Topic: Just a reminder... don't buy into your resident's drama until you have all the facts.

Just a reminder to those who need it today... don't buy into your resident's drama until you have all the facts.
Yesterday I had a resident come to the office frantic that somebody hit their car in the parking lot, stole their gas, and moved a bunch of stuff around in their car. Terrible, right?
We went to the camera and at around 5:00am saw their teenage son pull in, check the damage on the car, and then head inside thinking that his parents would be none the wiser.
So whatever they throw your way, stay calm, research the facts, then react if necessary. Remember, you never see a fireman run into a burning building. Be the fireman.

We had a resident state he was hit while riding his bike by a red car. Ran camera footage and it was just him and his bike, he didn’t even fall off he laid down next to it. next

Well, I don't run an adult daycare... They can always call 911 for that crap!

And the police will request to see the cameras, so more drama and more work for me. Be the fireman.

Well, I give our City Police Department online access to my security camera system, so I stay completely out of that loop unless charges are filed on a resident. Then they notify me with the paperwork in case I need to take action.

I have a group of ladies/neighbors whose children don't play well together. They each keep calling about the others' terrible kids wondering what I'm going to do about it. "I didn't see him do it, but I'm sure it was her kid that wrote the "f-word" on the slide." As if I'm going to issue a lease violation because "obviously" it was the person I don't like's child..."too silly" to call police, but call the leasing office all day long...I'll clean up the slide, but seriously, parent your kids.

So a few weeks ago I had a woman tell me her dad died and she needed to be let out of her lease. I explain that we will release her in 40 days with a copy of his death cert (both lease holders) I felt bad for her but policy is policy, she calls me cold blooded and never submitted any paperwork. Over the weekend she emails me to tells me she was misinformed, he’s alive and well and here he signed this move out form (dated may 1st) and the keys were in the apartment she move out because she can’t afford it. I try to explain that per the lease she had to give 60 days notice from today and she is fighting me because I won’t honor the release for death. I’m like HELLOOOO NO ONE DIED!!!! So I tell her we’re doing the move out inspection and I will follow up (figured maybe I can quick turn and just make her pay the overlap until it’s rented just to get her out of my hair). She argues she wants to know when we’re coming (why do you care? You skipped out and locked the keys inside!?) then Monday we go to do the move out inspection and there is a random man living in the unit and she tells me today we’ll if I have to pay for 60 days I might as well let someone live there. A- no unauthorized occupants B- how did you get back into the unit C- I still don’t fully understand if the dads alive or not D- why did I get into property management E- send wine… 20 years in the industry next week, and that was definitely a first…..

E. Lots of E.

Yep. Been there. One of my kids did that. Forgot to put the seat back where I sit and um I don’t listen to the same music played her and told her a resident saw her (we lived on site at the time)

My go-to is “Did you report this to the police”? If the answer is no, the sense of urgency and severity is immediately diminished.

Firemen do run into burning buildings

Donna, maybe you should ask a fireman. They arrived, they assess the situation, and then make a safe and strategic plan to respond, slowly and cautiously.

Taaaa-Daaaa!!!!