MF properties are MUCH MORE than just marketing & the apartment units!

I'm just wondering WHY.....it seems 90% of the blogs written on this website are directed
towards MARKETING or the UNIT interiors?  I see blogs that state how you can save $20 re-painting units; or parties for tenants; great service (which should be there anyway),
but, I have inspected MANY properties over the years...and have found a majority of
Managers and maintenance personnel who really don't care.  WHY is there NOT some type
of "MF watchdog group" out there...the MF Industry is like the Hotel Industry...it's like "the fox guarding the hen house".

A close friend of mine, who is a MF Regional Manager, told me that the LEASES were very
heavily slanted towards the OWNER/MANAGEMENT.....if tenants are unhappy and want
out...it seems like it takes "an act of God".....if they wish to break their lease and move on. 

Too many Managers are hired, given a property to manage...and believe it's a 10 am to
5 pm job....no, it's a 24/7 responsibility!  I would bet that less than 5% of the Property Managers out there walk their properties at night...to ensure the property is properly lighted, that there are no burned out lights....on buildings, post lights, underwater lights in
the pools, etc.  I promise you, I can drive around my city tonight...visit a dozen MF properties managed by DIFFERENT companies and find ALL of these problems...WHY?
Just wondering out loud here.

Managers are, I'm sure trained with respect to writing up LEASES...managing the property's
books, filling out "maintenance work orders", etc...but, it just seems to me from my experiences....that few understand the very important issues that are necessary to provide a
SAFE site/property......like lighting, pool codes/safety, ADA & FHA issues...yes, when the
Manager takes over these properties...at a NEW property, all of the exterior site issues should be 100% correct...and in compliance with all city, county, state and Federal codes...
but, some are not.  And, for older properties...due to lack of property maintance...lights
on the property burn out, pools lack property maintenance.

I visited a MF site in my city last night (after dark)...a major developer in the area...in a
VERY HIGH-END area.  This property is only 8 yrs. old.....I counted 34 bldg. lights burned
out...maybe only 7 were on; 18 of the 27 tall 20 ft. decorative post lights were burned out;
over 35 lights mounted on garages were burned out.  There were ZERO post lights located in this pool area...WHY? You have to have a min. number of "foot candles" of light on the pool deck at night.  All 3 of the 500 watt underwater pool lights were burned out in the main pool. The Jacuzzi lights were out.  The gate leading to the "emergency phone", drinking fountain
and restroom was LOCKED...this gate must be accessible to that phone...as well as to the
drinking fountain and - obviously for good health reasons - to the restrooms.  Although there was a sign near the Jacuzzi that stated "Jacuzzi water can NOT exceed 104 degrees",
there was not a termometer hanging in the Jacuzzi...how would anyone know how hot that
water really was?  They couldn't know!  In every State, if there is even (1) pool code violation, the pool area must be completely LOCKED down 24/7, until the pool code violations have been resolved.  The #2 pool's only gate was NOT self-closing & self-latching per code; no post lights in this pool area either; the Cabana lights did not work; the gate to
the pool equipment area did not have a lock and was standing open 3 inches...and there were
6 children playing in the pool area when I was at the site...a VERY dangerous situation in that there is deadly chlorine gas running through the pumps/filters in that pool equipment room; the drinking fountain did not work - needs to work, especially in the Summer when the temps get over 100 degrees - this a code requirement.  Also, many of the breezeway
lights were not working.  I found 2 wrought iron safety fences mounted on top of an 8 ft.
tall retaining wall...both were very unstable...I could have easily pushed on these fences and they would have fallen the 8 ft. below...those fences are there for the safety of the residents and guests............NOW, the question I have about this property is...WHY is that
I was the person who had to discover all of these SAFETY and CODE VIOLATIONS?  Isn't
that sort of the Manager's job?  I just think it comes down to the FACT that so few Managers have the training or education with respect to the PROPERTY SITE issues....they're so
focused on the UNITS and collecting RENT checks at the first of the month.  I think if a
tenant signs a LEASE, he/she is must be provided with a safe and habitable and clean apt.
unit, but also, a SAFE property that is always maintained in full compliance with all city,
county, state and federal laws/codes........but, the property I mention above that I walked
last night...is more the "typical"....than not.  I know times are hard, but a lease is a two party agreement....the Manager/Owner has responsibilities as does the resident...it doesn't
seem fair to me that the Manager can pick and choose which responsibilities they get to
follow.  TRUST ME......5 years ago, I lived at a property with MANY, MANY more
code and safety problems than this (the TOP apt. developer in the city with over 20 large upscale MF properties...not a small little property - over 800 units! With over 30 yrs. of MF experience, I just can't help notice the problems.....when I brought the problems to the attention to the Manager AND the Corporate office, they just ignored EVERY problem!  WHY?  Well, I think it's because "maybe" they believe I was the only person who knew about the problems...and they didn't want to spend the $$$ to resolve the issues...they were leaning on that "liability insurance" in case something happens.  Problem with this "mentality" is...if a person drowns in one of your apartment pools....that "liability insurance" will definitely NOT bring that person back to LIFE again!!!

If some of you are LOSING residents......read the above paragraph again. 
I strongly believe that Owners should ensure their Property Managers have EXPERIENCE
and are trained and knowledgeable about the very imporant SITE issues.....that they can't
just focus on the buildings, the units and collecting rents.