The Apartment Connection

First Time/Returning Renter Handbooks....Lend a Helping Hand!

2011-03-07T09:50:00.001-08:00

I'm sure we've all been there. Sitting across from a new college graduate searching for their first apartment, or better yet, a new high school graduate searching for their college apartment. How about that 50 year old gentleman going through a divorce who hasn't rented since 1974! No matter their situation, first time and returning renters have one thing in common...they have no idea what they're getting themselves into! Now this can be a problem, not just for them, but for you too! If you think about it, many of the "miscommunications" and "issues" you have with your residents likely come from first time renters, or people who perhaps haven't rented in a very long time. There's a huge learning curve here for everyone, but the good news is you can nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. Do that by creating a First Time Renter/Returning Renter Handbook.

A First Time Renter/Returning Renter Handbook is specially designed to help green renters know what to expect throughout the rental process. There are so many benefits to both you and the renter when you provide them with this helpful tool. First and foremost, it sends the message that you care about them. Secondly, it shows them that you're knowledgable about renting and gives them a sense of trust. Finally, it gives them the information that they need to skate through your rental relationship effortlessly with minimal issues.

Creating your handbook will take some time. The idea here is to be as thorough as possible, yet keeping it simple and easy to understand. The best time to distribute your handbook is right after a tour. If you've gathered from the tour that the prospect is a new renter or hasn't rented in quite some time, give them your handbook as a gift following the tour. Tell them that whether they choose your community or not, you want them to have as much information as possible and be an informed renter. They'll love that you're showing them that you genuinely care and aren't trying to just gain a sale, thus building trust. Your community, no matter what, will now remain at the front of their minds throughout their apartment search.

So just what should your handbook contain? The key is to keep it general, not specific to your community. You do, however, want to tailor it to your state and the applicable laws and regulations. Here are some of the basics you'll want to cover...

The Leasing Process. Explain the process of leasing apartments. Talk about taking community tours, rental prices, specials and fees. Emphasize that things change from day to day. The application process-what they need to provide and what they can expect. Choosing an apartment.
Signing the Lease. People expect that they'll have to sign a lease, but so many people get flustered when they see the millions of addendums they have to sign. Explain what they may encounter. Also tell them when it needs to be signed and who needs to be present (co-signor situations).
Rental Payments. Go over the methods used to make payments and when they need to be made. Don't forget to explain proration of the first and last month.
Moving In. Explain when they can get the keys, the move in checklist/inspection.
Residency. Talk about the basics of apartment living. Being courteous to their neighbors. Utilizing community amenities. How to request maintenance. Who to talk to when they have concerns.
The Renewal Process. Tell them when they can expect to learn about their renewal rate. How and when to give notice if they chose to. What happens if they go month to month.
Moving Out. Explain the move out inspection. Perparing the apartment for move out. Normal wear and tear. Turning in keys. When to expect the return of their deposit.

This list is by no means complete and as you get writing, you'll surely come up with more to add. As I mentioned before, be thorough, but be simple. Perhaps rather than writing lengthy paragraphs and sentences, use bulleted lists and simple phrases. You can also add graphics to make it visually appealing. It may seem like a lot of work now, but once it's complete, you'll have it forever and it will surely be a great tool for your community!

Morgan Oney, CAM: My App Connection (www.myappconnection.com) Get a custom mobile app for your community! Users can pay rent, submit service requests & so much more right from their phone!

It's Spring Cleaning Time! 10 Tips to a Tidier Office

2011-03-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time to get out with the old and in with the new. Time to get into those nooks and crannies and add some sparkle to every corner of your home. Time to clean out your closets. Time to get down and dirty!

I know, spring cleaning really isn't all that much fun (for most of us), but it's something that most of us do to "de-clutter" not only our homes, but our minds and attitude as well. The fact is, having a clean, tidy and organized environment around us brings us peace. So here's the thing. We spend all this time cleaning our homes, organizing our bills and important papers, cleaning out our closets, etc., That's all well and good, but where do you spend the majority of your day? At the office! So why not take your spring cleaning on the road? It only makes sense that if tidying and organizing brings us peace and allows us to focus on other tasks, then we should make sure that the place we spend most of our time is as peaceful as can be!

Now I've seen some scary leasing offices in my day! It amazes me how things just get ignored. I know we all have a lot going on and our days can be pretty hectic, but I'm sure we can all find some downtime to spruce things up. Not only will you appreciate your new surroundings, but it will make you more confident about your community, and in turn, you'll pass that confidence along to your residents and prospects.

I'm sure you all know the basics of cleanliness and know what needs to be taken care of in your space. But, I'm also sure that there are some areas that you may overlook! So here are 10 tips on how to make your office space the most clean, organized and inviting place it can possibly be!

1. Clean, clean, clean. You may have a housekeeper that takes care of cleaning your clubhouse/leasing office for you. If you do, that's fantastic, but don't get complacent. There are sure to be areas that he/she misses. You're the ones that are there every day and notice every little thing. So take some time to go through your space with a fine tooth comb, dusting, scrubbing and disinfecting every surface you can possibly find!

2. Don't ignore your amenities! I know it can be a challenge to keep your Fitness Center fresh. You probably use air fresheners and wipe down the equipment every so often, but when was the last time you did a good disinfecting sweep of the entire place? Get rid of those germs by thoroughly cleaning your equipment, floors, mirrors, etc. Have a Business Center? Wipe down those phones and keyboards...they're breeding grounds for germs! Do the kiddos have a playground in your community? If so, freshen up the mulch and sanitize the equipment and you'll have all the parents signing your praises!

3. Tackle that mystery meat! When was the last time you cleaned out your fridge? Is that take out container from TGI Fridays over a month ago still in there? Do you dare to open it up and see what's inside? Take some time trash everything inside your fridge and freezer that's not used regularly or immediately.

4. Check out your package room. If you accept packages for your residents, chances are you've probably got some sitting there that have been there for quite a while. It's easy to forget about them once they've been dropped off. Send notices out to all of the residents with packages still there. Offer to deliver them to their apartments for them if they're unable to make it to your office during business hours.

5. Keys please! Oh, the key room. Likely a big mess. Chances are you have keys all over the place. Blank keys, unmarked keys, keys in the wrong place, etc. Getting them organized will make it easier on both your maintenance and office teams.

6. Come out of the closet! Typically, closets become the catch all for things that we have no idea where else to store. Start going through them and finding homes for everything. More likely than not, many items can be placed elsewhere and I bet a lot can go in the trash!

7. Lost...found...donated. If you have a lost and found box that has some items that have been hanging around for a while, consider donating them. Once you've hung onto them for a substantial amount of time, odds are they're not going to be claimed and they're doing no one any good just hanging out in a box.

8. Holy paperwork! Yes, I know. Paperwork stinks. File piles mound up quickly and before you know it, you're swimming in a sea of the stuff. As annoying as it may be, getting your paperwork filed, shredded and trashed is not only necessary in cleaning up your space, but it's critical in making sure you don't misplace anything (which can be a while nightmare in and of itself!)

9. Oh sweet tooth. Do you have candy in your office? Perhaps you have candy jars on your desk or mints by your front door. If so, chances are the candy at the bottom of those jars is REALLY old! We have a tendency when we refill our goodies to just dump more in on the top. Sounds good, right? Your jars look full and all is good. Well, all is good until an unsuspecting child cracks a tooth on that year old butterscotch disk that they so innocently grabbed!

10. Out of sight, out of mind. What's the number one place you put things in your office in when you don't know where else they should go? Your desk! I've seen it all scattered in leasing consultants' desk drawers....Chapstick, food, business cards, office supplies, jewelry, perfume, sanitizer, as well as some things I'd rather not mention! Clean them out, then organize your drawers with a handy drawer organizer. They're only a few bucks and do wonders for tidying up that small space.

I hope you've found these tips helpful! Feel free to add more in the comments section if you have something to add!

Morgan Oney, CAM: My App Connection...designing affordable mobile apps for apartment communities to connect with their residents and prospects. Users can pay rent, submit service requests and more with one click on their phone! http://www.myappconnection.com

Recovering Damages Before You're Damaged: The Pre-Move Out Inspection

2010-11-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

Probably one of the most frustrating things when you work on site is the mountain of uncollected move out charges that are piling up in record levels these days. With the economy the way it is, people just don't have the extra money to pay several hundred or even thousands of dollars for charges stemming from damage to their apartment. Sometimes you'll get lucky and and that magic check will appear in the mail after someone moves out. But most of the time, you'll probably suffer a loss, whether it be on the complete debt or on a portion of it if you send it over to a collection agency to collect. It may seem like a helpless situation. You can't get blood from a stone, as the old saying goes. But, believe it or not, there are things that you can do to nip this situation in the bud and recover more of your damages than you ever thought possible.

First things first, tackle the issue as far in advance as possible. That means doing a pre-move out inspection, typically between 30 and 60 days prior to the move out. I've seen these done probably 50% of the time, but trust me, the properties that do them have a much better collection rate than the properties that don't. When you inspect an apartment prior to the move out, you have an opportunity to accomplish several things.

First, you are able to assess the condition of the apartment well before the move out date and determine what maintenance needs to be done, resulting in a quicker turn.

Secondly, you create an opportunity to have the resident correct some of these issues prior to moving out, resulting in cost savings for both you and them.

Finally, by assessing charges while they're still residents, you now have more bargaining power than you would have had you assessed charges after they've moved out.

If you've never done a pre-move out inspection before, then you may be wondering exactly what to do and how to handle the information after you've done it. Here's what I recommend based on my experience on site...

1. Once a resident gives notice to vacate, send them an acknowledgement that you received their notice. In this acknowledgement, you can input their scheduled pre-move out inspection date.

2. When you conduct your inspection, do it as if you're doing the final inspection. Look for cleaning charges, damages, etc.

3. Once you've completed the inspection, create an "invoice" of their charges. This will look much like your standard SODA, with a few exceptions. Be sure to note that this is only an estimate and is subject to change upon move out if more things are found.

4. On the invoice or in an attached letter, let the resident know that you're willing to give them the opportunity to take care of as many of the items as possible on their own to save them money. Be sure to let them know that if they decide to replace items, repair damages or clean, it must be done to your satisfaction and with approved parts only. Then, alongside each item on the invoice, note each item that can be taken care of by them, like cleaning, holes in the walls, etc. Many minor fixes can be done by them easily, but be sure to save the big things, like carpet issues or major damages, for your staff and vendors.

5. On the invoice, give them an opportunity to pay in full by a certain date for a discount. While it stinks to have to lose money by discounting something they obviously owe, it'll cost you less in the longrun in time and money if you have the balance collected as soon as possible.

6. Also, let them know that payment arrangements can be made should they need more time to pay. Should that be the case, offer to meet with them in person to design a plan that works for everyone. By meeting with them face to face, you're building on the relationship that you've already established. It's a proven fact that people are more willing to pay debts when a personal relationship is involved, so working with them while they're still residents is certainly beneficial. The moment they walk out your doors and into their next residence, you'll immediatley become lower on their priority list.

If you find yourself in a position where you still have an outstanding balance when the resident moves out, or, if there are additional charges that need to be assessed from after the pre-move out inspection, you may need to get creative. Probably the best thing to do is to offer a discount for paying by a certain date. This discount should be a little less than the one that they were offered if they paid before they moved out, but still an enticing offer for them. Just be sure that whatever you decide to offer, you make it a policy and you're consistent for every resident. You don't want to be offering different discounts for different residents or you'll find yourself in a Fair Housing mess!

Hopefully you've found these tips and tricks to be helpful. You too can be a rock star in your owner's eyes! :) If anyone has any tips to add, please feel free to comment below!

Morgan Oney, CAM
http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/ Affordable, unique and stylish online and print newsletters for apartment communities!

Need Holiday Cards?

2010-11-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

There's no better time to let your residents know you appreciate them than at the holidays. But sending them all a holiday card can be expensive and tedious...until now. I've ordered my holiday cards for years through Shutterfly.com. They make high quality cards to fit just about any budget. Their designs are unique, their shipping is fast and their quality is awesome. The best part is they're far more affordable than the other greeting card companies that are out there. I can't recommend them enough, so certainly give them a look if you're planning on sending cards out to your residents....you'll be glad you did!

You can view their selection of holiday cards here...

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards

Happy Holidays! :)

Getting the Most out of Your Resident Newsletter

2010-11-08T14:11:00.001-08:00

I don't know everything about everything, but one thing I consider myself to be an expert on is resident newsletters. It's my thing. It's what I do, it's what I love. I started writing them 9 years ago when I worked on site and I've been publishing them professionally for other communities now for a year. In the past year, I've had the opportunity to see how other communities write their newsletters. It's really interesting to read each community's submission each month, that's for sure. And I don't necessarily mean interesting in a good way!

So let's review for a moment.....what exactly is the purpose of a resident newsletter? Well, there are several. The first, and most obvious, is to create a sense of community and boost resident retention. This is achieved by letting readers know about community news and events so they know what's going on around them. Then there's the marketing aspect of a newsletter. What most communities don't realize is they can be a fantastic marketing tool, particularly if you have an online version of your newsletter. Newsletters give prospective residents an opportunity to have a window into the community. To see what it's really like to live there. Now that's a fantastic opportunity, but you'd be surprised how many communities ignore it.

If you're going to take the time and incur the expense of providing a monthly newsletter to your residents and prospects, then it only makes sense that you make the most of it, right? Whether you create your own newsletter each month or use a newsletter service, following the tips below will help you do just that.

1. Make your newsletter attractive. If you design your own newsletter, spend some time researching newsletters and find ones that stand out to you. If you use a service, find a company that offers unique designs. People are much more interested in reading something that's aesthetically appealing than something that's dull and boring.

2. Keep your content friendly. This is the biggest mistake I see communities make when I read their newsletters. I understand that people want to take the opportunity to address concerns of the neighborhood, but a resident newsletter really isn't the right place for it. Keep your content upbeat, friendly and happy. The majority of your residents probably don't let their dogs poop on the front lawn or leave their garbage in front of their door. Don't punish them for the acts of those few. If you do have concerns in your community, address them in a formal community notice and try to target that notice specifically to the offenders.

3. Increase your circulation. As I mentioned above, your newsletter can be a fantastic marketing tool, but the only way that's going to happen is if you get your newsletter out there. If you provide a paper newsletter, have additional copies made. You'll want to give them to every prospect who tours your community. In addition, target local businesses in your area that have spots for other businesses to leave information. Bring stands with you and leave copies of your newsletter for people to pick up when they're in that business. You can also bring them with you on marketing visits. Never leave your property without one as you never know when you may find yourself in a situation where you can give one to someone, just like a business card. Your newsletter will sell your property better than any fancy schmancy flier can!

