Here’s a sweet story you can find in Chapter 7 (Send Maintenance) of my book, I Have a Complex, But I’m Managing It! Submitted by a property manager in Fort Worth, this one will warm the heart of all animal lovers.

Having worked onsite for a few years, I had a collection of crazy tales, some of which I included in my book, I Have a Complex, But I’m Managing it! Here’s one of my all-time favorites about how me and my co-workers from the leasing office “punked” our lead maintenance man Jimmy one April Fool’s Day.

Years ago, I saw a hilarious commercial featuring a dad pushing a shopping cart at a well-known office supply store with his young son and daughter. They were obviously loading up on back-to-school supplies. The kids were sporting unhappy faces while their father was downright giddy looking. In the background I could hear Andy Williams belting out, It’s The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.

Here’s a wild story submitted by a property manager in Houston about an unexpected discovery they stumbled on during a routine inspection

May 2021 was one of the rainiest months on record for The Lone Star State. Now that we’ve reached June, many of us are looking to the skies, wishing a few showers might come our way and save our lawns from an extremely hot and dry weather pattern.

A resident called the leasing office one morning in a panic. “Help!” she cried. “There’s a possum outside my front door, and I can’t get out! I’m trapped in here and I’m already running late for work....

As a property manager it’s inevitable that you’ll be involved in the upkeep of your property’s asphalt or concrete surfaces at some point. Cracks or potholes in the parking lot obviously make a big difference in how your property is perceived.

With technology improving nearly every aspect of our lives, it’s not surprising that laundry centers (or, should you prefer a more glamorous term, Clothes Care Centers) have come a long way over the past few years.

This story about a scruffy little stray is a wonderful testament to how dogs can enrich our personal and professional lives.

As property management’s longest running printed directory, The Vendor Guide bridges the gap between busy property managers and the vendors who serve them.Our team has been proud to provide this helpful publication to thousands of management decision makers throughout Texas for nearly forty years. But, what you may not realize is that we’ve also been online for almost half that time with our website, TheVendorGuide.com.

While I was collecting stories from property management professionals for my book, I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It!, I met a manager in Austin who shared an interesting tale about some residents who got creative with their living space after their marriage fell apart.

Years ago, during one of my onsite marketing visits for The Vendor Guide, I met a community director who shared a story with me about a vendor who’d quoted her an unusually low price on some interior painting she needed to have completed in several apartments.

Having worked onsite for a number of years, I know firsthand how easy it is to to develop friendships with some of your favorite residents. This was the case at a community in Austin, Texas where a property manager and her staff became quite fond of a sweet little grandma named Bobbi. Here’s her story—

Oftentimes we associate specific things with winter, be it the holidays or the cold temperatures, but one thing you won’t want to forget about in winter is that it’s the best time to handle your tree care. With fall stripping the leaves from most of the trees, winter presents the perfect opportunity to tackle tree trimming that needs to be done in addition to managing any other issues that become visible when the trees are bare.

I’ve always said if you’ve worked in property management for even just one day, you’ll have a story to tell! Here’s a fun one submitted by a leasing agent in Houston who discovered something very unusual in one of the apartments on her property.

When it comes to curb appeal, meticulously maintained beds play a starring role. That being said, there’s one important element you should never scrimp on— and that’s mulch.Although there are several types of mulch, the organic variety tends to be the most popular among landscaping professionals.

Sometimes, when you’re in a panic, it’s hard to know where to turn for help. Here’s a story, submitted by a property manager in Fort Worth, about a mother and her kids who needed help in a hurry.

They say that charity begins at home. For those living in multi-family communities, apartments are home. Here’s a touching contribution I pulled from chapter 5 (The Bizarre and Unexplained) of my book, I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It! The story, submitted by a property manager in Arlington, reminds me that there are always opportunities to bless others—we just have to look for them!

Property tours can present opportunities for surprises—some good, some . . . not so much! Take for instance this story submitted by a leasing consultant in Dallas.We had a married couple that split up and the husband moved out of their apartment. Not long after they separated, I was with a prospect on the golf cart, showing him an apartment not far from where the couple had once lived together.

Unexpected variations in the elevation of the surface along walkways and sidewalks are potential trip hazards and are usually taken seriously by property managers. Studies have shown that small inconsistencies can be most dangerous because of the low probability of a pedestrian detecting them. This is because the visual field of a walking person is always moving and dynamically changing. Pedestrians typically scan ahead in the direction of their travel—not directly down in front of their feet.

Eat, Drink and Be Merry—Just Do It Completely Differently This Thanksgiving . . . Or, Perhaps, Don’t Do It at All! Like a lot of people, I think the holiday season is truly the “most wonderful time of the year”. A huge part of that are, of course the traditions shared with family and friends. Unfortunately, thanks to Covid-19, there’ll be nothing traditional about how we celebrate in 2020! Who’d have thought way back in March that we’d be asked to radically alter our plans for the one day of the year when it’s socially acceptable to wear your stretchy pie-eating pants?

Some residents are quiet as church mice, others are well . . . not so much! Here’s a story submitted by an Austin property manager who had her hands full dealing with a very high-maintenance guy.I felt like I’d gotten to know one of our residents pretty well, yet I’d never met him in person. You see, he’d moved into his apartment long before I started working at the property. He never came to the office during working hours and we never saw him in our fitness center or checking his mail.

