Did you know that professionaly training your property staff can be the most cost effective way to maintain your property year after year? How many times did you have a potential renter on the line and your staff was unable to close the sale? If you answer is more than once, it’s too many. The good news is, it’s usually not the staff, it’s their training. The leasing industry is tough and volatile at times, especially in a down turned economy. How do you change the culture in your environment and challenge your staff to obtain their goals…you train them with the best – Occupancy Heroes.

A property with a well trained leasing team can make a big difference in ongoing sales. Over the years we’ve trained hundreds of our client’s property staff. And these clients are experiencing even greater returns because they’re retaining renters as well as their employees. We train your staff on how to achieve and maintain high occupancy rates the Occupancy Heroes way. Arming your staff with these valuable skills gets your team motivated and equipped for success. It also promotes accountability and empowers employees to drive and surpass your occupancy goals.

Occupancy Heroes valuable training seminars are based on years of experience, case studies and industry standards. Our training courses range from one to three days and are usually conducted onsite. Our training curriculum includes:

• Leasing 101

• Who Is My Customer?

• Closing the Deal Without Selling the Special

• Becoming a Specialist for Every Type of Market

• Critical Selling Tactics

• And More

And did you know clients that are signed up for a “lease up” agreement are eligible to receive FREE training? At the close of lease up, Occupancy Heroes offers an invaluable training service custom tailored to suit your property – free of charge. How’s that for extraordinary?

For more information about Occupancy Heroes valuable property management training seminars, please visit the “Training” section of our website @ www.occupancyheroes.com .

1. Track Record/Close Rate

2. Their Process

3. What the Leasing Firm Expects From You

4. Their Leasing Services

5. Customer Service

We’ve seen it far too many times where a company promises the moon and doesn’t deliver. In the property management business, a little bit of research on a property owner’s part, can go a long way. Use these top 5 tips as a key before you sign that leasing contract.

1. Track Record

Tracking success is critical in any business, but with a Leasing Company, it’s paramount. Before you sign with that leasing company, take the extra time to investigate their property leasing claims. Ask to see their close rates and specifically ask for client testimonials. These are tale tell signs of a successful firm. Also, make sure these stats are current – at least within a year’s timeframe. Remember, as a property owner, if you want fast results, you need a firm with a credible track record.

2. Understand the Process

Every leasing firm has a process. And if they don’t, that’s cause for concern. But if they do, do you know and understand there process at every phase? What can you expect during lease up? Is their staff seasoned and trained? How long does the leasing process take? These are just some of the many questions that Occupancy Heroes clients ask and we readily answer. The point is a seasoned firm will have a methodical process in order to maximize a property owner’s return.

3. What does the Leasing Firm Expect from the Property Owner?

It’s a question that’s often an afterthought. Many property owners assume that after signing a contract with a leasing firm – there job is done. A quality leasing firm provides an owner with a description of “what to expect,” plus what’s needed from each owner. For example, property owners and their staff often have a wealth of information about how or why a property is underperforming. Choosing the right leasing company to collaborate and distill this vital input can significantly increase your return. Every property owner should be well versed in his/her role in the leasing process. If you’re not clear on “what’s expected,” you’re probably not working with the right leasing company.

4. Services

Ever wonder what’s included in a leasing service? Most leasing companies offer standard property leasing services. Make sure you know and understand all the services being offered in your leasing agreement. If not, you may assume certain tasks are being handled by the leasing company – when they are not.

5. Customer Service

How professional does the leasing company come across? Do they have a good industry reputation? What is their policy on servicing clients? Are there any customer complaints? Managing customer expectation and satisfaction is far too important in any service industry. As a property owner, you can easily check on a company’s reputation by again doing some research. When you call the office, how professional do they sound? Are your calls answered in a timely manner? Do their leasing agents appear professional? These may be minor questions but an outsider can tell a lot from noting these small details about a leasing firm. Remember, these leasing companies have leasing agents that will represent you.

Again, these tips are to help property owners find the leasing company before signing. Occupancy Heroes has spent nearly a decade honing our leasing expertise to bring our clients extraordinary solutions. We have an impeccable track record and methodical process that gets our clients results. Learn more about what makes us extraordinary by visiting the “About Us” section of our website @ www.occupancyheroes.com.

Ever wonder what it really means to be “Move In” ready? Well, Occupancy Heroes has you covered. Typically when people search for housing, their needs are immediate and in order capitalize on potential renters, available apartments must be clean and well maintained. That statement seems to be obvious, but in our line of business, it bears repeating. Units must be clean and well maintained. And to help you make sure your units are “move in” ready, here’s a free checklist to start.

Each unit should sparkle. A good list of general household cleaning should include:

• Vacuum and Clean Floors

• Clean Sliding Glass Doors

• Remove Cobwebs

• Dust Windowsills and Baseboards

• Spot Clean Light Switch Plates

• Dust Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures within Reach

• Spot Clean Cabinet Exteriors

• Spot Clean Walls

• Clean Inside and Outside of all Appliances

• Dust Window Blinds

• Empty Trash

• Clean and Sanitize Sinks, Tub, Toilets and Faucets

• Shine Mirrors and Chrome

• Vacuum and Sanitize Floor

Painted surfaces should also be inspected:

• Check for cracks, deterioration or peeling paint and repair

• Interior walls, ceilings

• Interior and exterior doors and windows

• Exterior buildings including carports and storage units

• Mailbox stations

• Fences

• Porches and decks

Everything should be in good repair.

Did you know Occupancy Heroes offers an array of maintenance services? Aside from our leasing services, we specialize in cleaning and repairing many of the items in the checklist above. In fact, we are often asked by our clients to provide them with a detailed guide to give to their maintenance staff. Here’s a copy of the professional checklist created by Occupancy Heroes and followed by our Maintenance Heroes.

Feel free to download the pdf list and print to use and distribute. Or, just call us and we’ll have our Maintenance Heroes take care of it all. Our “Maintenance Heroes” are professional, efficient and can be available almost immediately.

Lease up is an extremely busy time and you have a lot to cover. A team of professionals from Occupancy Heroes can expertly handle your maintenance and cleaning concerns. We have trained Heroes in every area of the leasing business, from helping you get those units ready to show, to filling them and maintaining a high occupancy rate. We can make lease up a lot less stressful for you and your staff!

To find out more about our Maintenance Heroes or our leasing services, please visit “Our Services” section of our website @ www.occupancyheroes.com.