Topic: Is anyone seeing a trend in Property Managment to a 4 day work week?

Is anyone seeing a trend in Property Managment to a 4 day work week?

My maint asked permission 3 years ago to switch to this. He works 4 10's. I would love it too but I've never asked.

Even 4 office days and one remote day would be awesome!!!

Still have to staff and open the office as well as respond to after hours maintenance calls. Seems this would increase payroll.

No, you can actually reduce yur staff- we all did it thru the c-19 shut down & actually was able to provide much better customer service

I would absolutely love that!!!

We have a centralized leasing where they work from home and travel for tours or they can go to an office to work

As a renter, I would absolutely hate this.
As a manager, I would absolutely love this.

It doesn't have to affect office hours if staff staggered days off. With four 10 hour days.. you could actually probably expand hours.

I do 4 office/site days and fridays are reserved for me to be at home without all the distractions to focus on emails, paperwork, and requires webinars.

I wish. We all know property mgmt slams on the gas with staff. They never pump the brakes. Thats why we are seeing a mass exodus!!

Wished it would happen.

I’ve heard a rumor around my place that it will be shifting to that in 2022!

That would actually mean they cared about us. And we all know they don't.

Imagine that!

I could definitely see that working. 4 ten hour days. Allows for a better resident and prospect experience by being open to perhaps 8pm.

I wish I was seeing this trend!! Definitely in favor!

I see the signs! One of my properties has functioned on a 4 day work week for years with no issues. Overlapping schedules keeps the office open all week. The pandemic made it apparently obvious that we did not spend enough time with family, people need that.

We’ve been on a 4 day week for 3 yrs now. I love it.

I already work 9 hours adding another would hurt

We do 4 in office one at home, I don’t see the fifth day being any easier; ever. The one day with no commute sure is nice though.

I had that at one property I managed. The office was open 8-8 and everyone worked 4 days a week. We loved it! It was a large property and we staggered the hours. Worked out great for those that were morning / late day people. Everyone got what they wanted.

Yes. Let’s do it. I’ve been saying that it should be the norm

Agreed! And close an hour earlier in the winter

I am currently doing this with my maintenance team

We are no longer open on weekends.

A webinar I watched recently said maintenance members are requesting that change more and more now

I did this for almost 18 years in the dental field, before I switched fields in 2008 and it was wonderful. You could stagger the team and increase productivity and promote healthier/balance in personal team life’s. Most managers start work before work, don’t take lunch and are the last to leave the office, so this also gives other team members more growth opportunities!!!! This is a great idea I have been saying forever “work smarter not harder”

I could definitely see that being a Tuesday through Friday work week

I already work four 12 hr days and 9-10 hrs on Friday to accommodate residents that work the same hrs as the office is open. It would be great to just say open 4 days a week. Then they could fit their complaints or needs into one of the days that I'm open late.

It’s time for the industry to start considering many different options like 4/10s, which can actually expand hours and serve residents better while increasing benefits for employees.

With the online processes, notifications and call centers, the only reason not to do this to provide better work/life balance for employees is simply fear based management.

I don’t see how it would be possible for the staff to keep up with the demands of residents, mgmt companies and owners. No way. Way to much to close the office for a day every week.

 I definitely understand the thought process but I worked at a community that used to be open on the weekends and we changed it to just Saturdays and eventually to one Saturday a month and then finally closed on the weekends. It was an adjustment for the residents but once they got used to it, they were fine. I imagine the same could be done for weekdays, there is always a learning curve whenever you change things up at a community

I think it can work in most cases, but I wouldn't recommed it be Fridays for the desired three day weekend. I think Fridays are crucial to the business. A midweek break, closing on Wednesdays, makes more sense. Of course, this is also assuming that resident packages aren't delivered to the leasing office.

Leasing offices should be virtual. You could have a PM who works remote, leasing staff travel to site for tours if needed. Covid taught us the amazing use of brands like realync to offer virtual pre recorded tours. I just completed a 400 unit lease up and I’d say a good 60 percent of the leases were done with virtual touring.
I would probably only think that you would need a maintenance team onsite.

The question should not be “Can we?” It should be “HOW can we?”
Until all solutions are explored, we’re not ruling out. If a company is willing to try, fail, evaluate, and try again, I bet a solution can be found that’s a win for residents, management teams, and investors.

There's already a billion solutions, platforms, softwares, call centers, you name it, on the market. "We've always done it that way" is the status quo in property management.

If be happy with just closing at 3pm m-f! Lol

I think covid should have taught us that we can still run our offices without any in person contact at all. Four-day work weeks would give the team more time to rest and recuperate which would help in customer service when they're not as stressed out.

Agree! Especially, because we have been sitting at 100% occupancy and pre-leased for several months now. We are just answering the phone mainly and sending maintenance out to do work orders.

Since 2020 when we had to shut down we only reopened Mon- Thurs. But we still end up working Fridays to get things done and although we advertise we are closed Fridays we are too busy, so I am just starting back to the Fridays too. Seems to be the day residences report maintenance issues.

As an RM I asked one of my teams if they were interested.  I was going to try and pilot it with my team.  They all came back and said no.  I think it would very much need to be a location by location decision and market by market.  Agree with some that the office would be covered by staggering the staff.