The upcoming election is important so no matter who you like be sure to get out and vote. If who you want does not get elected and you do not vote, then you have nothing to complain about. Use your freedom and vote because people died for you to have that right, so vote! Do not sit back, get involved with how our government is governing as that government should be working on behalf of the many and not the greedy few whose only concern is to grow their own wealth. God bless our nation and the people that live in it! Embrace our freedom and our way of life, or sit back do nothing and see it slowly go; never to be regained!

Wow, they stole all the wiring - by: Nate Thomas

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:05:34 +0000

You also want to be aware of the condensing units placed outside your apartments in your communities, as there was a property in the Atlanta area which had I believe 8 units stolen. Copper is very expensive and Felicia is right on the money, because a lot of addicts find this easy pickings in some communities. Even some residents have been known to work with these criminals as well.

Quick Tip: Photos - by: MaryAnn Maksinski

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:44:44 +0000

Photos: To get the most out of your photos, help renters quickly form that all-important, emotional connection with your property. Update the order of your photos each season to showcase the most inviting photo – start with a pool or garden photo in the warmer months and kitchen or cozy living room photo in the cooler months. Remember to keep your photo library current after renovations and construction. You want to build trust from the start with accurate photos of your property. Make sure to check back for more quick tips!

Developers and Their Lenders... - by: ATL architect

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:34:37 +0000

The biggest concern we are hearing is costs of land in these sub markets and lack of density. Most developers are offsetting costs with density, looking for 20-40 units per acre versus the old school 10-15.

Does anyone have a Cost of Moving Flyer or worksheet to share? - by: Tracey Lott Heitzman

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:00:51 +0000

Thanks everyone for your replies. Thanks also to Emily for adding it to the file bank!

Hiring a Veteran!!!!!!!!!! - by: Nate Thomas

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:05:56 +0000

There is a segment of our society that many multifamily property owners and management companies have not tapped into and that is the veterans. Now like in any profession you have the broad spectrum of professionalism and of course the lack there of. So how do you break the code? First lets talk about translating some service skills over from military jargon into langauge that can be understood by those who have no idea about military skill sets. 1. Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) these are personnel that served in the grades from lowest to highest Corporal, Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Sergeant First Class, First Sergeant, Sergeant Major: These ranks are all called noncommissioned officers and it is because they have not been commissioned by Congress for their ranks. These personnel obtained their ranks through working in their professions, perfecting their skills, appearing before boards for the next level of responsability and once obtaining the grade of Staff Sergeant and promotions after that, they are compared service wide with others with their grade and military occupational skills (MOS). These personnel are leaders and the higher their rank normally the more personnel they are in charge of. What do you get? You get people that are leaders, team players, problems solvers, and some of the best trainers in the world! You have personnel that have been trained in accounting, maintenance, management, training, leading, counseling, and many other areas not listed here. 2. Student Living and family Living this can be compared to housing single soldiers. So, there is turnover. Now there are some differences from military to civilian as the soldiers do not pay directly, but the First Sergeant has to have a maintenance program (Self help) for their unit. There has to be a list maintained of maintenance requirements and the First Sergeant ensures they get done. There are other duties within what was military housing before privitazation where the noncommissioned officers had to be Stairwell, Building, and Area Coordinators for their communities and looked out for the maintenance, safety, and well being of the families in their areas. 3. Evaluations and type of discharge will tell you what kind of person you have before you. It will also speak of their experience in the number of years served. Normally you do not have a ship jumper and their motivation is job satisfaction, being recognized for a job well done. You have personnel where as they may not have a college degree for the most part many of them may have enough experience in given areas which will translate into and associates and there are some even that have taken college courses in marketing, business management, business law, and so on. 4. In general for those of you who are looking to hire veterans or do not understand what skills they may have; I have talked about just one area of personnel as there are also the commissioned officers, who received their rank through Congress. For the most part they all have at least their batchelor degrees. You have a section of our society that have served our country and have a passion for their profession and to have a veteran on your team 98% of the time you will not be sorry, because for the most part they will exceed your expectations! Do not get me wrong here either as I am not knocking any other portion of our society, just bringing attention to a group that maybe overlooked and are a great resource to look at.