4. Go online. If you haven't already, you definitely want to have an online presence for your newsletter. Having your newsletter online is convenient for your residents and is a great marketing tool. You can include links to your online newsletter on your website, Facebook & Twitter pages, Internet advertising, email signatures, blog, etc. You're opening that window again into your community and maximizing the amount of people that can see inside. If your company doesn't give you the access to put your newsletter online, there are newsletter companies out there that can at a very reasonable cost. And at the very least, you could at least start a blog for your community including the same information.

5. Check and double check! Every month, I receive submissions from communities that are loaded with spelling and grammar errors. Nothing screams "unprofessional" more than not having the basics like spelling down. Yes, spell check is great, but it can't catch everything. Proofread your work, then have someone else do it again for you.

I hope you find these tips helpful! If you have anything to add or have found success in writing your newsletter, please share below! :)

Morgan Oney, CAM
My Newsletter Connection-online resident newsletters and marketing solutions for apartment communities http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com

Creating a Neighborhood

2010-11-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

When you think of your community, do you think you have a tight knit neighborhood? Are residents close? Do they interact with their neighbors? You may think so, but what do your residents think? Odds are, they aren't feeling as close as they could.

You may put on the occasional resident gathering to get everyone together, but are you truly building a neighborhood? Feeling a sense of community is huge factor in why people lease where they do, and an even bigger factor in why people stay where they are. While you may think you're doing everything you can to make that happen, I bet there's more that you can be doing. Try giving this a little more focus and I bet in the long run, you'll notice increased leasing, and most importantly, a higher retention rate.

Here are some ideas on how you can bring your neighborhood together. If you have any to add, please feel free to leave a comment!

1. Hosting regular resident events. This is a no-brainer. We all know that having social activities is critical. But it goes a little deeper than just planning a party here and there. The goal is to make your residents excited about your events so that they actually attend! You can do that by holding them regularly at accessible times (weekends are best when people are off), offering prizes (ask your vendors to donate if you're on a budget), playing games and making them fun. Also, be sure you're not doing the same old thing all the time. Change things up a bit so each one is different and interesting!

2. Hold outings for residents outside of the community. Work with local businesses to create a special night out for your residents at a discounted price, like a bowling alley, movie theater or restaurant. Residents will get a chance to socialize outside of the neighborhood and the outside environment will be a great way to get residents talking and interacting with one another.

3. Encourage resident participation by offering contests. Think of each building as a "team" and challenge them to complete different tasks. It will help them work together for a common goal and get them communicating. You could do contests for the building with the best looking balconies, cleanest breezeways, stylish front door, etc. Not only does it foster teamwork, but it's beautifying your community at the same time!

4. Work with a charity. Nothing brings people together like helping other people. Choose a charitable activity that will allow your residents to come together, like Habitat for Humanity or Race for the Cure. You're showing your residents that you can and bringing them together at the same time.

5. Encourage holiday antics. Have you ever heard of "booing" on Halloween or "elfing" at Christmas? It's where a person anonymously leaves a special poem and bag of goodies at a neighbor's doorstep. That person then does the same to 2 neighbors, then they do it to 2 neighbors, and before long, the entire neighborhood has received a treat! This can be done for pretty much any holiday. To get it started, announce the plan in your newsletters so residents know what to expect. Then get it started by sending treats to one or two residents in each building, anonymously of course. Try to do ones who you think will reciprocate! :) Watch it take off and your residents get excited about their little gifts!

6. Host a "Good Neighbor Contest." Let all of your residents know to be on the lookout for a neighbor doing something good to help out in the community. They can be picking up their pet waste, holding a door for someone, helping a neighbor with their groceries, etc. When they spot someone doing a good deed, they can report them to the office to be entered in the contest. Then hold a random drawing offering the winner a small prize, like a gift card to a local restaurant. It encourages acts of kindness among neighbors and lets them know that you appreciate it!

Morgan Oney, CAM
My Newsletter Connection-affordable & stylish online resident newsletters for your community! http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com

You're a social marketing pro, but just how social are you?

2010-11-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

We spend so much time these days working on our social networking, but are we forgetting the true roots of what it means to be "social?" There are so many things these days that take the personalization out of life. For instance, when I'm at the grocery store, I love to use the self checkout line so I don't have to deal with the grumpy cashier. When I go to the bank, I chose the amazing new computerized ATM to make all of my deposits, avoiding the need to go to the teller. Heck, I can even buy stamps there so I don't have to make a trip to the post office. When I was recently looking to purchase a new car, I did all of my searching online and never even spoke to a person until I found the van that I wanted. I've realized that I rarely interact with an actual person these days. On one hand, I like it. It's convenient, it's on my terms and I don't have to be bothered by less than friendly people, which is what I always seem to encounter these days. But even though it's nice to do my own thing, it's also refreshing to actually talk to a friendly person every now and then.

A recent discussion post on a multifamily board got me thinking about this recent shift in the customer service industry and how it pertains to our industry. The question was in regards to inviting prospects to resident activities. It got me thinking that more than likely, we're not spending enough time actually being social with our residents and prospects. We spend so much time focusing our efforts on our internet advertising and our social media because that's the direction our industry has taken. And while yes, it's a great thing to move forward and stay current with the trends, it's also important to remember the general roots of customer service. Being present for your customers and giving them your personal attention is priceless in gaining their trust. Here are just a few things you can do to accomplish that. Feel free to add your own ideas in the comments section!

1. Invite your prospects to your resident socials. Most communities have events once a month. Print some invitations to those events and have them ready to go in your traffic information packets. By inviting your prospects to your resident events, you give them an opportunity to interact with you and your residents and see what it's really like to live in your community.

2. Make phone calls. So much is done by email these days, which is great, but a phone call shows that you care. Call residents on their birthday and follow up all service requests with a quick ring.

3. Send handwritten thank you notes. These are really becoming a thing of the past, but nothing is more personal than a handwritten note. Send them to prospects after they tour and residents after they refer someone.

4. Treat them like family. Send residents a card on their birthday, a small gift when they have a new baby or get married, etc. Think of each and every person as a member of your family, and when they celebrate an accomplishment or milestone, do what you would do as if it were one of your family members celebrating that event.

5. Give them face time. Most residents work during office hours and never get a chance to talk to the manager directly. Have a night once a week to leave the office open an hour or so late and have the manager accessible. If a resident has a problem that requires the manager's attention, they'll greatly appreciate being able to talk that matter over in person rather than on the phone or via email.

Morgan Oney, CAM
My Newsletter Connection-stylish and affordable online and print newsletters for apartment communities http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com

The Tricks & Treats of Craigslist (and the not so friendly ghost!)

2010-10-29T09:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to anything free, people can get greedy. They don't play nice and they don't leave extras for others. Well, Craigslist is no different, and unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it), Craig has taken notice and has implemented 2 techniques to try to combat the growing problem of spam on his site. If your marketing plan involves multiple postings on Craigslist, then listen up....you may be shooting yourself in the foot and not even know it!

The first thing Craigslist has implemented is requiring Phone Verified Accounts, or PVA's, for posting in certain categories. Have you noticed that you used to be able to post freely on Craigslist without being required to set up an account, but recently, you've been blocked from posting until you set one up? If so, then Craigslist has identified you as an overposter. So just how do they do that you ask? Well, no one knows for sure, but there are several things that Craigslist takes note of each time you make a post. They include:

-Your IP address
-The cookies on your computer
-The location of your IP address in relation to your posting location
-The text of your ad
-Any links in your ad

Probably the most common factor leading to a poster being required to have a PVA is multiple posts from a single IP address. If you post daily on Craigslist from any computer in your office (different computers typically have the same IP address), then chances are you will almost definitely be required to set up a PVA.

So what's so bad about setting up a PVA you ask? Well, that brings me to the next tool Craigslist has implemented to deter overposting....a phenomenon called "ghosting." Have you ever posted ads on Craigslist, received verification that they were posted, only to receive no traffic from them? Well, chances are, your ads were ghosted. Craig doesn't really play nice when it comes to ghosting. He'll make you think your ads were posted, only they haven't been, but you have NO idea. So essentially, you put out the effort of creating ads for nothing. Now that doesn't sound fun, huh? No one likes to do work and not be rewarded for it!

So I'm sure you're wondering how exactly an ad gets ghosted. Well, that's another Craigslist mystery, but here are the theories...

-Placing links to outside websites in your ad
-Posting in a geographic area other than the one you're actually in
-Posting multiple times from a single PVA

-Posting from multiple PVA's from a single IP address
-Posting ads that look similar
-Posting the state abbreviation in the location field (i.e. Raleigh, NC)

Ghosting can be a real pain in the behind. So just how does one avoid it? Well, if you want to receive the maximum benefit from advertising on Craigslist and actually get results from the effort you put out, there are a few things you can do.

1. The first and most important rule to effective Craigslist advertising is DON'T OVERPOST! It may sound appealing to blast a ton of free ads on CL, but in the long run, you risk having not only your account banned, but also having your IP address and telephone numbers banned. Then what would you do? You'd be up a creek without a paddle!

2. Feel out your limits. I've found that I can successfully post 3 ads on a single PVA per day without being ghosted. But, I've heard of people only being able to post a single ad per PVA every 48 hours. There's no "rule" to this. The only thing you can do is test out the waters and find out what works for you. To do this, start by posting a single ad on your PVA one day, then 2 the next day, 3 the next and so on and so forth. You'll have to search for your ads on Craigslist about 15 minutes after you post them to see if they actually show up. If they do, you're good, if they don't, you've been ghosted. When you start noticing ghosted ads, then the next day, back down by 1 ad and check again. Keep up this pattern until you find out exactly how many ads you can have to show up per day.

Keep in mind that your limits can change. Monitor them regularly and check for your ads regularly.

3. Don't get slick and try to set up multiple PVA's from one location. The problem here is that even though you may be posting from different accounts, you're posting from the same IP address. Craigslist WILL notice and ghost your ads.

4. Play by the rules. Nothing irritates Craig more than someone breaking the terms of service. So, read them, know them, live by them.

I can say with pretty good certainty that if you follow these rules, you will have more success with your advertising than if you blast CL with multiple daily posts. Eventually, that kind of activity will catch up with you. Whether it be having your PVA banned, your IP address banned, your account blocked or your ads ghosted, Craigslist will notice and you'll lose out on a valuable advertising source for your community!

Morgan Oney, CAM

Communicate with your residents with stylish, affordable and interactive online and print newsletters at My Newsletter Connection! http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com

Changes Are A Coming!

2010-10-19T06:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!

I know, I know, I've been a bit MIA on the social networking side of things. Business has been incredibly busy and trying to juggle that with raising a family and being pregnant is not an easy task! I just wanted to let you all know that I'll be a bit more visible in the coming weeks as we have a lot of exciting changes and new services I can't wait to tell you all about!

Perhaps the most exciting change is a new look! I've been working day and night on redesigning our My Newsletter Connection site and I can't wait until it launches. In addition to the new look, there will be new services and better prices! So keep an eye out for that over the next week or so! :)

Take care my fellow apartment geeks! :)

Calling all jewelry lovers...

2010-09-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

If you love unique, handmade, one of a kind pieces, you must check out Rosy Revolver...I've never in my life come across a more unique and beautiful style! You can check out all of her beautiful work and even enter to win the GORGEOUS necklace above at her blog...

RosyRevolver.blogspot.com

Wanna exit via the emergency slide???

2010-08-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've all seen the story about the Jet Blue flight attendant who got so stressed out by a customer that he creatively "exited" his job by going on a verbal rant on the plane's loudspeaker, grabbing a couple of beers and leaving the plan via the emergency slide. Ok, I have to say, I like his style. Who wouldn't want to quit their job by sliding down a fun inflatable slide? I think we have a lot to learn from him, and while I do admire his "cojones," I think most importantly, we can take this opportunity to learn how to keep from getting this burnt out ourselves.

Dealing with needy residents, grumpy maintenance men and pushy vendors on a daily basis certainly takes its toll. One minute it's the resident mad that you're about to file for their eviction, the next its your maintenance supervisor grumbling about having to shave his evergrowing beard. Then there's that vendor who just won't leave you alone about signing up for their services. Working in the leasing office, whether a manager or leasing consultant, puts us on the front lines to take constant abuse. I think its only natural that you're going to get burnt out. Afterall, there's only so much one person can take! So here are some tips to help you cope so that you continue to love your job and don't get tempted to pull a "Steven Slater!"

1. When you find yourself in a stressful situation, take a moment. If you have a resident in front of you going on and on and on, it's ok to excuse yourself for a moment to regroup. Take some time to go into another room, take a deep breath, and think about how you're going to handle the situation. If you don't take a moment, you could very well get into a heated argument with the person, saying things that you don't mean and making the situation even worse.

2. Pass it on. If you're in a situation that you feel is going no where, get someone else in your office to help you. There's no need to keep going back and forth with someone to no avail. Maybe your co-worker will have a fresh perspective on the situation and be able to handle it better.

3. Managers....watch your team! Keep an eye out for comments and actions that your team members may make indicating they're a little stressed. It's best to nip it in the bud rather than watch it escalate and make them unhappy with their job. If you notice someone's having an off day, have a talk with them, buy them lunch, do whatever you need to to get to the root of their issue so it doesn't consume them. People feel so much better when they know they have someone else in their corner.

4. Regionals and Managers...offer "time outs" for your team members. Maybe it's a trip for pedicures for your girls or a golf outing for your guys. Everyone needs a little break sometime, and when your team sees that you're looking out for them and willing to help out, it will do wonders for your team morale!

Anyone else have any more suggestions? Post your comments for the rest of us to see!

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com Unique, risk free advertising for your community!

Get your residents together on a budget!

2010-08-06T07:07:00.001-07:00

Getting your residents together for a special event is a fantastic resident retention tool. Not only does it show your residents you care about them by showing them a good time, it also gives them an opportunity to socialize with their neighbors and form a bond with your community. Holding regular resident events is a crucial tool to making your residents stay put!

So what happens if you're managing a property that's a bit low on funds? No worries! There are lots of things you can do for your residents that cost little to nothing. Here are some great ideas to help you stay connected with your residents on a budget!

1. Utilize what you have! More than likely, your community offers a wide range of amenities. Take advantage of that and host some events using those features. Some examples include:

-Fitness Center-hold group fitness classes, nutritional counseling, weight lifting contest
-Business Center-resume writing course, job loss support group, computer program workshops (like how to learn Excel, Power Point, etc.)
-Car Wash-The obvious-resident car wash!
-Pool-The obvious-resident pool party!
-Sports Courts/billiards-form basketball, tennis, volleyball leagues, competitions
-Common grounds-host resident yard sale, pet parade, children's bike parade
-Lake-Fishing outing, "green team" grounds clean up, nature walk
-Cinema-host regular movie nights for adults and kids, show special events like awards shows and big games

2. Talk to your vendors. Most are willing to donate gift cards and other items that you can offer your guests as door prizes.

3. Check out local restaurants. For a little bit of advertising, many local restaurants will be willing to donate or deeply discount food for your resident events.

