It’s time to turn the tables from last weeks’ posting about property management executives. As I travel the country, talking with corporate staff and owners, I hear a lot of the same comments and complaints from these executives. So, as I have done in the past, I’ve assembled their most common issues they have with their on site staff.( I also get these remarks via email and even occasionally by phone.)
Oh, and please don’t shoot the messenger folks. I’m just telling you what I hear.
So, here in no particular order, are some reasons why your corporate office might not respect you.
1. Your friends are your residents. You hang out with them, drink with them, date them and more. How in the world can you possibly run a property when your residents are your friends?
2. You come to work hungover on the weekends. It’s obvious that you are. Why do you do that? Weekends are a part of your schedule and you knew that when you took the job. Move your partying to your days off, please.
3. You know your tattoos and numerous piercings are not supposed to show at work. Please keep them covered as we discussed in your hiring orientation. You’ll stop getting written up and we’ll all be much happier.
4. Ladies, bare legs are not allowed. When we say wear hose, we mean wear hose. Just because Katie Couric does it doesn’t mean you can do it.
5. Smoke breaks are to be taken away - well away - from the front door of the leasing office. Remember that.
6. Lifting the firewall to allow Facebook for marketing and resident retention purposes does not mean you get to play Mafia Wars, Farmville and Cafe World all day long or spend your time searching for your old high school boyfriend or girlfriend. Yes, we know a bit of abuse of networking sites is going to take place. But do it on your lunch hour, not during your paid workday.
7. Please don’t text residents or prospects with work messages from your cell phone. And yes, this also means you shouldn't take pictures of them to send them after the tour. It’s just wrong. And it opens the door to a lot of problems. No exceptions!
8. Every prospective resident to the property has a guest card completed. No exceptions.
9. If we require photo identification to see an apartment, you MUST take a photo identification. No exceptions.
10. Improvements to software and processes are simply that; improvements. We are really trying to make your job easier. We are not trying to make it harder with software conversions, upgrades and trying new products. We sincerely want your input, but you must also realize that change is inevitable and just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean we won’t go forward with the upgrade, new product or improvement to service.
Lisa Trosien is an award winning multifamily educator, speaker and consultant with 20+ years of industry experience. You may reach her via email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.