Are college degrees REALLY necessary for success? - by: Tara Furiani

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 00:48:01 +0000

All- I have a lot of thoughts on this topic. While I'm a believer in higher education, there's a lot to be said about years of industry experience. Ideally, I think a combination of the two is a recipe for success. College teaches you so many valuable lessons that hands on experience doesn't always afford. Some examples (and some of these can certainly be learned in working, but it depends on a lot of circumstances): * Teamwork. College demands you work in groups; both leading a team and being a member of one. Working in our industry, chances are you'll have this same experience, but maybe not. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who's attended college who hasn't been in this "team" situation. * Business. When someone says The 4P's, you're not rushing back to google it. You're also not embarrassed when your boss asks you to take a grammar workshop. Not understanding the difference between their mistakes over there at the community while they're working on preparing the market survey you've asked for... will also help you not appear to be intellectually inferior to your subordinates. This is a quick way to lose respect. * Time Management. Having to figure out, plan for and execute getting from your apartment to your 8:15am Political Science course, then across campus in 5 minutes flat to your Intro to Marketing class and then back across campus to your job in the Bookstore... all without being late and simultaneously organizing tonight's keg party... you'll truly understand how to get things accomplished and not let anything slip through the cracks. At the end of the day though, if you want to move up or get a job, you have to believe in yourself, network within the industry, build your own personal brand (and I'm not talking websites or business cards... but knowing who you are, what you want and where you want to go, is paramount), demonstrate your knowledge and well; invest in yourself. Maybe that looks like "going back to school" (and there are a lot of options to pay for school these days... loans, grants, scholarships, EVEN if you're not 18), maybe that's getting industry designations, maybe you DO need to gain a little more experience (and perhaps you could gain it by speaking up and asking for more responsibility in your current role)... whatever it is, if things aren't playing out the way you want them to... maybe it's time to honestly reflect on what you need to attain your personal success in today's business market. Tara

What are your best "This resident is totally trying to scam us" stories? - by: Sandy Martin

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:49:09 +0000

Got a call from a "Rent-a-Center" rep asking if my resident, Ms. Smith, had moved. She said they rented a TV to Ms. Smith and it had been stolen from her new residence in a near-by small town. I told the rep from Rent-a-Center that she was still living here and had only lived here 2 months. Next door to my office, too. She gave me the name of her "new landlord" so I called. Her new landlord said she moved there about a month ago with her grandchild and that the police were investigating the tv theft. I told her new landlord that she lived next door with her terminally ill husband and the grandchild, the grandchild's mom and new baby brother. So, what was up with that? Her husband died and 5 weeks later, she announces she can't pay her rent because she depended on his disability check and that she wasn't going to get it because he died. She moved out owing me rent. The owner had agreed to work with her due to the death of her husband. She really scammed us! Now, I have a death inside the apartment, roaches galore and she only had a $200 deposit. Sweet old lady, though.

Best Property Management Software? MRI vs. Yardi vs. RealPage? - by: Nate Thomas

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 22:57:17 +0000

Gerry gave the best advice, to have the people that will be using the program everyday to sit and work with whichever and then decide from there . From a customer service end, I like Realpage and I know first hand that they take their customer questions an issues serious. There is also another site that you can check out called eSupplySystems. They not only manage the program, they have trainers, that are there to assist personnel as well. Up and coming and they save you money as well with a suite of vendors that give you better purchasing power. I have done contract work with them as well. The big thing with most properties is getting them use to change as there is a normal resistance even when something may be better.

Self Training - by: Nate Thomas

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:23:41 +0000

If you have not checked with your local apartment association, it may be good to do so about training and training materials in and out of classes. Not all associations are equal, but there are some that are really high speed and worth checking into as well!