4. Contact local home based business reps. There are so many great home based businesses out there that are of interest to lots of groups of people. The representatives of these businesses would love an opportunity to show their product to your residents. Most will do it for free and show them a great time! Some great ones include:

-Creative Memories-scrapbooking
-Mary Kay, Avon-make up and skin care
-Lia Sophia, Premier, Silpada-jewelry
-Pampered Chef, Tastefully Simple-cooking
-Uppercase Living, Southern Living-decorating
-Usbourne Books, Discovery Toys-children's products
-Scentsy, Partylite-candles
-Tupperware-storage containers

5. Organize nights for interest groups. There are so many things out there that people love to do in their free time, and more importantly, they love to do it as a group. Give your residents, and even outside members of your community, a place to come together to do what they love. Ideas include book clubs, scrapbooking clubs, knitting clubs, painting clubs, Bunco group, playgroup...the possibilities are endless!

6. Create a neighborhood watch group. While it doesn't sound very exciting, it's a great way to bring your neighbors together. Enlist your local police department for help-they'll conduct seminars for your residents for free!

7. Resident night out! Check with your local movie theathers, bowling alleys, fun parks, etc. to see if they'll offer a special discout to your residents on a particular night. Your residents can get out, enjoy the special rate, socialize with their neighbors, and best of all, it didn't cost you a dime!

If you have any ideas on hosting a resident event on a budget, leave a comment!

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com Online advertising with no set up fees, no lead fees and no monthly fees!

Give your residents and prospects a big K.I.S.S.

2010-07-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

Tell me what's wrong with this scenario.....

A leasing consultant just showed an interested couple a model apartment and they're very excited about picking out their actual new home. The leasing consultant sits down with them and says,

"Ok, let me take a look at my detail here.....hmm....ok, it looks like I have a B1V in what we call building 2, which is really 1700 Shady Lane, on notice for August 2nd, but the cleaner, painter and maintenance will have to go in, so maybe we can schedule a move in for August 5th."

Some of you may be saying to yourselves that nothing's wrong. Sounds just like a conversation you have with your prospects every day. Well, here's the thing....this leasing consultant has given them way too much information, included terms they don't even know and taken away their initial excitement for the community! Sometimes we get so caught up in our jobs and don't think about little things like that. We know what we're talking about, but it doesn't mean the person on the other end of the conversation will. A better response for that leasing consultant would have been...

"Fantastic! I see we have a beautiful 2 bedroom home in the Magnolia plan that you just saw that will be available for you to move into on August 5th! It's on 1700 Shady Lane, a popular building with views of the lake!"

See how much better that sounds? The leasing consultant has given all of the same information, yet kept it simple and exciting for the prospect!

K.I.S.S. is something I learned on Day 1 of my first Journalism class in college. It stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. We have a tendency to overthink and overspeak all of the time. But sometimes we have to remember that the person on the other end of the conversation doesn't need to know everything. Sometimes offering too much information or information they're not clear on can just make the real facts get lost in translation. You can apply this rule to every aspect of your job, whether it be dealing with prospects, residents, vendors or co-workers. Think of it when you're on the phone, when you're writing resident communication or when you've got someone sitting in front of you. I guarantee you it's a tactic that will never fail!

FREE mousepad for your property!

2010-07-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

I thought this was kind of cool....Like ArtsCow on Facebook and you'll get a FREE mousepad with no shipping costs. You can place your community's photo or logo on it and place it in your Business Center or Leasing Office. Can't beat a free branded product for your property! Get your entire leasing staff to like them to get multiples! :)

http://www.artscow.com/share-coupon/free-mousepad?ref=fbcw100000026353592

Responding to leads...Leases are walking away!

2010-07-28T05:47:00.000-07:00

I noticed throughout my time on site that so many leasing consultants don't respond to leads properly. More than likely, it's lack of training and lack of experience. Lucky for you, both of these situations can be easily overcome!

I recently conducted a little experiment and emailed 10 properties with the same question...."how much are your 2 bedroom apartments?" Here are the responses I received....

4 properties responded simply with their price. That's it! No introduction to their community, no offer for a tour, nothing!

3 properties responded with a good response-introduction to their community, photos, invitation for a tour, etc.

3 didn't respond at all!

So that means 70% of the properties I contacted pretty much let me walk away. Here I was, for all they know, a perfect prospect. I'm already interested in the property because I took the first step to contact them. The rest was in their hands and they blew it!

I don't want you to blow it! Here are a few tips to follow when responding to email leads. Follow these with EVERY SINGLE lead you get and I guarantee you'll see an increase in your leasing!

1. Have a general response already prepared that you send to every prospect. The response should be informative, descriptive, inviting and most of all, grammatically correct! And don't forget to use spell check! Make the prospect feel as if you're genuinely happy that they've contacted you and you're excited to help them find their new home. This is a great place to highlight specials, however, if you have a community on the high side for rent, I don't recommend including it right up front unless a prospect specifically asks. Let them fall in love with your community before they see the price so that they can appreciate everything they're getting.

2. Send them a copy of your e-brochure or if you don't have one, create an Information Guide to attach to your emails. Your Information Guide can be written in Word form and saved as a PDF so that anyone should be able to open it. You can include anything you'd like that will help the prospect learn about your community without actually visiting. I usually make my Information Guides like this:
Page 1. Introductory letter to the prospect, thanking them for inquiring about the community, describing the community, and inviting them to learn more.
Page 2. Create a photo collage of your community. The more photos, the better! A picture is worth a thousand words.
Page 3. Create an informative, descriptive and unique guide to the features and benefits of living in your community. Use your imagination and creativity when formatting your list!
Page 4 (more if needed). Include floor plan images. Under the plans, talk about the unique features of that plan and what makes it special.
Page 5. Create a list of the top 100 reasons to live in your community. I love this one!
Page 6. At the end of your guide, include your rental application and rental criteria.

3. Ask every lead when they're available to come in for a tour! You want to seem approachable. Sometimes people are shy and don't know the procedures for renting an apartment. Make them feel comfortable and lead the way. This is your first opportunity to create a rapport with them.

4. Follow up with everyone! Within 24 hours of their first contact, follow up and ask them if they have any questions about the information you sent and see when they're available for a tour. Treat them just like a traffic that's already walked through your door-follow up until you have a result! They already like your community-don't stop until they lease with you or tell you they've leased somewhere else!

I hope you find these tips helpful. You have someone whose already interested in your community by the time they contact you. Take advantage of that! Don't let another lease walk away from your community!

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com No set up fees, no monthly fees, no lead fees! Only pay for success!

I'm Back!

2010-07-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

After a brief hiatus.....I'm back! Sorry to those of you who were enjoying my blog. Life just kind of got in the way! To sum it all up-I'm pregnant-Yay! But I'm also very sick-Boo! I have a condition called Hyperemesis, which is essentially severe nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. I've been pretty much tied to my couch and have done only the bare minimum needed to keep things afloat up until this point. Luckily, things are getting much better, so be on the lookout for new posts, tips and tricks on surviving the apartment industry soon!

-Morgan

Will you be remembered as the smelly kid?

2010-02-04T07:32:00.000-08:00

I've done a fair amount of property shopping in my days and the one thing that always turned me off from an apartment was the way it smelled. There are far too many apartments out there that smell like cigarette smoke, cooking odors, pet waste, cleaning products and just plain yuckiness (I made a new word!) for me to count. Come on people....it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that these are huge turn offs for people. Apartments need to be inviting and there's just nothing inviting about any of those odors. I have a few thoughts on where most managers go wrong and what they can do to make a "fresh" start!

First there's the obvious...we've got to get these apartments smelling better! Here are a few things to keep in mind about some particular odors...

Pet waste-this is a huge hot button of mine. I personally don't have pets, so I'm extremely sensitive to the smell of pet waste. This was always a positive thing for me when I worked on site because I was able to identify problem odors better than some of my pet owner co-workers were able to. For people that don't have pets, smelling the "leftovers" of someone else's is a huge turn off. I know it may sound extreme to some people, but my rule of thumb was always to replace any carpet that had pet waste in it. I don't care if there was one little pee spot, it needed to come up. In addition to replacing the carpet, the padding also needed to be replaced and the subfloor needed to be treated. A huge misconception among residents with pets was that if their dog piddled on the carpet and they cleaned it up, they were fine. They didn't often realize what was going on underneath that carpet and that those odors were getting trapped. To keep pet owners from being outraged at carpet charges when they move out, be up front with your expectations from the beginning. Tell them that pet waste is not acceptable and any evidence of pet waste will result in the carpet being replaced. Just be sure when you're evaluating an apartment for pet waste that you use the proper methods and get a third party opinion for all replacement decisions.

Cigarette smoke-again, something non-smokers don't want to smell! Please be sure that you've taken every measure possible to rid your apartments of cigarette smoke. Use an ozone machine, repaint, do extra cleaning and replace flooring if necessary. Remember, these are typically all costs you can pass along to your residents in most cases as smoke is not normal wear and tear.

Cooking odors-same as smoke....if we didn't cook it, we don't want to smell it! A savory curry meal may be delightful to some, but it personally makes me want to toss my cookies!

Cleaning products-so I know we have good intentions of getting our apartments spic and span, but sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. Cleaning products often leave behind strong odors, particularly oven cleaners and bathroom products. When possible, try to purchase products that have a pleasant scent. Also instruct your service team to open windows and turn on fans for good ventilation.

Once you've tackled certain odors, there are several steps you can take to get your apartments smelling appealing and keeping them that way.

First, use some sort of air freshener in all of your apartments. Be sure to use a welcoming scent that appeals to everyone, like apple cinnamon or vanilla. You have several options here, including plug ins, carpet powder, room spray and what you choose will likely depend on how long you expect the apartment to be vacant and how much time you have to maintain it. My personal favorite form of air freshener is an air filter scent packet. These are placed on the air filters and the scent is distributed evenly throughout the unit. These last long and are low maintenance!

Second, get a second opinion! Now, I'm sure there are exceptions, but for the most part, many of the maintenance guys I've worked with over the years are oblivious to bad odors! Many of them smoke themselves, so cigarette smoke doesn't phase them. In fact, many of them are stinky themselves! :) So, I encourage you to have a second "nose" on hand after each move out to assess what problem odors are around and help decide what needs to be done to fix them.

Third, walk your vacants regularly! I know it's a pain in the butt, but it's critical to maintaining your community. There are many other benefits to walking your vacants regularly, but for the purposes of this discussion, it really helps you keep on top of problem odors and keep your apartments smelling as fresh as daisies!

Finally, and this is a big one...DON'T SHOW A SMELLY APARTMENT!!!! You only have one chance to make a first impression. There's absolutely no reason to have that first impression be a negative one. You don't want the prospect remembering your community as the stinky one! No one wants to be the smelly kid!!!

Morgan Oney, CAM

We can help your community get more leases! www.getmoreleases.com

5 Types of Identity Theft

2010-01-29T16:00:00.001-08:00

By now, every adult should know that identity theft is the fastest growing crime in America. It has become an epidemic, leaving everyone at risk, including children, adults, the elderly, those with good credit, bad credit, or no credit. And, to make matters worse, most people do not know if their identity has been stolen.

The biggest misconception is that identity theft only affects or involves your credit. If you, too, believe that identity theft only affects or involves your credit, then you might want to keep reading.

In addition to credit related identity theft, there are at least four other categories of identity theft that will not necessarily affect your credit, but can ruin your life. The following are real life stories.

1. Character identity theft. Someone impersonates you and commits a crime in your name resulting in warrants issued in your name, arrests made, and time spent in jail.

Donna has been impersonated by her sister for many years. Unfortunately for Donna, her sister has an extensive criminal record. In order to clear her name, Donna has had to hire an attorney. She has been told that once your name is associated with a crime, it can never come off.

Someone with a criminal record stole Harry's wallet. Unbeknownst to Harry, the thief then committed several crimes in Harry's name. Unfortunately, this criminal activity was entered into the database of a background check company that provides data to potential employers. Harry lost his job and has been unable to find work because of the false information.

Three years ago, Jane's purse was stolen by someone she knew. The identity thief bought a car with Jane's ID and committed other crimes in Jane's name (writing bad checks and burglary). No one in law enforcement believes Jane when she says she is not the criminal, not even the District Attorney who is charging her with the crimes.

John, a man from San Diego, traveled to Mexico to visit his relatives. On his way back home, he was stopped and told that there was an arrest warrant issued in his name. Apparently, someone had been committing crimes in his name and using his Social Security number. John was arrested and taken to San Francisco where he spent 10 days in jail. After finally convincing a police office that he was not the criminal, John was released and left stranded without any money.

2. Social Security Number (SSN) identity theft. Someone steals your SSN and obtains employment in your name. The thief's employer reports wages earned to the IRS under your SSN leaving you to pay income taxes on these earnings. Further, an identity thief's use of your SSN can cause you to lose life sustaining benefits.

Paul received a letter from the IRS stating that he had earned additional income in 2003. Paul never earned this additional income. An identity thief used Paul's SSN and earned wages in Paul's name. Now Paul's credit is ruined, and the IRS wants to be paid.

Alex lost his wallet, and he never bothered to report it to the police. In 2005, he filed his tax return and expected a refund. Instead, he received nothing. The IRS withheld his refund check to pay off back taxes he owed from 2002. Apparently in 2002, someone had used Alex's SSN to earn wages in Alex's name. This "unreported income" left Alex with a $9000 tax bill.

Someone has been using Mary's SSN to earn wages. Mary, who had been receiving AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children) benefits, lost her benefits because income records show her as having a salary.

Jack applied for unemployment benefits, but he was denied because records showed that he was actually working. Apparently, someone in another city had been using his SSN to earn wages in his name. Jack was told that he had to prove that his identity had been stolen.

3. Medical identity theft. Someone steals your identity and either obtains medical insurance in your name or uses your current medical insurance policy to obtain treatment or prescriptions. You can be denied health coverage or lose your current health coverage because of false information placed in your medical record.

An identity thief received treatment for an injury to his hand using a stolen identity. Now, the identity theft victim has been receiving letters demanding payment for drugs and services rendered to the thief.

4. Driver's license identity theft. Someone commits traffic related offenses in your name. When the identity thief fails to appear in court, warrants are issued in your name.

In 2003, Alex's driver's license was revoked because he had another driver's license in another state revoked due to criminal charges. In addition, Alex had warrants out for his arrest in the other state. After about a year of working to clear his name, Alex's driver's license was reinstated.

An identity thief with a poor driving record obtained a copy of Sara's driver's license. Now, because of the identity thief's poor driving record, Sara's license has been suspended, and she is in danger of losing her auto insurance.

5. Credit identity theft. Someone uses your information to obtain loans, goods, or services and does not pay the bills. The accumulating unpaid bills end up going to collection, which can affect your credit.

For over six years, Kate has been a victim of identity theft. Even a fraud alert placed on her credit report has not stopped the identity thief. As a result, Kate can not purchase a home because of bad credit.

