Property Managers as Life Coaches

  Late Notices, Garbage Reminders, Fire Hazard Signs, Recommendations for Renter's Insurance, Intermediates for Mom... How many of these things plus others did you Property Managers do today?

As I wrote out my 15th 'Illegal Pet Notice" yesterday, I'll admit, I was feeling less of a property manager and more of a life coach.  But as I continued thinking about it, I figured "Well, why not?  I promised to take care of their residential needs... it's just that today, their need is to get their stuff in order FOR ME!"  I couldn't have been more wrong.  I chalk it up to a communication issue of my residents not fully understanding how my needs as their property manager impacted their needs as continued residents.  Life coaching seminar here I come.

According to Wikipedia, "Life coaching is a future-focused practice with the aim of helping clients determine and achieve personal goals."  Yep, that's me!

We develop, train and reinforce a practice with our residents to help them determine their residential goals and achieve a positively balanced level of their goals in conjunction with our goals as property management professionals.

Delinquents:  It's a constant struggle.  One of the things you have to remember as a life coach is that sometimes, knowing WHY is just as important as knowing HOW.  Do you residents really understand why they need to pay on time, both for your benefit and theirs?  Do they understand the repercussions of consistently late payments?  When was the last time you really explained it?

Trouble-shooting maintenance items:  Yes, I know... we all get frustrated with the residents who call 6 times a week over the same three items that they could fix themselves.  But, as the saying goes, if you want someone to change, you need to tell them what to change and what you are expecting in replacement.  So the resident calls AGAIN, and you take the same work order AGAIN, but did you spend the extra 2 minutes to teach them how to light the pilot on their stove, or to check the GFI safety for the downed outlet in the kitchen, or how to correctly use a plunger?  Teach them and they shall learn... and hopefully call less.

These are just two examples of what I am sure could be a thousand different opportunities to coach our residents in their residencies at our properties.  Good coaches have charisma, provide motivation and momentum, and know when to let go.  Coaches are not micro-managers.  We can only give the feedback and direction to willing participants.  Find the willing residents who just need the boost to learn and TEACH!  Interaction is the essential ingredient.  Create a team.