Blog
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: How Do You Let Your Residents Know When They Do Something Wrong?
In my apartment community, the garbage area is out the door on the right side of the building. If you go on the left side of the building, there are apartments. Recently, my husband and I had someone clean our apartment (if my mother-in-law is reading this, by “someone” I mean myself, obviously), and on her way out, she offered to take out the garbage. And, unbeknownst to us, she misunderstood where the garbage room was, and put our garbage bags in front of one of the apartments on the left side, thinking the garbage room was just locked. (I…
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Should You Put Holiday Decorations in Your Community Lobby?
Like Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog’s Day, we’re all slowly emerging from our turkey comas and seeing if the holiday season is yet underway. (It is. Looks like we’re not actually getting four more weeks of fall.) Apartment communities sometimes get into the holiday spirit with their decorations. Trees, garlands, menorahs, all that fun stuff. It certainly is festive, and could get the residents in a cheerful frame of mind. But, should you decorate for the holidays? Here’s a list of pros and cons of decorating your community for the holidays. Pro: It puts people in the holiday spirit. It’s the time…
‘Business Development 101’ with Marilyn Mendell. Part 4: Building Lasting Relationships
A business development professional must have four qualities: a high standard for ethics, an amazing ability to forecast and carry out plans, impeccable manners and an understanding of the nuances of societal order, and finally plenty of empathy. Kindness to others along with appreciation for what people have done often develops long lasting friendships and loyalty. A person can be a tough negotiator and still be fair and say thank you. The two are not mutually exclusive. Probably no other part of business development is more important than building lasting relationships. As with all segments of doing business honesty and…
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: 6 Ways to Make Thanksgiving Easier for Residents (And Boost Building Morale)
Wasn’t it just Halloween? How is Thanksgiving next week already? Thanksgiving is the most stressful holiday, like, ever. Well, actually New Years Eve is pretty stressful, because there’s all this pressure to find a good party and then all the bars have inflated covers and restaurants have inflated prixe fixe menus, and of course they’re out of the steak already, and you end up waiting in the snow to hail a cab at 12:05 for an hour because you just want to be home in your pajamas. Every year. And Valentine’s Day is stressful, because if you don’t have a…
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Is it Still ‘Location, Location, Location’?
Snow. Why’d it have to be snow? (Picture I said that while wearing a fedora, because I’m feeling snazzy.) Currently, New York City is being hit with a nor’easter, just a week after Hurricane Sandy. As if the Northeast wasn’t suffering through enough already. It almost makes a girl want to pack up her belongs and go West, Fievel-style. In all seriousness though, whether you’re on the East Coast or not, does weather ever play a part in where you plan to build or manage a property? The New York Times asks if people will be leery about Giving my…
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Do You Manage Your Properties Like a Rock Star? (Maybe You Shouldn’t)
I recently went to see a concert—Social Distortion, one of my all-time favorite bands. And while it was an awesome show, I was disappointed that they didn’t play my favorite song, “Story of My Life.” (Kids, it’s one of the songs in the Rock Band video game, if that helps. And now I feel old.) This is probably one of their most well-known songs, and I’m guessing most-played, so maybe they were sick of it or something. A similar thing happened when I went to see John Mayer a few years ago. Now, I’m not the biggest John Mayer fan. I like…
‘Business Development 101′ with Marilynn Mendell. Part 3: Look Great and Act Like a Leader
Along with an understanding of business ethics and a solid plan, a professional must have polished social behavior and practice the correct decorum in order for business development to shine.
Guest Blog: ‘Change Versus the Devil You Know’ with Matt Slepin
For job seekers and for our clients, how do we advise thinking about “change versus the devil you know?” The multifamily business is clearly in an upswing, so there’s a lot to consider.
‘What Renters Want’ with Jessica Fiur: Halloween Marketing Opportunities for Your Community Using Social Media
There is nothing bad about Halloween. Wait—actually, there are some bad things about Halloween. Like raisins. And complicated costumes (like the year I dressed as Freddy Krueger and then couldn’t hold a cup with my knife hand). And raisins. OK, maybe there are a few bad things about Halloween. But, besides those things, Halloween is a fun time, and a lot of people get really into it. So, what better time than to do something fun for your residents while spreading good cheer about your community using your social media channels? After all, social media word of mouth is free. (Reese’s…
‘Gimme Shelter’ with Daniel Gehman: Tiny Cars and Tiny Cribs
There’s a direct correlation between automotive design and apartment design. I was reminded of this by a recent newspaper article I read about the new Chevy Spark, a diminutive vehicle (some may even say “tiny”), which is nonetheless loaded with technological features, like the requisite USB port for personal entertainment devices and Bluetooth for personal communication devices (often the same hand-held widget). For the entry-level crowd (think Gen Y, of course) these are the new creature comforts. It should be noted that the vehicle certainly doesn’t offer some of the interior niceties of more middle-market rides (say, a Toyota Camry,…