An identity thief wrote bad checks and opened several credit card accounts in Erica's name. Consequently, Erica's application to open her own bank account was denied. Erica has had to hire an attorney to clear her name. This has cost her over $4,500.

So, you can see that once an identity thief has your identity, he/she can do just about anything including ruining your life. Don't think you are immune. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, there have been at least 111 disclosed incidents of data breaches since January 2005 that could potentially expose 53 million individuals to identity theft. This number is steadily increasing. Further, according to the FTC, over 27,000 people per day have their identities stolen in America.

Your information is not safe. As long as others (employers, credit card companies, medical facilities, etc.) have your private information, you are always at risk for identity theft. All it takes is for an employer to lose your information or give it away or one person/employee to steal the information. A cellular phone company experienced just that when employees used customer data to create fraudulent accounts. The bogus accounts were used by the thieves and their friends to ring up thousands of dollars in calls.

When it comes to protecting your identity, being proactive is the only practical way to go to avoid the frustration, time, and expense of restoring your identity and name. Some things you can do to prevent identity theft include not giving out your personal information, shredding unwanted mail, and not carrying your SSN card with you. Also, continuous credit monitoring is an easy, effective and often inexpensive way of keeping an eye on your credit at all times to help prevent credit related identity theft.

Nicole K. White, Esq., an attorney and an identity theft consultant, established Kinsey Law Group, P.C. to help consumers resolve their financial matters in the areas of Consumer Law (consumer disputes, credit report errors, debt collection abuse/harassment, debtor defense in debt collection suits, and identity theft), Estate and Health Planning (wills, living wills and advance directives, burial directives, powers of attorney and trusts), and Guardianship Planning for Minors. To learn more about how consumers can protect their finances, visit http://www.kinseylawgroup.com/. Copyright © 2006.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Kinsey_White

A Sense of Ownership-The Ultimate Job Security Tool

2010-01-22T06:08:00.000-08:00

Do you own the property where you work? I bet 99% of you said "no." If you're among that 99%, then listen up...by the end of this post, your answer will be "yes!"

To have a successful career in property management, you have to think like an owner. You have to treat the property you manage like it's your own and invest yourself in it wholly. When you create a sense of ownership, you think on an entirely different level about things than you would if it were just a "job."

So just how do you do that? Well, put yourself in their shoes. When you're dealing with money, pretend every penny you have coming in and going out is yours. I'm sure you don't like to see money going down the drain when it's coming out of your bank account! When you're dealing with maintenance, pretend the issue at hand is in your very own home. If it were your toilet running all the time, I bet you'd be quick to fix it! When you're dealing with time in the office, put in the hours necessary to do the job, even if it means going above and beyond your scheduled 40 hours. I bet if it were your business, you'd stay late if it meant you scored a new lease out of the deal!

So what's in it for you? I'm sure you're saying, well why should I stay late or why should I worry about padding my owner's pockets? Well, for starters, there's job security! A successful property means you still have a job! But more importantly, there's career security. You're creating a meaningful career for yourself. You're managing a successful property, which believe me, won't go unnoticed. You'll find yourself being rewarded for your new way of thinking in the form of promotions and pay raises. That will in turn give you great satisfaction and you'll absolutely love your career and going to work every day.

So the next time the phone rings or a person walks through your doors, I challenge you to put on your "owner hat" and handle the situation from their perspective. See how good it feels to have a sense of ownership of your property and see how successful you become because of it!

What Will You Do to Keep Your Residents?

2010-01-21T06:49:00.000-08:00

I had a very interesting experience with my television provider last week. I was having an issue with my equipment and they weren't handling it in a way that I felt was appropriate. I became so upset at one point that I asked to speak to a manager. Unfortunately, that person was also of no help. By this time, it just wasn't worth my time to keep arguing and I came out with the ultimate threat...."if you don't take care of my requests, I'll find another provider." To which they replied, "We wish you all the best!" I was shocked they didn't care about me as a customer, so surely I thought my business would be better appreciated elsewhere. I immediately asked to be connected with the cancellation department. A very nice gentleman got on the phone and the first thing he asked me was why I was cancelling. I described my issues and the technical support team's unwillingness to handle them to my satisfaction. He apologized and asked what it would take to keep me as a customer. I told him I would like my issue addressed, and not only did he take care of my problem, he gave me a 1 month credit on my bill! I was very impressed at their willingness to keep me as a customer.

Resident retention is one of the most important parts of your job as a multifamily professional. Contrary to popular belief, keeping the residents you have should take a higher priority over getting new leases. To accomplish this, take a lesson from my television company...go above and beyond to exceed expectations.

Here's my challenge to you...

Anytime a resident has an issue, ask them what they would like for you to do to take care of it. Then, once you've handled it, do something else to go above and beyond their expectations to "wow" them. It could be a small issue or a large one, let the scale of the problem determine what extra thing you do. For example, for ordinary maintenance requests, they expect you just to come in and fix the problem. But after you do so, how about leaving a small gift behind to let them know you appreciate them? You could leave a bag of microwave popcorn that says "we popped in to fix your problem," or a handwritten note apologizing for the inconvenience. For larger issues, like an ongoing problem with noisy neighbors, send a gift certificate for a massage saying "we're sorry for the stress your neighbors have caused you, please go de-stress on us!" Little things like this will go a long way in letting your residents know you appreciate them and will entice them to stay in your community for as long as they can. Should they ever move to buy a home or relocate to a new area, they'll always have a positive impression of your community that they'll pass along to family and friends.

Let me know if you've accepted this challenge! I'd love to hear about all of the unique things you do to go above and beyond your resident's expectations!

Morgan Oney, CAM
For a great resident retention tool, check out the online resident newsletters at www.mynewsletterconnection.com!

Help Haiti!

2010-01-20T08:24:00.001-08:00

On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake struck the nation of Haiti, causing catastrophic damage inside and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. President Obama has promised the people of Haiti that "you will not be forsaken; you will not be forgotten." The United States Government has mobilized resources and manpower to aid in the relief effort. Here are some ways that you can get involved.

Donate

Contribute online through ClintonBushHaitiFund.org.
Text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund (the donation will be added to your cell phone bill).
Find more ways to help through the Center for International Disaster Information.

Get Information about Friends or Family

The State Department has several resources for inquiring about the welfare and whereabouts of friends and family in Haiti:

To Ask For or Provide Information About U.S. Citizens in Haiti:
- Email the Task Force at Haiti-Earthquake@state.gov OR
- From the U.S. or Canada, call 888-407-4747 (Other countries, call 202-501-4444)
For U.S. Citizens in Haiti Seeking Assistance or Reporting Their Status/Whereabouts:
- Email the Embassy at ACSPaP@state.gov OR
- Call the Embassy's Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672

When contacting any of the numbers or using the emails above, please include the following information:

The full name, date of birth and passport information (if known) of the persons in Haiti you are trying to contact.
Their contact information in Haiti; telephone numbers, email address, hotel name or address (if known)
Your name and contact information, and your relationship to the person in Haiti (parent, spouse, friend etc.)
Any special or emergency circumstances.

For All Nationalities and Locations

For more information about locating friends and family members, visit the State Department's Haiti Earthquake website.

The Federal Response

Check out the links below to find out how each federal department and agency is responding to the earthquake in Haiti.

TODAY ONLY Get our blogging service for only $20/month!

2010-01-20T06:48:00.000-08:00

It's the 20th of the month, so we've decided to be a little crazy and offer our blog service for only $20/month for all new accounts that sign up today! Get a professionally designed and maintained blog for your community for this awesome low price! Blogs are a great way to have an extra footprint on the web! Learn more about our service at www.getmoreleases.com. To sign up, email us at info@triangleapartmentconnection.com! And remember, we don't have contracts, so it's totally risk free to give us a try!

Kids & Pets...Get Them to Like You & Their Owners Will Too!

2010-01-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

The way to the heart of virtually any person is through their pets and/or their children. Just about everyone has one or the other and they all value them like no other. It's a widely known fact that's often overlooked, however, it's a golden opportunity for you and an easy one to take advantage of.

As a parent myself, I make it a point to do most of my business at places that are child friendly. My automobile service department has a playroom, my coffee shop has a kiddie corner, the restaurants I frequent have kids menus & crayons, etc. There are so many things you can do to make your community child friendly, both for your residents and for your prospects. Here are a few of my favorites:

-The obvious-have child friendly snacks on hand. Cookies, crackers and gummies are great and relatively inexpensive. In addition to the bottled water and coffee bar, also have juice boxes available for the kids.

-If you have space, make a kid's corner in the clubhouse. For under $200, you can get a small table and chairs, coloring books, crayons, blocks and other small toys to keep kids occupied while their parents take care of business. It's a small investment that will go a long way.

-In the summertime, keep Popsicles on hand to give to kids at the pool.

-Establish a relationship with some local restaurants and offer to print their kids menus for them if you can put your logo on it. You can include artwork for the kids to color and give the restaurant some crayons with your label on them if they don't already have them. It's pretty inexpensive and easy to come up with. The parents will be sure to notice your community sponsored their children's entertainment!

-Organize a playgroup for your residents. Parents of small children relish any opportunity for adult interaction and often seek out playgroups. They'll love having one right in their neighborhood...it's convenient, plus a great way for them to meet their neighbors!

-For every adult oriented resident function you hold, be sure to hold one that's kid friendly as well. An arts and crafts party, pajama party, pizza party, movie night and dance party are all big hits!

-If you have a TV in your office, be sure to know the child friendly stations. If you have a DVD player, keep kids movies on hand. Each time a parent of small kids has to come in to do some kind of business, offer to turn on a show for the kids. TV is a great way to keep kids occupied when parents need to take care of business.

For people who don't have kids, pets are their babies. Here are some great ways you can cater to the four legged babies in your neighborhood!

-Keep doggie treats on hand in the office. Be sure to have ones appropriate for both large and small dogs.

-When a new resident with a pet moves in, tailor their move in gift to be pet related. Include doggie waste bags for easy poop pick up. It's a win win for everyone!

-If you have space, create a dog park. Since dogs can't be unleashed in a community, this is a great way for them to be able to let out some steam.

-Pet waste stations around your community are a must. It encourages pet waste pick up and is a great convenience for the pet owner.

-Host pet playdates. People love an opportunity to take their pets anywhere outside of the house!

-Create a photo board of "Our Favorite Four Legged Residents" and display it in the office. No Fair Housing violations here! Residents will love seeing their pet's photo on display for everyone to see.

-Host community events like obedience classes & vaccination clinics. It's great exposure for your community to get their name out there, plus your residents will love the convenience of not having to go far to take advantage of these services.

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com & www.mynewsletterconnection.com

Get a Maintained Community Blog for Only $25/mo!

2010-01-13T07:37:00.001-08:00

Get More Leases is offering a fantastic special on it's blog posting service! Now you can have a blog for your community with weekly posts for only $25/month! Blogs are a fantastic tool for search engine optimization! They give your community additional presence on the web and you can link back to your social networking pages and website. They're also a great tool to keep your residents and prospects informed about community events and happenings! To learn more about our blog service, visit www.getmoreleases.com. Low price and no risky contracts, so give us a try! To get started, email us at info@triangleapartmentconnection.com!

What I'm Working On...

2010-01-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

As many of you may have noticed, I've been a bit absent from the "scene" lately. :) But that's not to say I haven't been busy. In fact, I've been busier than ever! We have more clients than ever and lots of new projects and ideas in the works. The next few weeks I'll likely be working under the radar as I work on all of the new things we have planned for 2010. Here's a sneak peak...

My Newsletter Connection

-We're working on the addition of Realtor Newsletters to our services. These newsletters will be a great way for real estate agents to keep in touch with their prospects, current clients and former clients and will be a fraction of the cost of traditional paper newsletters or even a website!

-We're adding new features to our newsletters, including an interactive game section, social networking links, bookmarking links, service request forms and more!

-We are adding new design templates, including a seasonal template that will change every 3 months and will have a theme related to the current season. We are also adding the option for a custom designed template!

-Our current clients will enjoy some new process changes, including later deadlines, earlier publication, and we're doing away with our late changes fee!

-Finally, we're dropping our prices! That's right, we're giving you more and charging you less! We're also increasing the discount we give to multiple property clients.

Get More Leases

-We're also dropping our prices! Now our services will be more affordable than ever!

-Since we value the importance of blogging so much, we're featuring our blogging service for the next couple of months. For only $25/mo, you can have a blog designed for your community and have it updated and bookmarked once weekly, greatly increasing your exposure on the internet!

So that's it in a nutshell! Keep checking back to see what we're up to. You can join our email list to the right to be notified when all of our changes take place!

Good Apartment Pets

2009-12-23T12:14:00.001-08:00

With approximately half of the population of the United States owning a pet, there can be no doubt, it is an animal loving nation. However, with many people living in apartments, the well-being of the animal should be placed above an individual's desire to own a pet. I am obviously not suggesting that apartment dwellers should not own a pet, but it is important to ensure that your animal of choice is suitable for life in an environment of limited space.

Dogs

If you live in an apartment, especially one with no garden or yard, it is probably best not to purchase a large breed of dog, such as a Great Dane, St Bernard or an Irish Wolfhound. Of course, from the dog's point of view, if you are in a position that allows you to take the dog out frequently and regularly throughout the day, then it may be possible to live with a large dog in an apartment. On the other hand, from your point of view, it is always worth considering how much space in your home the dog will take up.

Therefore, I would recommend small breeds of dog for apartment living. Some dogs you may wish to consider include Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Jack Russell, Pug and Yorkshire Terrier. Obviously, there are many more small breeds that would be equally suitable for apartment living. However, I would particularly recommend the Pug, because not only is it a small dog, but it is also generally very quiet. Pugs are not known for being yappy, which, unfortunately, many toy breeds can be.

Cats

If you plan to keep your cat as an 'indoor cat', then it is advisable to ensure that you have lots of toys and climbing equipment for your cat. Cats that do not have this kind of stimulation tend to get bored and can easily put on weight. Consequently, many indoor cats suffer from a variety of obesity related health problems.

However, as long as a cat has plenty to keep him, or her, occupied, it can make a wonderful apartment pet. Some owners choose to have their cats de-clawed, which is a contentious issue. Obviously, the aim is to ensure that the cat cannot damage any furniture or other household objects. However, this should not be necessary, if your cat has enough toys of its own, it will not begin to treat your expensive furniture as a toy. Of course, it is important that your cat is litter trained and that you clean your cat's litter box regularly.

Smaller Pets

Obviously, smaller animals make the ideal apartment pets, because they do not take up too much room and, typically, don't make much noise. I say 'typically' because some birds can sound like a foghorn despite their small stature.

