Embracing Change

Currently, for me, life is all about change.  New job, new state of residence, new house, new level of happiness - CHANGE IS GOOD.  Unless you are in our industry, at which point most of you are scurrying around, trying to fill vacancies before the long winter delivers silent phones or walkins.

As I was driving south this weekend, I was seeking fall foliage to delight the eyes.  However I was a few weeks too late and the majority of what I saw was a direct indicator of the winter to come - brown foliage, leafless trees, brown brown brown.

But what I did see was Evergreens.  They'd been there all year, same color, static positions, just hidden behind the flash and glory of the spring blossoms and fall colors.

Reminded me of our untapped resources.  When the typically "busy" season ends for most of us, we're left with our static resources.  So what we do with them is highly important.  Historically, at this point in the year, we duck down our heads, hoping to just survive.  But this year, we need to do more than just survive.  Thrive is the word of change for this year.  How do you do that? - Businesses, vendors, staff, residents.  Static resources... what are we doing to recognize the beauty that's been there, probably neglected behind the fleeting colors.

Businesses and vendors offer us the ability to pool resources, truly embrace our comunities of location, and the opportunity to combine to create an improved joint venture product.

Staff.  Can't stress enough the importance of staff.  Treat them well and they will create and maintain a product that will sell itself.  Have a property whose product, curb appeal and vacancies say that the staff are struggling?  Fix it.  Your property staff have the ability to make or break you.  And it depends on you.  Be the leader they want and need.

Residents.  You know what I am going to say.  Customer service reaches it's finest AFTER they've moved in.  First impressions are important, so TREAT EVERY DAY AS THE FIRST IMPRESSION!  Want them to like you?  Say hi to them everytime you see them.  Want them to love you?  Send them birthday cards and offer upgrades for their loyalty.  Want them to tell all their friends how great the property is and be your best outreach sales group?  Be what they need you to be, anticipate their needs and their wants, and go out of your way EVERYDAY.

Change is a beautiful thing, people.  When Ghandi said "Be the change you want to see in the world", he meant your multifamily property. Enjoy the evergreens.