Guest Blog

By Matt Slepin, Terra Search Partners At a recent industry networking event, I provided relationship-building tips to the diverse group of real estate professionals. For those who are interested in honing their networking skills, here’s a brief recap of the main points I discussed. A key theme runs through all of these concepts—take the long term view to creating habits, building relationships, and your career. Building a habit of networking Some may associate the word “networking” with shallowness, but it is actually a positive practice that is essential to any professional in business, especially in the real estate industry. Think…

By Shelley Davenport, Move For Free Incorporating economically and environmentally friendly practices into multifamily living is a great way to avoid unnecessary waste and improve the community. So when an apartment community actually provides a recycling option, why is it being ignored? Information and motivation are keys on the road to greener living. Here are a few great ways that management can encourage their residents to take advantage of these eco-friendly options. 1. Get the Word Out Some renters may not even realize recycling is an option at their apartment community. Management can reach out with information on recycling, pick-up…

There remain significant hurdles in finding forward thinking, impactful people to lead operations, particularly in our industry’s larger organizations. Why is this the case and what is the industry doing about it?

By Dale Blasingame, Move for Free I’ve lived in my current apartment for two years now. All of the things that should be hung up are still leaning up against the wall, neatly arranged in stacks of two. Ladies, welcome to the guy’s world of apartment decorating. I actually do take pride in a well-decorated apartment, believe it or not. I just never assumed I would be in my current apartment long enough to justify hanging everything up. (Two years later, I now realize I made a huge mistake.) Every time my girlfriend steps foot in my apartment, I can…

Here are important tips to stay well-protected in your apartment before, during and after every possible calamity.

By Patrick S. Simons, Principal, Strategic Property Economics With the recent announcement of an additional $45 billion per month in bond purchases by the Federal Reserve, the U.S. economy, and by extension the prospects for rental apartments, is entering uncharted waters.. Although we track enough economic data points to make one’s head spin, let’s take a look at three of the biggest in order to get a sense for what the future might hold for the apartment industry in the coming year and the years beyond. And, keeping with the cartographic theme, two of the three macroeconomic drivers are geopolitical….

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…

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.