Small pets that you may like to consider for your apartment include hamsters, mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish and small birds. It is important to do your research on any pet before you purchase it, but this is especially true of exotic pets, such as birds, lizards and tropical fish. In addition, some small animals dislike living alone, for example, rats and guineas pigs are very social animals, so, it would be cruel to keep just one of these animals on his, or her, own. Conversely, most breeds of hamster live solitary lives in the wild and, therefore, should not be kept in pairs or groups.

Whichever pet you choose to own, it is wise to ensure that you can supply all of its needs. The amount of space in your apartment and the time you can offer your pet should be among your first considerations.

Samantha Markham is a uk-based freelance writer. Currently, she is working for Remmeer.com, an online supplier of quality pet products and beautiful gifts, such as pet lover gifts and unique dog toys.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Markham

How to Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-09T05:49:00.001-08:00

Do you make new year resolutions every year only to find that they have fallen by the wayside before the end of January? Well, you're not alone. Most resolutions don't last past the second week of January. But if you understand why this is the case, then you are much better positioned to make successful new year resolutions.

One of the main reasons new year resolutions are broken is that we make too many of them at once. It's easy to reflect on all the changes we want to make to our lives - lose weight, get fit, stop smoking, get on top of your finances - but trying to tackle all these at once is just too much.

So, the first step in keeping resolutions is to do them one at a time.

The other reason new years resolutions aren't kept is because we sabotage our attempts with excuses. Here are the top 5:

Excuse 1. I don't have the time.
Sure you do. You probably have time to watch TV, or play on the computer for hours each night, and for many hours over the weekend. Just take half an hour each morning or night and a couple hours over the weekend and you'll be surprised by how much you can accomplish. The first step is always the hardest, but once you do take that first step and start to gain momentum, amazing things can happen.

Excuse 2. It's too much effort
This is your life we're talking about. Is it really too much work to achieve the life you really want? Sure, it may be hard going to get started and it may be a long road to success. But just remember that it is always worth it in the end. I was talking to a friend of mine who has been overweight since college, and he was whining that it would take him a whole year to lose the pounds he wanted to. But what is one year, when he still has another 20-30 years of prime life left in him?

Excuse 3. It doesn't work
What ever program you're looking at for losing weight, getting fit, quitting smoking, getting rich, or whatever - it is possible. There are plenty of living examples of people who have succeeded in whatever goal you're trying to achieve for yourself. Diets work, exercise works, quitting smoking programs work.

It can be done. But you have to be willing to make it work.

Excuse 4. But it won't work for ME
And why are you any different from the thousands of other people who have achieved whatever goal you're trying to achieve? With an attitude like that, nothing will work. But you have to be willing to make it work.

Excuse 5. I don't have the resources
Yes, this can be an obstacle if you have difficulty accessing the appropriate resources, particularly if you need a lot of money to achieve your goal. But for most goals, you don't need a lot of money to get going. For example, a healthy diet and exercise program shouldn't cost you a cent more than you're already spending on grocery bills, and even though you may have to purchase nicotine patches to help quit your smoking habit, this will be offset by how much you are saving on cigarettes.

The most important resource you need to achieve your goals is information. And there is a lot of educational material out there to help you achieve almost any goal you set your heart on. The internet is a great source of reliable information. Research, read up on the various strategies and draw up an action plan that suits you. You can also check out books in your library or buy used books.

And remember, take your resolutions one at a time, and eventually you will succeed with them all.

You can learn more about how to achieve all your goals and dreams by checking out these FREE goal setting tools and resources. You'll also find lots of free tips and tools on a range of self-help topics from success to people skills.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sam_Sander

Save Money with LED Holiday Light Strings

2009-12-02T06:40:00.001-08:00

There's always an opportunity to save some electricity here and there and holiday decorations are no exception. Here is some great advice from the Department of Energy on selecting holiday lighting that will save you some money so you can spend a little extra on those holiday gifts!

Save Money with LED Holiday Light Strings

It's hard to believe, but the holidays are in full swing and many of you are starting to decorate your homes. Those of you who started around Halloween are probably feeling pretty smart because you got your decorating done while the weather was nice.

I see you there, snacking on your Thanksgiving leftovers, laughing at me shivering in the cold and struggling to undo the knot in my lights. Don't look so smug.

Those of us who haven't started decorating yet may actually be the smart ones this year, because we still have a chance to buy LED light strings. LED (or light emitting diode) light strings can use 90% less energy than regular incandescent light strings. They also last about ten times longer, are cooler than incandescents (reducing fire hazards), and are more durable.

LED light strings tend to be more expensive than incandescent ones, but their long life and low energy costs generally make up the cost fairly quickly. This year, however, you may be able to find some help with the initial cost of purchasing LED light strings.

My coworker found that one major home improvement store offered a rebate for his purchase of LED holiday lights. With the rebate, his lights cost him about the same as an incandescent light string would have. Ask your local retailer if they offer any rebates for LED light strings. You can also use the ENERGY STAR® rebate finder to see if any ENERGY STAR partners in your area are offering rebates.

Also don't forget to check with your utility. Many of them also offer rebates for the purchase of LED holiday lights. My utility offers a $2–$4 rebate for every light string, and a quick search of some other utilities showed similar rebates.

If you started decorating early AND used LED light strings, well, I guess you do deserve that extra piece of pumpkin pie. I'll try to follow your example next year.

Allison Casey is a senior communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its Web sites.

http://www.eereblogs.energy.gov/energysavers/post/Save-Money-with-LED-Holiday-Light-Strings.aspx

Top 10 Things To Be Thankful For When You're A Property Manager

2009-11-25T07:46:00.001-08:00

As we approach Thanksgiving and we ponder on what we have to be thankful for this year, I'm sure we're all thinking of our friends, our family, our health, etc. But with this crazy industry we work in, one where there's never a dull moment, there's a whole different meaning to the term "thankful." Here are the top 10 things you have to be thankful for this season when you're a property manager....

*disclaimer...this is meant to be humorous :)

10. Be thankful that you're fully staffed and that they've all passed their drug screenings and background checks!

9. Be thankful that the police haven't been called to your property in over a month!

8. Be thankful that your regional manager is on vacation and you haven't heard from him ALL week!

7. Be thankful that the resident you evicted a few weeks ago actually left on his own without having to get the Sheriff involved!

6. Be thankful you're leased at 95% and your competitor is only leased at 93%!

5. Be thankful you got 5 leases this week...and not a single one was declined!

4. Be thankful you haven't had any vendors calling your property this week trying to collect on that invoice that your corporate office "forgot" to pay!

3. Be thankful that the H1N1 flu hasn't hit your office and none of your employees have called out sick!

2. Be thankful that half of your residents are out of town for the holidays and you don't have to listen to their whining about who's being loud, who's parked in the wrong parking space and who's leaving their trash outside of their door.

And the number 1 thing you have to be thankful for when you're a property manager this Thankgsiving.....

1. Be thankful that your maintenance tech on call didn't get drunk on Thanksgiving and can still respond to the emergency calls!

Sorry, I Can't Help You....Or Can I?

2009-11-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Your phone is ringing...

You: "Thank you for calling XYZ Apartments, this is So and So, how can I help you?"

Caller: "Do you accept Section 8?"

You: "No, I'm sorry, we do not."

Caller: "Ok, thank you."

You: "You're welcome."

Caller: "Bye."

You: "Good bye."

Sound familiar? I can say with pretty good certainty that we've all had a conversation just like this. It may have not been Section 8, maybe it was a restricted pet or a low price range. Every day you likely get calls from people who are looking for something that you don't have. But I'll tell you what....you DO have what they're looking for. They're looking for customer service, and that my friends, we all have (or should have). Providing exemplary customer service means going above and beyond to help out a customer. Situations like this are the perfect opportunity to put this into action. Make a list of things that people regularly call for but that you don't offer. Large or restricted pets, fireplaces, lower prices, Section 8 acceptance, washer/dryers, etc. Now do your homework and include on that list what neighboring communities offer those things. Then your conversation can go something like this.

You: "Thank you for calling XYZ Apartments, this is So and So, how can I help you?"

Caller: "Do you accept Section 8?"

You: "I'm so sorry, we do not, but I would love to help you find a community that does. Have you contacted ABC Apartments or 123 Apartments yet?"

Caller: "No, I haven't, thank you for the information."

You: "You're so welcome. I have their phone numbers handy if you'd like them."

Caller: "Wow, thank you so much, I'd really appreciate that."

You: "It's no problem at all. Do you have a pen ready?"

You get the point. :)

This tiny step that will take you all of 30 minutes will go a long way in helping to make someone's life easier. And maybe you don't have what they need now, but I guarantee they'll remember you if their circumstances change and they'll also be sure to mention you to their friends who are looking for an apartment.

Tackle every situation thinking "yes, I can help you" rather than "no, I can't" and you and your community will gain the positive reputation that you know you deserve. :)

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com
www.mynewsletterconnection.com

Hi, My Name Is...

2009-11-23T08:35:00.001-08:00

Without a doubt, the biggest problem I had when I was leasing was forgetting to tell people my name. It was a problem I knew I had, yet it was just the one thing that I always seemed to forget. It's something that was so simple, yet I could just never seem to remember it! I guess I'd just get so excited when someone would walk in the door and I would anxiously help them find what they were looking for, so I'd forget about that tiny detail. Often times, it wouldn't even come up until the end of the tour as I handed them my business card. I'd then say something like, "oh, and my name's Morgan," but it was obvisously a little late! I missed a golden opportunity to establish a connection in the beginning.

Who knows how many more leases I could have gotten if I had just done things a little differently. I could have connected with more people, gotten their trust earlier. You see, there's a lot of value in exchanging names and setting the tone for your relationship together. When you give someone your name, you're connecting with them. You're allowing them into your life by sharing the most personal detail you have. You're bringing your interaction together to a personal level, showing them that you're personally here to help them and that you genuinely care. This can go a long way in generating a sale. People will feel more comfortable with you and will be more likely to sign a lease with you.

If you're like me and find it difficult to remember to share your name, then I highly recommend name tags. At least if you can't remember to share your name with your prospect personally, they can still see it and form a connection with you in their own mind. Name tags also help residents identify team members they haven't met yet and can curb some confusion that may take place later.

One thing I've seen on name tags in restaurants, theme parks and even car dealerships that I love is the hometown of the person underneath their name. This is a great conversation tool. People will likely have some kind of connection to the town and comment about it. It's a great icebreaker and relationship builder.

Another great idea would be to have plaques or signs when you walk in your leasing office introducing your team members. You can have their photos, names, titles, even a brief description of them. Again, you're establishing a connection right away and your prospects will immediately feel like they already know you.

My name is...
Morgan Oney :)
www.getmoreleases.com & www.mynewsletterconnection.com

Learn How to Handle Tenants Who Pay Late

2009-11-20T08:06:00.000-08:00

You own and manage your own investment property, but your tenant had not yet paid the rent. Should you call? Should you email? Should you visit the tenant? What should you do if you have tenants who pay late? Well, the first thing that you should do is not to panic. One of the toughest problems that a rental property owner may have is collecting rent from a late-paying tenant - or, worst, a tenant who does not pay at all. As an investor and landlord, you should be ready to encounter such tenants from time to time. Bad payers are real pain in the neck for all landlords but there are several ways to deal with the problem.

It may not be a bad idea to offer discount for on-time payments. This may encourage tenants to be on time when they pay their rent. On the other hand, late fees should apply on late payments. Being in control may prompt tenants to pay on time, every time. Some late payments happen not because they intend to do it but because the tenant simply forgot. In this case, consider two things. One is to issue a notice of non-payment of rent immediately as the rent is late. Tenants tend to pay their cell phone use, credit card, or whatever when they receive the bills each month. This can also work on their rent. Another is to suggest an automatic payment plan. This can be done by setting up automatic payments by direct withdrawal or by credit card. Again, this set up is assumed good intentions on the side of the tenant.

What should you do with constant late payers? If the tenant is a consistent late payer, then you should act consistently as well. Always apply the same late payment fees and file rent invoices for every late paying tenant or those who have not paid at all. Showing consistency in your actions makes a strong precedent in case you have to defend your actions in court or consider evicting the tenant. Being consistent in your actions also gives the impression that you are fair to all tenants and at the same time firm.

A tenant, whose lateness gets worse and worse every month, even with the late fees and issues about late payments, indicates that he has little regard for your authority. Then, you have to ask them to move out. Talk the tenant into taking a voluntary eviction. Court-ordered evictions require a lot of money and time. In case the tenant refuses to leave the property, you need to get this court approved eviction paper.

Like they say, the best way for getting tenants to pay their rent on time is prevention. At the beginning, do a little investigation on the applying tenant. Occasional late payment is unusual if you have applied the proper background checks. You can run each applicant's credit report and contact the landlord before their present one. You may also want to verify the applicant's employment record. Ask for a recent pay stub for verification of his employment status.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alvin_Clavines

Package Acceptance Tips

2009-11-18T09:31:00.001-08:00

I was reading through my local City Data message board yesterday and came across a post from an angry apartment resident blasting her community because she believed they "lost" one of her packages. She was even involving the police! I'm sure we've all been in the uncomfortable position of having a resident come into the office with a notice that they have a package, yet that package is nowhere to be found. Ordinarily, the fault likely lies with the delivery agent. At my last office, the friendly postman was bombarded with packages, bringing them in the office in about 3-4 large bins and cheerfully handing them over to us to deal with. He'd then place slips that he'd prepared earlier that morning before leaving the post office inside the mailboxes of the residents. Sounds pretty typical, right? It is, however, there's so much room for error. A slip could go in the wrong mailbox, a slip could not get written at all, the package could actually be in a different bin or on a different truck...who knows. All we do know is that if something goes wrong, we're the ones to blame. Help minimize the negative impact that lost packages can have on your community by practicing the following steps...

1. Have all residents sign a package release that will hold you harmless in the event a package is lost. Remind your residents that packages are accepted as a courtesy and while every effort will be made to insure they're handled properly, ultimately the responsibility relies on the recepient and the delivery agent.

2. Create a package log. As each package comes in, log it into a spreadsheet. As the residents pick up the packages, have them sign and date the log acknowledging their pick up.

3. Organize your packages. Pick a system that works for you, like building, last name or the day of the week that they came in. That way you have easy access to your packages and less room for them to get misplaced.

4. Have copies of a handy phone list of all delivery agents, including the local USPS and name of your usual carrier, UPS, Fed Ex, etc., to be able to give to the residents in the event their packages are missing. Rather than take the attitude "It's not my fault, I can't help you," offer the resident every bit of help that you can possibly give.

5. Offer package drop off to your residents. Many people aren't home during business hours to be able to pick up their packages from your office. Step up your customer service and offer to drop the package off inside of their apartment for them. (Be sure to get a waiver in writing first so that they know you'll be entering their apartment while they're not there). Not only is it providing excellent service to your residents, it's clearing the packages for you, thus lessening the chaos and minimizing the chance a package will get misplaced.

