Possibly the most valuable asset in property management is an experienced team.
Properties with tenured, long time employees benefit from:
- development of annual systems.
- they have noticed, realized and anticipate occupancy trends.
- they create and build relationships with residents, which improves resident communication, rent collection and resident retention.
- Preventive maintenance is incorporated into the monthly schedule without fail.
Staff Endorsement
A experienced team is an unspoken endorsement for a future resident. “I like working here, you’ll like living here.” Including this information in the introduction of team members to new residents, creates a sense of stability.
These individuals, three, five, nine, ten, fifteen and even twenty years of seniority, bring immeasurable experience, wisdom and common sense to the workplace with them every day.
A new manager, or newly promoted can offset any short term insecurities, by acknowledging “I’ve been in my role as a manager for a couple of months but I’m surrounded by 18 years of property management experience.
Internally, we acknowledge our team members as our best practice experts.
Rebecca has developed a fantastic system for this process. The organization would be lost without her.
A question develops regarding a capital improvement or a unique repair, ask Bob, he’ll know the answer, find it for you or point you in the right direction.
A new initiative to roll out, Abby will be the team leader for that. She’s overseen all of our transitions.
That property has been stuck in an occupancy rut for a couple of weeks, have Carl take a look at the operations, he’ll be able to identify what’s missing.
Management teams are surrounded by this wealth of experience. It’s often a questioon asked by potential employees during an interview, “How long have you worked here?” Looking for a vote of confidence that the interviewer is happy and satisfied with their employer.
Cumulative Value
The total impact of this experience is sometimes overlooked. Team members are recognized on their anniversary dates. But the long term employees add value every day.
Consider an advertisement for a property
32 years of property management experience makes the difference at Happy Acres Apartments.
Listed below are team members names with years of experience:
Pam 12 Years
Billy 8 Years
Beth 7 Years
Kim 5 Years
A Total Of 32 Years Experience!
Recognition of this commitment and loyalty to an organization has huge value to the individuals that are recognized as well as prospective residents.
It will provide additional information for residents who are recommending the property to friends and family. Reinforcing and supporting a residents postive opinion of the property. Its creating a brand awareness in the community. Its a tremendous marketing tool, while acknowledging the team members that contribute to making the operations at a property successful.
How many years of service at your property?
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Great Article! 8 years of service for me. Really enjoyed the idea of sharing your time at the property with the future resident! That is a great tool to show a level of professionalism and care the resident will receive if they choose to lease at the community.
LOVE this article! So many companies today go for the “cheaper” alternative of hiring folks with short term, or no experience. The driving factor today is having a college degree. Unfortunately for me and my husband, getting that degree didn’t mean much 40 years ago. Back then, integrity, hard work, and dedication to the job were the most important assets to bring to the job. Now, with 40 years in the industry, always in upward positions, we are both having a terrible time finding employment. In fact, my husband was recently told that, while he was extremely qualified, he was just too old for the position. It seems that we long-term industry professionals are being shunned in today’s market.
Great article Serious wisdom here. It also takes a great company to hold on to valuable people by treating them with respect and VALUE. So having long-term staff also says a lot of positive things about the management company, and communicates to the prospects and residents what they can expect. Thanks for sharing, Lori.
Great Article. Incorporating the years of experience in a Marketing Campaign is a great idea.
I receive a tremendous amount of “stuff” each day but this article stood out. As a 30 year veteran in this business of puttng teams together I totally buy into and support your opinion. A team in alignment and pulling in the same direction can achieve almost anything and overcome what ever is sent their way. Yes its imperative that the company treat employees with respect and value but it is more important that their supervisor treat them this way. Most staff work for their first line supervisor not a corporation, if the supervisor is not a good fair leader who can communicate and live the corporate culture then her/his direct reports will not do so either.
It’s a sign of true commitment with all our efforts