Motivate Maintenance to WIN at Leasing and Retention
I can't express enough how important a GOOD, MOTIVATED maintenance team is in the success of your property. This is not an epiphany, I am not a genius because I'm saying this - I know this! But, what are we doing day to day to keep our maintenance teams motivated? Although I hope I don't have to tell you why it is important to keep them motivated but I will so we are on the same page.
WHY keep them motivated?
- Motivation builds loyalty and engagement - what they deal with daily is a challenge - I mean when was the last time that YOU unclogged someone else's toilet?
- We frequently forget when we have events or meetings to include maintenance so they are forgotten
- They know what is happening on your property and in your units -- if you connect with them and make them feel like they are part of the team then they will feel more comfortable telling you what is happening on site.
I want to give you all a few quick activities to help you get started in maintaining good, motivated teams:
- Have a make ready contest - take a perfect make ready and stage some things in it that are out of place, i.e., missing vent, minor leak in sink, lights out, missing rod on blinds, etc.. then have a timed race for who can find the most errors in the make ready - give gift cards, etc..
- Attach customer comments to the work orders and give away gift cards to the team member that gets the most positive ones returned wins something
- Have a vendor come in and host a training meeting and then give them lunch
- Trading Spaces for the day -- have the leasing agents work in the maintenance shop and the maintenance work in the leasing - make sure the entire teams don't switch on the same day but have them change jobs for the day so they build a level of respect for each other and appreciation
- Host a mini maintenance mania
- Let the maintenance teams train your office team on basic maintenance troubleshooting
AIM to try one of these in May and see the response you get from your teams! I think it will be a good one! Can't wait to hear your great stories!
Happy Leasing!!
About the author
Stephanie is a dynamic speaker that has been entrenched in the multifamily industry for over 20 years. She has tackled all levels of assets from new construction to property-based section 8 to properties that many of you would think twice about operating. She offers her expertise in property marketing and operations and offers a wide spectrum of insight into the multifamily world.