We asked the attendees of the Multifamily Brainstorming Sessions to complete the sentence “If only I knew then what I know now…,” and the wisdom and insight that they had to offer was simply amazing. Here is some of what they had to share!
I wish I’d known that it’s okay to say to a resident “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” The manager doesn’t always have to be right or have a fear of admitting she or he made a mistake.
I wish I’d known that everyone has a different view to a situation. Corporate policies and procedures are important, but listening to your residents and solving their challenges is the key to success!
I wish I’d known what a “small” industry this is. Everybody knows everybody. Never say anything negative about anyone. It will get back to them. This industry has many thousands of people, and believe me, the all know each other!!!
I wish I’d known the importance of follow-up and how easy it is to develop relationships with people you know for only a few minutes. There are so many different kinds of people and each person can teach us something valuable. Always look for a common bond, and do your best to make a difference in life.
I wish I’d known all the different aspects involved in property management. This includes the marketing, training, recruitment, and vendor services that as a property manager you are often open to. There are so many areas to explore, once you conquer your current position, move on to another challenge.
I wish I’d known the value of brainstorming with other great minds. As you progress in your career, you will be charged with more and greater responsibilities. You might feel that unless you are the “Shell Answer Man” on every issue that you are letting your associates down. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you will learn early the concept of “synergy”, you will be a lot happier, well-rested, self-confident, and more productive than if you try to do it all by yourself.
I wish I’d known the why! I wish I’d been told the reasons for the importance of following specific leasing presentations, techniques, tracking traffic, and Resident service!
I wish I’d known you can’t be friends with anyone you charge for damages in their apartment after they’ve moved out. You can’t always believe in what your residents tell you regarding past due rent, and when they are going to pay. No matter how hard you try to be fair, some resident thinks you are not - to them only. When you try to collect what is due you, they think you’re mean and taking something from them.
I wish I’d known that you must always have an open mind and expand your network. There is always something new to be learned and to teach someone else. Property management is a great field to be in. It will always exist, and there are so many people you can get to know and no two days are alike. There are a lot of different aspects to property management form leasing, marketing, financial, building structure, etc.
I wish I’d known that no matter how much you know, you never, ever know it all. This business is a day-to-day learning experience. If you get upset because you never seem to get it all, forget it. Look at it as a new learning session every day. That’s why it is such a great career - never the same day.
I wish I’d known that “perception is reality”. How others see you is the framework within which they work or deal with you.
I wish I’d known that everyone - residents, staff, etc. - has something to teach you. Patience and sincerity and doing what it takes to get the job done - always takes extra effort.
Never underestimate the general public. They will always surprise you, both good and bad.
I wish I’d known how important it is to start resident retention programs at the time the new resident first moves in. Also if only I’d given one more call-back to the prospect, I might have been able to close on more people, making myself fresh in their minds at all times.
I wish I’d known that listening is the very best communication skill.
I wish I’d realized the importance of learning from one another. Never be afraid to ask!
The one thing that I would like to offer, the one thing I wish I had in the beginning of my career, was the ability to really listen and learn from others. I have been in the business for sixteen years, and have lost the valuable opinions and experiences of my peers early in my career by not learning form their expertise.
I wish I’d known that by a lot of hard work at the start, people do notice what you have contributed to the team, and you can advance up the corporate ladder rather rapidly.
(Editor’s Note: The entries below were transcribed directly from contributors’ handwritten notes. In the interest of best preserving the spirit and full intent of each message, only the most necessary changes have been made to the original content. Grammar and sentence construction have not been corrected. Please bear in mind that in this instance substance is far more important than form, and that nobody’s perfect!)
Tags: Apartment Employee Performance, Apartment Management, Apartment Training, Multifamily Management, Multifamily Mentor, Multifamily Pro, On-site Management, Property Management