Accepting pacakges can be a headache, but it's a very important resident retention tool. This is a great opportunity to go above and beyond to keep your residents happy, just be sure to protect yourself in the process!

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.mynewsletterconnection.com
Online newsletters for apartment communities to connect with their residents

Emergencies....Are You Prepared?

2009-11-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

You're officially initiated into the property management world when you've gone through your first crisis. In my many years on site, I dealt with fire, flood, ice storm, hurricanes, dead bodies, robberies, shootings...fun stuff! By far the one that had the biggest impact on me was the fire I experienced. I was the only person working on a Saturday in the middle of a very large thunderstorm. In what seemed like an instant, one of the main fire alarms in the leasing office went off indicating trouble in a building. Before I could even investigate, a resident came running in to say they saw smoke coming from one of our buildings-it had been struck by lightning. My instincts kicked into gear, as well as some great training. I was fortunate that only 1 week before, I had been through the Emergency Management module of my CAM course. Talk about perfect timing! I grabbed my keys, keys to the building and cell phone and made my way to the building. I ran into our maintenance tech who lived on site and saw what was happening and he took the building keys and went to get everyone and their pets out while I used my cell phone to call the fire department, red cross and a disaster management company and moved everyone away from the building to make way for the emergency vehicles. Then I sat back and watched a 24 unit building burn to the ground before my eyes. Ya, not fun. But, I'm happy to report that the only casualty was a single goldfish, so overall, it was a successful crisis.

Most of these items occur unexpectedly, so it's important have a plan in place so that you know exactly how to handle them in the heat of the moment. I'll be honest and say that for each company I worked for when I went through the events I listed above, there weren't any clear guidelines on how to handle situations like this. My CAM training was the only official training I had for emergency management. It helped me tremendously for the fire, but the other events I experienced before that could have been handled a bit smoother. So take a look at your emergency plans. If your corporate office has written them for you, take a moment to review them yourself as well as with your team to make sure that everyone knows what steps to take in an emergency. If you don't have guidelines, take the liberty to write them yourself. The last thing you want is to be caught off guard in a critical situation. The way you handle it will have an effect of many, many people.

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.mynewsletterconnection.com & www.getmoreleases.com

Are You Maximizing Your Extra Income?

2009-11-16T12:21:00.001-08:00

With the economy down, you're likely granting more concessions than you'd like to. So, it's wise to try to make up for that loss elsewhere. There are many opportunities in an apartment community to earn some extra income. The great thing is that most of these are often providing a service to your residents, so it's a win win for everyone. Here are 20 ways for you to jump start your bank account...

1. Vending Machines-look into soda and snack machine vendors in your area. Some offer profit sharing programs for vending machine sales.

2. Laundry Machines

3. Car Vacuum

4. Newspaper Machines

5. Sell ads-contact local businesses to sell ads in your newsletter or move in packets. Home based business people like Pampered Chef and Mary Kay reps are great people to contact for this!

6. Blog-if your community has a blog, you can set up a Google Adsense account and place ads on your page. You can earn income every time someone clicks on the ad.

7. Valet Dry Cleaning-establish a relationship with a local dry cleaner in your area to get a great deal. Increase their rate by 50% and then offer a valet service to your residents. Once a week, you can drop off and pick up your residents dry cleaning. You keep the additional 50% for your community. It's a win win for everyone!

8. Utility Set Up-there are companies out there like White Fence and Move in Minutes that offer commission when your residents use their services to sign up for their utilities.

9. Insurance-there are also many insurance affiliate companies who offer referral fees. You could also try to work out something with a local insurance agent. They may be able to offer you more, plus your residents would have someone locally to contact.

10. Pet Fees-depending on where you live, you may be able to charge a monthly pet fee as well as a pet rent. *Hint* To catch residents with unauthorized pets and collect their pet fees, have maintenance carry a spreadsheet listing each apartment with them and have them note who has pets when they do air filter changes. Cross check that with your records and you're guaranteed to catch a few each time.

11. Short Term Fees-if your residents would like the convenience of having a lease shorter than 12 months, be sure to charge them a fee. The average short term is $50 per month.

12. Month to Month Fees-this is the ultimate in convenience for residents, so this situation should carry an extra premium. The average month to month fee is $100 per month.

13. Location Premiums-if you have some units that are highly desired, consider charging an extra premium for them. You can also do this for highly desired floor levels.

14. Upgrade Premiums-if you have an older community, doing a few improvements can go a long way. You can update certain features like light fixtures and faucets pretty inexpensively, but you can recover those costs very quickly with an extra monthly premium!

15. Fitness Center Membership-if your community doesn't have a fitness center, contact a local health club. You can often work out a program with them where you offer their club to your residents exclusively and they'll cut you a referral fee when they join.

16. Satellite Fees-Most communities don't want dishes on their property, however, due to FCC regulations, you have to allow them. But, the FCC doesn't say anything about charging your residents a convenience fee to have them, so use this opportunity to earn an extra $100 or two.

17. Late Fees-I never minded when a resident would pay a day or two late. It meant I could collect their late fees! Be firm on collecting these fees right when they're assessed and don't bend the rules for anyone. Not only is it protecting you from a Fair Housing mess, it's a great source of income.

18. Legal Administrative Fees-If you're forced to file legal action against someone, consider charging an extra administrative fee for your office on top of attorney's fees. $100 is about average.

19. Payment Plans-If you're going to set up a payment plan for past due debt, consider added a convenience fee. You're not obligated to accept payments, so you're offering them as a convenience to your residents, and conveniences often come with a price.

20. Concession Forfeit-depending on your state, you may be able to charge a resident their gross monthly rental amount if they pay late, meaning they forfeit their concession for that month. If they make a habit of paying late, say 2 or 3 times, they could forfeit their concession altogether.

Weekends....Use Your Time Wisely!

2009-11-15T10:56:00.000-08:00

Working weekends is always so unpredictable. Either you don't even have a moment to sit down and breathe or all you're doing is sitting down just waiting for someone to walk through that door. Even though I never knew what to expect, I always enjoyed working the weekends because I knew that no matter what, they'd be productive. How can it be productive, you say, if your slow as a turtle? Well, that's the perfect opportunity get things done! Here's a list of 10 things you can do around your leasing office when you're working the weekend and no one seems to want to visit you!

1. Finish up your paperwork/administrative duties. Surely there's something somewhere that needs to be completed and it will be a great feeling to have it under your belt.

2. Organize your desk. Throw away those ketchup packets and 2 year old lip gloss that have been in your top drawer for ages.

3. Clean the clubhouse. I know, I know, cleaning is no fun, that's why you hire a housekeeper or cleaning service. But, I bet you if you take a walk around, you'll find something that needs to be done. Do some dusting, some straightening, heck, even rearrange some furniture if you feel like it.

4. Organize the package room. If you accept packages for your residents, they can often get very disorganized very quickly. Also, you can use this time to send reminder notices to residents who need to come and pick theirs up.

5. Post some ads online. There are a million free classified websites out there. Can't hurt to list yourself on them!

6. Surf the web for marketing contacts. Research local businesses and make a spreadsheet with their contact information for use later.

7. Brainstorm for your next resident function. Have a few in mind so when the time comes to have them, you already have your plans in order.

8. Phone and email shop some other properties. They don't even have to be in your area. It's always great to hear how other leasing agents handle their traffic. You may get some great ideas, or even learn what NOT to do!

9. Call back residents who have had recent maintenance requests and make sure they're happy with their service.

10. Blog...having a blog for your community gives you yet another footprint on the web each time you make a post.

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.getmoreleases.com
Don't have time to maintain your social networking sites, maintain a blog or post ads to Craigslist? Let us do it for you to maximize your exposure on the internet!

Delegating...Your Success Depends On It!

2009-11-14T12:47:00.000-08:00

Delegating has always been a huge challenge for me. I've always lived by the old saying "if you want something done right, do it yourself." At home, I want the house cleaned the way I want it, the laundry done the way I want it and the meals prepared how I want them. When I worked on site, I wanted to control the payables, the rent posting, the leasing, the maintenance, the human resources, etc. You get the idea. I would always delegate just the bare minimum to get things done, but I preferred to do the majority of the daily operating duties myself.

So how's the delegating going in your office? Do you find yourself just doing tasks because you know you can do them right? Do you prefer to do the weekly reports so that you know they're accurate when they go to corporate? Do you prefer to handle the rent because you know you won't receive a bank correction notice later? Do you like to follow up with traffic because you know that you're going to ask them the right questions to ensure the lease? If you've ever found yourself in any of these situations, then you probably have the same issue as I do with delegating. So how do you change? Here are a few things I think will help you along the way.

First, sit back and look at everything that needs to be done. Now take a good look at the team you have behind you. What are their strengths? What are their weaknesses? Try to look closely and delegate the tasks appropriately. If you want things done right, then you're going to have to give them to the right person. Being comfortable with who you have doing your work for you is going to make you relax so you can focus on the things that you need to accomplish.

If you have concerns about someone on your team not being able to do things right, then you need to address that. Work on training, or if necessary, look for another team member. If you don't have confidence in who you have doing the job, you're never going to be able to feel comfortable with delegating and you're going to be stressed to the max!

If you ever find yourself working long hours, going above and beyond the call of duty just to get regular job duties performed, then something is wrong. You need to have a good work/life balance. When you find that your job is interfering with your life, you need to take a step back and see what can be changed. Typically delegating is the first step in making those changes.

Hope this is helpful! Share with me some of your delegating stories. What challenges have you faced? What do you have to do in your office so you know it gets done right?

Morgan Oney, CAM
www.mynewsletterconnection.com
Communicate with your residents on the web! Email and online newsletters at a fraction of the cost of traditional paper newsletters!

New Resource Guide for Property Managers

2009-11-13T18:16:00.001-08:00

We've added a fantastic page to our My Newsletter Connection website. We're collecting links to all of the best apartment industry websites, blogs, speakers, services, etc. and putting them all in one place! It's a one stop shop for learning all you can about how to be a successful property manager!

If you've got an industry related website, blog, business, etc. and would like a link on our site, shoot me an email to info@mynewsletterconnection.com! It's totally free, we just ask for a little love in return. :)

'Tis the Season for Giving

2009-11-10T10:33:00.001-08:00

Times are tight this year for everyone. Marketing budgets have dwindled and it's becoming increasingly hard to attract new residents. This is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of all of the free marketing available to you. What a better way than to help people in the process????

Charitable giving has long been a marketing technique in the apartment industry. Help the community, get your name out there, it's a win win for everyone! Times are tougher than ever, the need for giving is greater than ever, and your need for new residents is likely greater than ever! So take advantage of this opportunity and select a charity to help out with this holiday season. Get your employees, residents and community involved and you'll see great success!

In case you need some inspiration, here are some ideas of charities you can get involved with this holiday season.

1. Toys for Tots

http://www.toysfortots.org/

Provides toys for children in need

2. Make A Wish

http://www.wish.org/

Make an ill child's wish come true. You can donate or volunteer your time.

3. Salvation Army

http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Offers a variety of giving opportunities, including Coats for Kids and the Angel Tree

4. Holiday Mail for Heroes

www.redcross.org/holidaymail

Send holiday cards to American soliders overseas

5. Feeding America

http://www.feedingamerica.org/

Food banks across the country are running low in these tough economic times. This is a great organization!

6. Soles 4 Souls

http://www.soles4souls.org/

Soles4souls has a mission of helping people by providing them shoes in those areas of the world where there is no shoe store, much less the money to buy shoes.

7. Sponsor a neighborhood family

There's nothing better than helping out someone in your own backyard. Odds are there are residents in your community who are facing tough times. It's likely no secret as they're already in contact with you because of their rental payments, so why not take an opportunity to ask these families if they'd be interested in some assistance for the holidays. I know it seems like an overwhemling task, but I've seen it done successfully and it has had a great impact on the community. Here are a few tips:

In your newsletter, send a notice to your residents about your campaign, maybe call it Neighbors Helping Neighbors, and ask residents who need a little help to just send in a letter about their need. You can also ask neighbors to send in a letter about another family in the community. Sort of like a "nomination." You may get one or two or you may get a handful. Don't turn anyone away, anyone who sends in a letter will get something.

Next begin your campaign by taking compiling a list of things that are needed and getting the word out there. Keep the families identities anonymous. Send letters, put signs up, host a resident giving party, contact local businesses...you can secure a great number of items for these families!

I hope some of these ideas inspired you to get involved. The holidays are a great time to begin a giving program, and once you get the hang of it, it's something that you can implement all year long!

Morgan Oney, CAM
http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/

Internet and email newsletters for you to communicate with your residents! They're creative, interactive, and best of all, affordable!

Collecting Past Due Accounts...Love It or Hate It?

2009-11-04T12:33:00.001-08:00

For some people, collecting on past due and delinquent accounts is the worst part of their job. For others, it's exciting and exhilirating. I fall into that category. When I was an Assistant Manager and my primary job function was collections, I loved every minute of it. Every time I collected on an account that others deemed hopeless, I got such a rush. It was so rewarding to me to know that I did something that other people struggled with.

It wasn't always like that, though. It took me a long time to get comfortable with collections, to move past the personal feelings I had for my residents and to get a process down that worked for me. But once I had that accomplished, I was comfortable with my role and success soon followed. So if you're one of those who thinks this is the worst part of your job, here are some of the ways I evolved in my role as a collector.

Establish Your Collection Process

If your company already has clear collection guidelines in place, then of course, follow what they say. But if they don't, it's in your best interest (for the sake of your sanity) to create collection guidelines yourself. Here's a snapshot of the process I created for my company....

Move Out Collections

1. When a resident gives notice to vacate, send a notice to vacate acknowledgement form that includes details they need to know about to prepare for their move and schedule a pre-move out inspection of their apartment for roughly 2-4 weeks prior to their move out date. This inspection is where you're going to try to get an estimate of charges to collect on before they move out. You'll also include any charges you may already know about, like lease termination fees, past due balances, etc. Anything you can assess and collect on before the resident moves out will certainly be in your best interest.

2. Once you've completed the pre-move out inspection and have assessed known damages, create an invoice including all owed charges and send it to the resident with a due date of their move out date. Send this notice on bright paper so it is noticeable and looks important.

3. A few days before the invoice is due, contact the resident by phone or email to let them know you haven't received their payment and remind them it's due when they turn in their keys.

4. Once their move out date has come and gone, you'll likely find yourself with that prior balance still due. You may get lucky with some, but for the most part, people won't pay until they're out. That's ok. You tried. So from here, you'll complete the actual move out inspection, assess final charges, and send an invoice to their forwarding address (which you should collect when they give their notice). Give them 15 days to make their payment.

5. If the next payment date has come and gone, pick up the phone and give them a call. Be friendly and just remind them that you haven't received their payment. Be nice as pie and hopefully they'll arrange to make the payment right then or tell you when you can expect it. Also send another friendly reminder of the past due invoice and give them 15 days to pay.