Maintenance Shop 101-Organization Is The Key - by: Nate Thomas

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:07:45 +0000

I would like to throw my two cents into this discussion about maintenance, organization, spending, and saving money. OK,first I will date myself and say back in 1997 when I had my first property management job as a civilian, there were a couple of things that I did to ensure the right items were bought and to track where they were. First, I had everything inventoried and placed in the appropriate bin. All items that were electrical, I had date purchased and date placed in service. Those items that were used the most I got immediate feedback on and could ensure that I kept a stock that could be managed and not be overstocked. Second, there was a sheet in each bin when an item(s) were taken the sheet was adjusted and what apartment the items were going into. This ensured there was control of where the items went and it also showed if there was a problem with a particular unit as well as if there had to be a replacement was it fare wear, defective, or maybe a warning sign of another problem all together. Third, electrical items such as stoves, refrigerators and such there was the purchase date and not the in-service date. If there was a problem with the item, the first thing checked was, if the item was still under warranty. If it was then we used the number and call for the item to be repaired or replaced. If the item could not be repaired right away, then I would get them a replacement and have the item in the maintenance shop for any delayed repairs. Fourth, if there was a deal because of my purchasing I would get estimates from who I was doing business with for deep discounts and then I would work their competition. I fould I could get great deals and save huge amounts of money. Lastly, today there are some companies out there that give you a platform where you can go through their site to order and because of the purchasing power, they are able to get you large savings in maintenance parts, office supplies, appliances, painting, and carpeting. I even contracted for such a company to setup and perform their Customer Service. I was not a maintenance man, but I could tell you when something was not working properly and I always loved getting out there dealing with vendors and contractors working the deals which would save my property money and in turn see happy tenants all around.

What is the craziest situation you've been in on site? - by: Pedro Maysonet

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:28:05 +0000

I believe this situation is as sadder as it is crazy. I took over an assignment as a portfolio operation manager in North Las Vegas. The portfolio was extremely distress, to the point the HUD office in D.C, Categorize it as their worst asset nationally. The property was drug and gang infested, to the point my first week there, I was welcomed with a dead body on my front door. However, that experience is not what I am talking about. The experience was about child. I helped established a few non-profit organization to assist in improving the lifestyle of our residents and overall community. One of my organizations which provided tutoring afterschool realized that they haven’t seen a particular kid that usually is on time and extremely involved in the program, so they came to me with concerns and to see if they can visit the unit. Because of the danger of the community and area, I decided to escort them with my security to the kids unit, and what we found was sad and horrible. We knocked and knocked on the door, and no one answered. So with my unit key, I opened the door to complete a health-check, and what I found was a unit with no furniture, just a piled of dirty closed in the living room, a guy extremely drugged in a corner. We called out for the kid, who came down with no shirt, shorts three times too big for him and only held up with a rope around the waist and no shoes. We asked him why he hadn’t come to the center for afterschool, and his response was he didn’t know what day it was because he was home sick, and he has no clothes to go out. The guy in the corner threw him a shirt he had by him, which also was three times to big and bloody! Needless to say, we took the kid with us to the center and immediately called child services, but the sad thing is, more and more often I found similar situation at this site. It took me about 2 and half years to really reach everyone at this community and the local government, to finally get the help they needed. The sad thing is we look at our TV’s and see the needs in other countries, and send all the money oversees to assist in the world need, when in fact we have places similar if not worst right here in the US. You would be surprise to find them even in large cities like Las Vegas and Washington DC.

What's your biggest goal for 2012? - by: Pedro Maysonet

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:49:19 +0000

Last year I decided to go fully on my own and take my Maysonet Group entity and establish it as a full service Property Management firm in Florida. We currently manage all the way down from Homestead Florida up to Jacksonville Florida. We have entered South Georgia. Our goal for 2012 is to continue to grow and continue providing quality service at reasonable rates, and hopefully expand to at least two other states. I have faith in God we will exceed our expectations!

Rent Drop Box Theft Prevention - by: Genesis Hunt

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:01:50 +0000

We went through the same ordeal this summer. I found a great box at www.factory-express.com. It is called Protex WDD-180, $205. We also added additional cameras to cover the outside of the box as well as inside the office covering the interior door of the box. It's worked great. Hope this helps.

What's your Google+ approach? - by: Mike Whaling

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:43:23 +0000

Are you setting up one Google+ page for the property management company, one page for each property or both? If you have a page for each property, how are you managing content for each of those pages?