Posted on : 14-07-2010 | By : admin | In : Property Management
As strong advocates for social media, we understand the perceived negativity of giving full reign for consumers to air their thoughts about our clients. We can chalk it all down to one thing, FEAR! In a recent webinar I attended, David Meerman Scott stated that many companies use fear as a way out of social media. That is such a shame because they are missing a really fantastic opportunity to engage those consumers, learn from them and really turn their perception around.
For example, For Rent Media Solutions posts our clients’ Community Theater videos on various social networking sites. Social media websites such as YouTube, MySpace, Yahoo, Dailymotion, AptsVideo.com is where you can find them. While this is a service we provide for free, packaged with our Community Theater videos, many apartment communities are hesitant about entering this space. Their fear, there’s that word again, is that consumers will use this as a chance to rant about their community; therefore, giving them a bad image and deterring prospective renters away. While that may be the case, sometimes, it also gives them an opportunity to spout praises about your community.
Through YouTube, I receive emails when a comment is posted on one of our videos. There have been countless times where consumers comment “I live at Jefferson at Dedham Station and love my apartment! Friendly staff as well!” or even have further inquires “How much please! I think I may be interested! Reply as soon as possible! Thank you!” Yes, I will admit that we do get the ‘it’s horrible’ or ‘lame’ comments. But the ones where property managers really have an opportunity to learn from and engage are where residents post their dissatisfaction with service.
If someone submitted “The office staff sucks. For all the money you pay for rent, they don’t even allow your teenagers to use gym equipment, even if they are multi-sport student athletes in high school,” what would be the best way to respond? You take what they are stating and think about how you could possibly improve the service you promise. Maybe there is a way to have teenagers work-out in the gym with a waiver signed by their parents. Or maybe that means in your monthly newsletters you should include an article about why it is your community does not allow them to work-out unsupervised. While you cannot please every renter, communication is really all they desire.
Here’s another scenario with a renter who submits this comment regarding your property “[Maintenance] Will enter apartment with no negotiation on scheduling and with less than 24 hours notice for routine maintenance,” what could you do that would be better customer service for these residents? That’s simple, give renters more notice about routine maintenance and give them an option if the designated time does not work out for them (especially if they have pets).
To summarize this article, social media is AWESOME! It is an excellent opportunity to engage perspective and current renters, listen to what they have to say & reevaluate your service to them especially via social networking sites. They are already talking about you, whether you know it or not; so its time to participate in the conversation. In the current economic circumstances, it is imperative to listen to the customer and increase customer service. And remember this “If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will.”
Watch the video related to property management
King Edward Village condo rental in Vancouver, BC. Presented by Advent Real Estate Services rental property management specialists in Vancouver, The North Shore, Burnaby and Richmond.
Help answer the question about property management
What is the best way to advertise property management services to foreclosure listing agents?I know a person who has a property management company. She wants to start working for foreclosure listing agents and to provide services such as rekey, trash-out, winterization, etc. To all you agents out there who specialize in listing foreclosures, what would be her best strategy as far as marketing to you?
Thanks in advance!
So you want to be a Super— your best bet to get your feet wet is take take a live in position–check Craigs List–or watch the papers. You will need an understanding of buildings and it certainly helps to be handy.You need to be organized–because you may have to collect rents and keep books, You need a solid understanding of Landlord-Tenant Law in your state—Most of all you need the patience of a Saint in dealing with irate and impossible tenants. Like I said watch the listings—sometimes a larger complex may be looking for an Assistant.
It depends on the landlord. For some, being a landlord is their job, so they manage it themselves. Most, however, hire property management companies. Property management companies have standard policies and procedures the really automate the whole process, from rent rolls, finding and screening new tenants, move ins/outs, etc. Makes life easier for everyone.
This is a difficult question to answer because much depends on how much of the management work you are willing to do yourself. Most property management companies I have know all work on a percentage of the rental income. You can be fairly hands-off but it costs you money.
I use an online service for my units that could be used from a distance (ie out of town). It helps you advertise, collect rent, book keeping, screen tenants and even schedule your contractors. Keep in mind that you will still have call the plumber or handyman yourself but at only a few dollars a month per unit – I think it is worth it!
There is a free 15 day trial here:
http://www.epropertymanagementsoftware.com/
It is almost certain that your rental agreement will still be in force. Most rental agreements would have a provision stating that the agreement is binding on successors in interest, etc.
As a practical matter, my advice to you would be:
1. Make sure you have the rent on the day that it is due, but don't give it to anyone. Just hold it in a safe place (where you won't touch it) until you are contacted by someone who says you should be paying it to them. This contact could be a phone call, a letter, a "Notice to Pay Rent or Quit," or some other form of communication. At that point you can start verifying if the person or entity is legitimate. in a safe place where you won't touch it Resist the urge to spend the rent on some other pressing financial need, especially if this goes on for more than a month, which is very possible. If more than a month goes by before you have been contacted, add the next month's rent to the rent you are holding.
2. Look at your rental agreement to see who is responsible for paying the association fee. If the rental agreement says the landlord is responsible for paying it, you would probably be safe to pay the required amount from the rent you are holding, so that the water stays on.
Type in "property manager" houston and you'll see a listing of several companies.
A property manager is a person or firm charged with operating a real estate property for a fee, when the owner is unable to personally attend to such details, or is not interested in doing so. Typical jobs include finding/evicting and generally dealing with tenants, home repair, home improvement, cleaning, garden maintenance, landscaping and snow removal, to be coordinated with the owner's wishes. Such arrangements may require the property manager to collect rents, and pay necessary expenses and taxes, making periodic reports to the owner, or the owner may simply delegate specific tasks and deal with others directly. A property manager may arrange for a wide variety of services, as may be requested by the owner of the property, for a fee.
If it is a condo then the law allows for mediation and arbitration. After that you need to take the Condo Board to court under a civil suit.
http://www.gov.on.ca/MGS/en/ConsProt/STEL02_045929.html
Market research in this case means a basic knowledge of the housing market (rentals) in your area. It might include knowing strategies to improve a complex, or buildings profitability, or how to persuade the tenants to be more timely in their payments. It's not any one skill set, but several.
In other words, the days of simply collecting rent are over. But if your mom is a quick study, she might be able to persuade them to give her a try, based on her previous experience.
Good luck to her!
There is no standard.
With my company it just depends on how long people take to get back to me to verify all your information and check all your references.
Some have taken me about a week and a half because I couldn't get a hold of their previous landlord. And some others I was able to approve the same day because I was able to get a hold of everyone right away.
and each company has their own operating procedures.
Yes, they continue to collect rent, it goes to the bank instead. If you are talking about a house you can continue to rent for 3 months. If you are talking about an apartment with more then 4 units you continue to rent until a new owner is found, the banks are required to keep the property manager on.