6. Once that payment due date passes, now is the time to become more firm. Send a notice outlining your next steps should they not make their payment. Tell them about the damage that could occur on their credit report as well as how it will affect their ability to rent elsewhere. Give them 15 more days to make their payment. Towards the end of those 15 days, another reminder phone call is helpful.

7. After 45-60 days have passed, it's unlikely that you're going to collect the full amount. If your company is flexible, this is the time to offer a settlement. After all, something is better than nothing. Plus, you'll just lose money sending it over to a collection agency anyway. I would knock off 25% off the top if they paid in full within another week, otherwise, I told them the account would go in full to an outside collection agency who may also pursue legal action.

8. If they didn't pay by this point, odds are they're not paying at all, so it's time to let go and send the account off.

Rental Collections

Collecting rent can be tricky. You want to maintain a high level of customer service, but you also need to be firm and collect your money. I think the best thing you can do to accomplish both of these things is to have clear cut guidelines for rental payments, make sure the residents are aware of them and do not deviate from them. For example, our rent was due on the 1st, late on the 6th, evictions filed on the 11th. No exceptions. If you were filed on, you had an opportunity to pay and stay if you paid your account in full by the court date, but you could only use this free pass one time. If we had to file again, we wouldn't drop the suit. Making residents aware of your process up front keeps the situation clean and clear because everyone knows what to expect. When there are no surprises, people stay happy and disagreements are kept to a minimum. Plus, I've also found that by being firm on your legal action, you have a lower rate of delinquency because no one wants that to happen!

To futher assist in our rental collections, we placed a bootleg "rent is due" reminder sign at the property entrances at the end of each month, a sign by the mailboxes, a reminder in our newsletter and also emailed a link to our rental payment website as a reminder to those who paid that way. These few things also helped with those few residents who had a tendancy to "forget" when rent was due!

Put Your Job First, Feelings Last

This is perhaps the trickiest part of being a collector. Your heart sympathizes with every job loss, every illness or every string of bad luck. But your business mind knows that while these problems are terrible, you still have a job to do. It's a tough thing to come to grips with, but the sooner you can separate these things, the easier your job will be. It's not that easy, I know. It took me years before I was completely comfortable. It's a fine art and there's really no right or wrong way to get there, but just know that it's critical that you find a way to make it happen.

I hope these tips and tricks on collections help you and your team. There's far more I can say on this topic, so if you have any questions at all, feel free to let me know!

Morgan Oney, CAM

http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/

Internet and email newsletters for apartment communities to communicate with their residents

YES! You can include a link to your rental payment website in our newsletters! :) How's that for help with your collections?!?!

Is your advertising campaign working for you?

2009-10-30T10:28:00.001-07:00

I'll never forget my favorite college professor at UNC Chapel Hill where I was an advertising major. His name was Joe Bob and he was my advisor for my last 2 years as well as my instructor for numerous advertising classes. He was an amazing teacher and had so much real life knowledge about the advertising industry to share. There were so many things I learned from him, but there's one thing that I've carried with me all these years and I live by it whenever I tackle an advertising related task. Joe Bob taught me the secret of the most successful advertising campaigns in history.

The most successful, memorable campaigns are ones that take 2 totally unrelated items/thoughts/objects and combine them to make a lasting impression.

Darned if he wasn't right! Think about some of your favorite commercials or radio ads. One of my favorites is the ETrade talking babies. What in the world do talking babies and the stock market have in common? Absolutely nothing! That's the beauty of it and I'll always remember ETrade just because I love the little baby breaking out his rendition of "take....these broken wings..." It never gets old! Or how about the Geico Gheko. Really, a lizard selling insurance? But it works, doesn't it?!

So let's talk about your advertising. You probably have some ads in a local apartment magazine, maybe some online. They probably have your logo, a fancy picture or 2, a list of your features, a blurb about your property, maybe some pretty designs or stock photos. Flip through your local apartment magazine and I bet 95% of the ads look like that. So why would yours stand out? What makes yours special? Why would a reader choose to visit your community over the one on the page before you?

So here's your challenge....revamp your advertising campaign. Create your memorable ad. Brainstorm and unleash your inner creative genius...I know it's in there! Try to think of your unrelated thing that can really create a memorable ad for your community. Here are a few ideas to get you started....

Sex sells. It's a common fact. I actually did a study in college about the effects of sex and violence in advertising, and wouldn't you know it, it's a proven fact. I don't really recommend the violence angle, but you could take the sex angle and work with it. Girls in bikinis, glamourous women, etc. This would work especially well for a student community. I know what you're thinking, but I've seen it done, and when done tastefully and creatively, it can work!
Pop culture...think of something that's hot right now that everyone knows about. How about doing a Michael Jackson themed ad. It's a "Thriller" to live at our property!
Kids and pets...everyone can relate to at least one and they typically pull at your heartstrings. How about a baby in a playpen, trying to escape, unhappy with her surroundings, with a thought bubble saying "I'd rather live at XYZ Apartments."
Food...who doesn't love to eat? Create an ad filled with photos of candy bars and tell your prospects how "sweet" it is to live at your property.

Just be sure when you design your ad that you keep your audience in mind. For example, you probably don't want to use the sex angle if you've got yourself a senior community! We don't need you losing your residents to some unexpected heart attacks! :)

It'll take some creativity to bring your thoughts to the next level, but I'm confident if you put the time into doing so, you'll be thrilled with the results.

If you decide to revamp your advertising, let me know! I'd love to see it! My contact info is my website below and you can also find me on Facebook!

Morgan Oney, CAM

http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/

Online newsletters for apartment communities to connect with their residents.

Tricks or Treats...What is your community known for?

2009-10-29T13:56:00.001-07:00

Reputations...we all have one. Our communities have one. So what is yours? Do you even know? What do your residents, community neighbors and competitors really think of your community? If you don't know, then it's time to figure it out!

Reputation is huge in such a competitve industry. The word around town can certainly sway a potential renter to one direction or another. So how do you get them to sway your way? First off, you need to find out what people really think of your community and get a really good handle on where you stand. Here are some great ways you can do this...

Create a resident survey. Make it anonymous to get the most accurate results. Encourage your residents to be honest about their likes and dislikes and give them an opportunity to offer suggestions for improvement.
Create an exit survey and send it along with your deposit refunds when a resident moves out. Again, ask for their likes, dislikes and suggestions.
Browse the internet. Look to sites like Apartment Ratings to see what people are saying about your community. A quick Google search will lead you to sech reviews.
Look into local websites like City-Data.com. Do a forum search to see if there are any conversations started about your community. If not, feel free to start one, but be careful not to set the tone for the responses. Just a simple "What do you think of XYZ Apartments" will do.
Mystery shop your competitors to see what they're saying about you. Mention to the leasing agent that you're also looking at XYZ Apartments and see what they have to say about your community.
Visit your neighbors. Stop into businesses, catch neighborhood residents when they're outside...introduce yourself and see what kind of reaction you'll get. Get a feel for how well known your community is. Ask them if they have any questions. Some people will be pretty straightforward and share concerns if they have them.

Once you've established what your reputation is, you need a plan of attack. Look at all of your research and find the trends. Obviously, you want your reputation to be good, so the key is to play up your strengths and try to correct your weeknesses. For example, if people love your beautiful grounds and friendly staff, really make it a point to include those things as a part of all of your advertising and sales pitches. If people think you raise rates too much or have issues with parking, then find a way to work on those things to make them less of an issue.

The bottom line is that you want to be known as the community with the beautiful grounds and friendly staff when people talk about you, not the community that raises rates and where you can't find a parking space. Make your "treats" stand out and keep your "tricks" to a minimum! Taking the time to be aware of how your community is perceived can go a long way to keep your community occupied and your owners happy!

Morgan Oney, CAM

http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/

Online newsletters for apartment communities to connect with their residents!

Interior Decorating for Apartments

2009-10-29T06:33:00.001-07:00

Interior Decorating Secrets for Apartments

So you have a small apartment. You are possibly wondering, how do I make my small space look comfortable and inviting with out looking cluttered? I have your answer. Actually several answers.

First of all start with looking around, notice the placement of windows and which way the light reflects in the rooms during different times of day. You do not want to blind someone, who could possibly be visiting, by that stunning sunset. Also look at your current furniture and the colors that it is or is not. Some colors can make a room look small, clinical and cold.

Good warm toned colors also make it more comfortable for you to live there. Browns, Reds, Yellows, and Oranges are great colors to open up space and make the room warm and inviting. Use accent rugs to help with the addition of colors as some Landlords do not allow you to paint. Sofa Covers are a great way to add color and save from wear and tear on your furniture.

When choosing a color scheme please note that you should choose something that is easy to clean i.e., browns and grays. White is not a good choice, unless you plan on never really living in your place.

Try to look at the big picture, small living rooms mean that you shouldn?t get a sectional sofa. Instead try a small love seat or futon couch. Not only does the futon couch help with space but it can be converted to a bed for those single room apartments.

If you are on a budget and don?t want to get rid of your current bed and you are in a studio apartment try a bed that looks like a bunk bed with out the lower bunk. That way you can store your dress and other articles under the bunk and enclose it with a curtain and no one can see your unmade bed up top. This is very useful for bachelors.

Try creating rooms with the use of decorative screens. It can make a single room look like two or more rooms are there. Also remember your curtains, they should be allowing the light in, the more light you allow in the bigger the space looks.

Use a small bistro table as a dining table. It is intimate and makes for a great coffee talk spot. If you are lucky enough to have some one in your apartment remember to always hide your laundry. Laundry laying around makes the apartment appear cluttered and small.

Plants are a great way to make your room appear bigger. Try hanging them from the ceiling or by using hooks on the wall. Don?t forget the importance of mirrors. The use of mirrors can make your small apartment look large. Use a focal point and angle your mirror towards it, it gives the illusion of depth.

Most importantly make sure you always have a clean space, it is always bigger when it is clean.

Ok so now you have gone and cleaned, you are noticing that the apartment still looks small. Question your storage. You need some ideas for storage you say? Well I am full of them.

Look around and if you notice you have lots of magazines lying around get yourself a magazine holder. It is a handy little box that is decorative to your specific likes and it cleans up your tables of clutter.

Get your self a footrest that has storage inside of it. It is nice for when the surprise guest comes over and you need to store something quickly. A coffee table with storage underneath it is also a wise choice. The more storage you have that isn?t added clutter makes your life easier.

Wall shelves help to eliminate tabletop mess. Put your collectible gnomes on a small wall shelf and look at all the free space you have just created for yourself.

All of the suggestions presented here to you are easy do it yourself projects. You can get most of these easy to use items at your local all purpose store and hardware store.

Work/Life Balance...Are your scales tipping the wrong way?

2009-10-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

When I began my career, it was easy for me to work early mornings, late nights and every weekend. I was on a lease up, so of course it was time consuming, but I didnt even give it a second thought. I loved my career and I was all over anything I could do to help move that forward. In addition to working all those crazy hours, I was also active with the local apartment association, a couple of volunteer organizations and still managed to fit in some quality time with my then fiance (now husband). I was loving life and wouldn't have changed a thing.

Fast forward a few years to the birth of my first son. Wow, it's amazing how such a little person could change every aspect of your life. Everything that I thought was important suddenly wasn't. And all of my goals and aspirations were thrown out the window. All I wanted to do was spend time with my little guy. Give him everything the world had to offer. But I quickly realized that all of those wonderful things came with a pricetag and I couldn't give them to him if I didn't resume my career. So I jumped back on the saddle and settled into a new routine. We woke up at 6 a.m., got fed, dressed and packed and made the 30 minute trek to the babysitter's house. After he was settled, I made the additional 15 minute trek to work and began my day around 8 a.m. I did my best to get through the day, handling resident issues, leasing apartments and squashing a staff squabble or two. When 5 p.m. rolled around, I tried to make a swift exit, but was usually bombarded by a few residents looking for their packages on their way home from work. I was lucky to be out of the office by 5:15 p.m., at the sitter's by 5:30 and home by 6:15. By the time I cooked, fed and bathed the baby, I only had about 30 minutes of playtime with him before it was time for him to go to sleep at 8 p.m. I can't even begin to tell you how disheartening it was to only spend 30 minutes a day with my child. Any mother will agree that that's simply not enough time. And it just about killed me that another woman was spending 9 hours a day with him. 9 whole hours. I went through the motions, day in and day out, but my life was incomplete and I just wasn't happy. But at the time, I saw no way out. We needed the paycheck and the apartment industry was all I'd ever known. I felt I was destined to live like this forever. That is, until I found out I was pregnant with my second child.

As soon as I looked at that positive pregnancy test, I just knew things had to change. There was no way I could divide that small 30 minute window of quality time with two children. And I certainly wasn't going to be able to pay $2,000 just for a babysitter! So over the next several months, I searched high and low for new job opportunities. When I saw that there was virtually nothing out there that could pay me what I was making as a manager, I started to think outside the box. What if I could work for myself? But doing what? It's a scary thought to put yourself out there, not having a steady paycheck to rely on. But after a couple more months of research, preparation and lots of prayers, I finally was able to launch my very own company. I had long been thinking that our area was lacking apartment locating services. So I decided to start there. My company quickly took on a mind of it's own and now I offer marketing services and most recently, online resident newsletters. Business now couldn't be better, but the best part is, I'm sharing it with my family. I have legos under my desk, drink from a Spongebob coffee mug, have Batman on the TV in the background....and I'm loving every minute of it. It took me some time, but I had finally figured out how to balance my life so that I could have the thriving career I wanted but still be there to raise my kids.

So how's your work/life balance? The scales don't even out instantly, it's going to take a little work to get you there. Below are some awesome tips from Web MD to help you on your way...

1. Figure out what really matters to you. Try to come up with a list of your top 5 priorities and rank them in order of importance to see what needs work.

2. Drop unnecessary activities. In addition to my long hours in the office, I was also overextending myself with apartment association activities and volunteer time.

3. Protect your private time. Make sure you don't skimp out on those doctor's appointments, parent teacher conferences, lunch dates with friends and family, etc. Those events are critical to making sure you take care of your number one priority-you!

4. Accept help to balance your life. Allow people to help you when they offer to give your kids a ride or run some errands for you. Every little bit helps!

5. Plan fun and relaxation. Whatever it is that you enjoy doing, whether it be a relaxing yoga class or a hike though the trails, be sure to make time for these things in your life.

I really hope you can find balance in your life like I have in mine. I've never been happier in my home life or more successful in my career. It can happen for you too...but you have to put in the work to get yourself there!

Morgan Oney, CAM
http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/
http://www.getmoreleases.com/
http://www.triangleapartmentconnection.com/

Follow Up...Are You Doing It?

2009-10-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

I'll never forget my first leasing job. It was a brand new, luxury community that was opening during the height of the "3 month free" craze of 2002. We had 6 or 7 other brand new properties within a 5 mile radius, so competition was fierce. Being the "green" leasing professional that I was, I figured that once I concluded a tour and sent a quick thank you note, I just sat back and waited for them to lease or not. Oh the horror! It wasn't until about 3 months later that a new manager came in and introduced follow up logs that I was totally thrown for a loop. Surely she couldn't have expected me to call these people back, right? How embarassing. If they wanted to live at my community, then they'd be back with their applications. I didn't want to be that high pressure salesperson who they labeled as "annoying." But I quickly realized that if I wanted to keep my job, I had to give in. It took me a few weeks before I was completely comfortable on the phone. There were several times I was hung up on and nearly brought to tears, but alas, I made it through. And surprise, surprise, I actually got a few leases out of it. This is pretty neat, I thought. So I kept at it and before long, I was the number one leaser in my company.

I look back on that experience and laugh to myself. But the sad part now is that this is happening all across the country and thousands of leases are being lost because of one simple piece to the puzzle...no one is taking the time to follow up. It's not rocket science, but for some reason, it's still not getting done. I've done a million property shops over the years, and I've probably only received a form of follow up from about 25% of them. Seriously. For me, the biggest factor was embarassment and fear of rejection. I would imagine that's still the largest roadblock for most leasing professionals, with laziness and lack of training following closely behind. So let's take those roadblocks one step at a time and see how to fix them....

Fear of Rejection: No one likes to be rejected. That's just a fact of life. But the thing to remind your staff here is that when someone chooses to live someplace else, they're not rejecting them, they're rejecting the product. If a person can convince themselves of that fact, it'll put their mind at ease and slowly help them to get over that fear.

Embarassment: It's not fun when someone yells at you, calls you out on something, badgers you for a better deal, or (gasp) hangs up on you. I think the only way to get over it and develop a thick skin is through practice. The more and more conversations a leasing professional has, the easier it will be to deal with these feelings. So to build up their skin, assign a different leasing professional to follow up with the entire office's traffic each week, not just their own. By making a large amount of calls at one time, they'll build up their thick skin and be able to better handle the reactions they hear on the other end of the phone.

Laziness: It's so easy to get complacent in a community. Particularly if your community is in a good position. But there is always traffic and there will always be a need for leases. So if you have a staff that you know is capable of following up with none of the problems mentioned above, more than likely, they're suffering from a case of lazyassness. The cure is motivation, and if that doesn't work, then a good swift kick in the aforementioned region will give them a jump start. Help motivate your team by offering an incentive for them to follow up. Maybe tape some $5 bills on the back of randome guest cards. Or how about creating a contest for the person with the best conversion rates on old traffic. And if all else fails and you have a staff member that just isn't coming around, a good talking to about the importance of staying on top of your prospects is in order.

Training: In my case, the reason I didn't follow up when I first began my new leasing job was that no one had ever told me how important it was. Every leasing professional has to start out somewhere, so I'm sure many of you have team members that are new to the industry and probably sales altogether. Make sure your team members know how to follow up appropriately and also know why we follow up. Knowledge is power!

Even if you're staff is not doing a great job at following up right now, rest assured in knowing that you're not alone. The community down the road is probably having the same problem, as is the community down the road from them, and the one down the road from them, and so on and so forth. Give yourself the competitive edge with these tips and get ready to take all of those leases out from under them!

Morgan
http://www.mynewsletterconnection.com/
Online newsletters for apartment communities to connect with their residents

FREE Jewelry!

2009-09-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

That got your attention, right? Check out this amazing, local jewelry designer, Rosy Revolver. She is amazingly talented and one of her one of a kind necklaces is up for grabs! Check it out on her blog...

http://tinyurl.com/l9nquz

Back to School Time is Here....

2009-08-25T06:14:00.001-07:00

The school supplies are clearing off the shelves, the backpacks are full and the new shoes are by the door....school time is here. Today marks the first day of school in my district, but it also marks a trend in the apartment industry that you may have already noticed. This is the busiest time of year for the industry. Most people want to get their moves taken care of in the summer time to be settled before their children start school. Others move specifically for school. Whatever the reason, more people move now than ever and you may have noticed that rates have been higher than what you've been seeing. That's where the old supply and demand theory kicks in. So do you want to optimize your chances of getting a great rate? Here's the trick...wait and plan your move in the late fall. Once the demand drops off and things slow down, communities will be begging for new residents. You'll find that specials are typically at their best in the October-December timeframe. So if you have flexibility in your move, wait it out...your wallet will thank you!

Moving Tips from the Experts

2009-06-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

Transporting your family members thousands of miles can be an overwhelming task that requires more planning than just a move across town. Some tips on how to make the trek easier are listed below.

Pack a separate suitcase or tote for each person if there is room in your vehicle. A complete set of clothes, with underwear and socks, for each travel day, plus an extra set, needs to be included. To avoid bedtime hysterics, pack the things that people need to go to sleep, like special teddy bears or blankets, on top. Keep soiled clothing separate by utilizing garbage bags with pull string enclosures.

Remember to refill any prescription medications before the big day, and pack a first aid kit that includes pain-killers, band-aids, and antibiotic ointment. If anyone has food or other allergies and has been prescribed Benadryl or an EpiPen, remember to have them close at hand in the car.Go to the local dollar store. Buy a toiletry kit with multiple toothbrushes, lotion, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, napkins, plastic dinnerware including plates, and finally, many packages of batteries for electronic entertainment devices. Fasten the bags securely and pack them in one of the suitcases that you'll be taking on the trip.

Many families own two vehicles, and they will be driving them separately. In this case, the purchase of two quality walkie-talkies is recommended for the trip. Cell phones are often at the mercy of areas with poor or no reception, and these areas are frequently found along less traveled roads. Plus, the walkie-talkies may pay for themselves by reducing the roaming charges on your cell phone. If car trouble or some other calamity occurs, you can instantly be in contact with the other driver. Consider two identical sets of walkie-talkies, set on the same frequency, for the times when the older children are allowed to attend the rest room or get snacks by themselves. In the event that danger is encountered, your child should be taught to cry for help and push the button at the same time. You may even want to do some practice drills prior to the trip.

Keep an agenda of everyday tasks, like taking vitamins and medicine, recharging the cell phones and walkie-talkies, and double checking to make sure you've gotten everything. Make a space for you to check off after each task has been completed. You are more than likely to become exhausted on an extended road trip and may not be able to recall all of the small details that can make a huge difference.

It is better to charge your batteries for the communication devices every night, because normally, the day after the night you don't charge it will be the day you will need it the most. To make things easier, go ahead and make a copy of this list for each day and store it in a three ring binder, along with printouts of Mapquest directions and the phone numbers of your important contacts, such as the moving company and the hotels in which you intend to stay.

You'll obviously want to pack snacks for the car ride. Consider healthier snacks such as protein bars and shakes, as opposed to sodas and candy bars. Traveling with kids on sugar highs is a bad idea.

Living Safely in an Apartment Community

2009-06-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

Living Safely In A Multifamily Community

Apartment Complexes are a popular type of rental living because of its economy. Amenities such as swimming pools, computer rooms, 24-hour gyms, and on site laundry facilities offered by apartment complexes adds to the appeal. Some apartment complexes even have tennis and/or volleyball courts.Conversely, apartment complexes have become targets for home invasions and burglary. It is not unusual to turn on the nightly news in most major cities only to hear of accounts of auto vandalism, attempted rape, arson, and burglary at gunpoint at one or more local apartment units.Due to this increase in apartment crime, law enforcement officials have put out pamphlets and news alerts in most major cities with advice on keeping one safe in apartment dwellings. This article is based on aforementioned advice and offers ten tips for a more secure apartment.

Ten Security Tips
1. Chain locks offer little protection and cheap locks can be disabled easily. If the apartment does not have a good deadbolt lock on the door, ask permission of the apartment manager to put one on the door. Do be certain that the management has a key if they need to gain access into your apartment.

2. Never leave your apartment door unlocked. This includes when you leave to get the mail or take out the trash. Someone lurking in the breezeway could gain access quickly.

3 Most apartment complexes have peepholes already installed on the door. If not, ask if you can install one for your added safety.

4. Never open your door to a stranger. Require all utility/repair men to provide identification before opening the door and allowing entry into your apartment. If there is no peephole, have the repairman slip the ID under the door so you can check it out. If still uncertain, look up the telephone number, (do not accept one they give you) and call to verify the information.

5. When away from home , use timers for radios, televisions and lights so that the home looks occupied. If you will be away for a while, get a buddy system going with a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on each other's home.

6. It is a good idea to buddy up with a neighbor to do laundry. Many complexes keep these doors locked allowing keys only to tenants. Unfortunately this is not always the case and laundry rooms can pose danger if kept unlocked allowing transients and criminals access.

7. Do not hesitate to call the police immediately if you see suspicious activity. Then take steps to report it to the Apartment Manager. If you report it to the manager first it may be too late for would be criminals to be caught in the act. The police cannot do anything after the fact if the apartment manager is slow about calling the police or waits until the next day to reports the incident.

8. Law Enforcement and Crime Prevention officials advise keeping a light on at night. As a general rule apartment complex property is well lit up. If you notice that a light is out, notify the management. It could take days before the management becomes aware. A well-lit area is the best way to prevent vandalism.

9. Because of the large amount of vehicles in one area, complex parking lots are a target for vandalism. To avoid damage to your car, do not leave valuable items within visibility. Do keep doors locked and park in well lighted areas if possible.

10. To prevent someone fooling you with knowledge who you are, use only your first initial on the door, mailbox, and in the phone book. This is especially important for women living alone, as they are often targets for rape and sexual assualt.While you do not want to be frightened, you do want to exercise caution. Following these security measures will minimize potential danger to your person and your valuables.

***Triangle Apartment Connection offers these tips for informational purposes only. We are not responsible for these tips or for your personal safety or security.

What to expect when renting in the Triangle

2009-03-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

I have two words for you....Realistic Expectations...

There's nothing more that I'd like than to be able to help every single client that inquires about our services to find the apartment home of their dreams. But more often than not, clients come to us with completely unrealistic expectations about what it's like to rent an apartment in the greater Raleigh/Durham area. To help get everyone on the same page, we've come up with the top 5 misconceptions that people have about renting in the Triangle, NC area...

1. Rental Prices & Prioritizing Preferences

Everyone has a budget for the rent that they can afford. But often times, their budgets are not in line with the rest of their criteria. One of the great benefits of using a relocation service like Triangle Apartment Connection is that you can get a professional opinion to see if what you're looking for is really out there. Can you get a 1,000 square foot 1 bedroom apartment with a garden tub under $600 a month? Can you get a brand new 3 bedroom apartment for only $800 a month? These are criteria that our relocation specialists can go over with you and guide you on what you can and can't find for the price point you're interested in.

Here are the average rents for the Triangle area based on the current rates of the communities in our database...

1 bedrooms: $675

2 bedrooms: $850

3 bedrooms: $1,000

An important point to keep in mind is that average prices will get you average apartment. If you want above average features, like modern appliances, upgraded cabinetry and countertops, garden style bathtubs, crown molding and more, than you'll pay a bit more. If you're willing to live in an older community without all the bells and whistles, then you can find something more affordable. Every community has it's pros and cons. It's really just a matter of prioritizing what you're looking for and matching those preferences with the communities available.

2. Negotiating

Apartment prices and specials are just one of those things that can't be negotiated. Communities are governed by state and federal Fair Housing guidelines and in order to comply with them, they must offer the exact same thing to every single person that walks through their doors. In an effort to make sure they're in compliance, communities will have published rates and specials that can't be negotiated. While it's alright to ask a community if they happen to have any other specials available (there may be a preferred employer incentive or urgency incentive available for you), it's not alright to ask them to knock off another 20 bucks off the rent or to throw in a washer and dryer. It just puts everyone in an awkward position and it just isn't a great way to start out a rental relationship.

3. The Single Family Home to Apartment Transition

With the housing crisis comes many renters who are used to the conveniences of living single family homes. Often times, they have either not rented in quite some time or not at all, so their expectations moving into an apartment are out of line with what is realistic or they just don't have any expectations at all and need some guidance.

First off, this is multi-family living, so there is absolutely no guarantee you won't hear your neighbors. Every community will have rules and regulations in place to keep excessive noise to a minimum, but don't expect to get your neighbors evicted because they walk like a herd of elephants. If you ever have a noise concern, talk to your property manager about it. He or she will tell you whether or not the noise you are hearing is normal for apartment living or something they can look into.

On the flipside, you may need to adjust your lifestyle to accomodate your neighbors. Living in an apartment means you must extend the same courtesy that you would expect to be able to enjoy your home peacefully. Your community may have specific rules, but some standard courtesies to keep in mind are to not do laundry, vacuum, turn on surround sound or bass after 9 p.m., be sure to keep your pets attended to and leashed at all times and pick up after him/her, do not leave trash outside of your apartment, keep your patio/balcony tidy and do not take up multiple "front row" parking spaces in your building. Moving from a house to an apartment is an adjustment. If you ever have any concerns, be sure to talk them over with you property manager. They are happy to help make the transition as easy as possible for you.

4. Credit History

Unfortunately, more and more people are coming to us with credit scores that are dwindling by the minute. In these tough economic times, it seems like it's a rarity to find someone with excellent credit. Apartment communities are certainly monitoring the situation and adjusting their criteria accordingly. So just because you have bad credit, it doesn't necessarily mean you won't be able to get an apartment. As long as you qualify otherwise, communities are likely to work with you if you have a not so stellar credit rating. One exception to this rule is a prior debt to a landlord, particularly if it is unpaid. If you have a lease break fee, eviction or damage charges on your credit report, be prepared to run into some problems getting qualified for an apartment. If the debt has been paid, you may have more options, but they are still few and far between. My best advice is to be up front and honest with your leasing consultant in the very beginning of the application process. They can guide you through their company's requirements so you don't end up wasting a ton of money on application fees only to be declined.

5. Time Frame

It's certainly respectable that people want to get a jump start on looking for apartments well in advance of their move in date. But it's really a tough thing to do because pricing and availability changes so frequently. Typically, a community won't set a rental rate until they know what they have available, and they won't know what they have available until current residents give notice. Notices are typically required 60 days before a lease expires, so that's a good rule of thumb as to when to start looking for an apartment. There's no sense in wasting time looking for something any earlier, especially if you have budget constraints. Prices today will certainly not be the same as prices 6 months from now. You could fall in love with an apartment now that is in your price range, only to find when you're closer to your move in date that it has increased by $100. Or vice versa-you could overlook a great apartment now because it's outside of your price range, but in reality, closer to the time you're looking to move, it's dropped to make it more affordable. To make sure you have the most accurate information and the most options to meet your needs, it's best to begin your apartment search no sooner than 60 days before your move in date.

If you ever have a question about the apartment process, please let us know. That's what we're here for! We have countless years of experience in the local market and would love to share our expertise with you and help you make the best decisions for you situation!