Many of us have spent more time at home these past few months than we ever could have imagined! I’ve spoken with friends in property management who’ve shared how challenging it’s been keeping their residents safe and happy. One told me that she’d always known what she did for a living was important, but the pandemic made her realize why property managers are truly considered essential workers.

The holiday season really sets the mood with warmth, happiness and kindness to others. If you’re struggling with getting into the holiday spirit, here are some festive things you can do for your residents.

This next story, submitted by a property manager in San Antonio, really touched my heart. It’s a great example of how onsite personnel often rely on their intuition to go the extra mile for their residents. Our leasing office had a wonderful chime on the front door that would let us know when we had a guest. I was in my office in the back when I heard the familiar chime accompanied by a booming, “Hello..."

By the time cooler temperatures arrive in Texas, most of us are ready to pull our sweaters and jackets out of their long summer hibernation. In addition to helping our bodies stay warm, there are some things we can do to help keep our dwelling places cozy while conserving energy. Here are some tips to share with your residents this winter.

Have you ever had a resident who was such a pain you couldn’t wait for their lease to expire so that you could give them notice to vacate? Here’s a wild tale submitted by a leasing pro in Houston that goes along with this “spooky” time of year. In it, you’ll see how one troublesome resident created so many headaches for the management team, they finally decided to let him out of his lease and allow the guy be someone else’s problem!

Most everyone has found the last few months to be exceptionally challenging in light of the ongoing pandemic. There’s no doubt we could all use some extra cheer right about now—something to help us smile and help ease the “Covid-fatigue” that has so many in a funk.

I entitled chapter three of my book, I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It!, “Lost In Translation”, because it contains some off-the-wall stories from property managers who’ve experienced a communication breakdown with either prospects or residents. Suffice it to say that when this happens, the outcome can be pretty frustrating. Such was the case in this tale submitted by a manager in Dallas.

Aside from some of the horror stories that come from simply working in the multi-family industry, one of the “spookier” sections of my book, I Have a Complex, but I'm Managing It! is Chapter 5—The Bizarre and Unexplained. The following is a disturbing tale of intrigue and mystery.

Other than landscaping, asphalt and concrete literally cover the majority of the surfaces of your community. You and your residents walk on it, drive on it, bike on it, and play on it every day. Yet, these surfaces are often overlooked until the day a resident rushes into the office to report an injury or a damaged vehicle, threatening to sue the property for negligence.

You may not know that recent studies show that over 90% of fires in commercial properties are extinguished early on by members of the public using a fire extinguisher.

Unfortunately, pest control is a never-ending battle when you work in the multi-family business. Here’s a fun story you can find in the Pesky Pests chapter of my book, I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It!

Sometimes you learn the most interesting tidbits of information about your residents by accident. Here’s a story submitted by a Dallas property manager who investigated after hearing some surprising news from a prospect who stopped by the office one afternoon.

Everyone knows that signs are a “must-have“ for any business. This is especially true in apartment communities where a sign may be the first impression a potential resident may have when looking for their new home. Signs go much further than just your first point of contact though; signs are vital to providing an orderly environment.

I was working at a property that was selling to a new owner and we had to do an occupied walk-through before closing. Most of the units boasted the typical “lived in” décor—clutter in the corners, dirty dishes on the counter-tops, wrinkled laundry on the floor, etc. Some apartments were worse than others, but nothing outside of the normal living conditions. However; after making our way through the majority of these apartment homes, I should have known better than to think our luck would hold out.

Cheer up! The Texas summer is coming to close and that means we can finally welcome Autumn. Aside from being a needed reprieve from the oppressive summer heat, fall happens to also be the perfect time to care for your community’s roofing needs.

In politics, like life, you win some, you lose some, but, more importantly, you must live to fight another day. This month’s tip takes our approach to advocacy to the next level: Know Your Strategy. Advocacy is not playing checkers; advocacy is playing chess—multi-layered, Star Wars – “let the Wookie win” type chess.

Here’s a crazy story submitted by a property manager in Fort Worth about one of her residents who decided to perform his own method of pest control.

I leased a spacious one-bedroom apartment to a seemingly sweet, soft-spoken woman named Madge. She was a retired schoolteacher who told us that she was planning on getting a part-time job nearby to supplement her retirement income. After teaching kids for more than 30 years, Madge was tired of being around what she referred to as “little brats.”

In Central and South Texas, pansies are indisputably the flower of choice for autumn landscaping projects. These showy superstars feature two main types: clear-faced and monkey-faced. The major trait that separates the two is the dark “blotch” in the middle of each monkey-faced bloom, whereas its “sister-flower”, the clear-faced pansy is “blotch-free.”

Now that you are actively playing the political game, it is vital that you understand Advocacy Tip #6: Know How to Keep Score. In politics, like life, you win some, you lose some, but, more importantly, you must live to fight another day.

Last month, we explored AATC Advocacy Tip #4: Know How to Communicate. Regularly touching base through phone calls, text messages, following them on social media, emails, handwritten notes, etc. strengthens the bonds between you and elected officials. Like you and me, politicians appreciate a note on special occasions: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, promotions, etc.

Most property managers are fortunate to have an experienced maintenance team on staff that is able to tackle routine plumbing challenges. The occasional overflowing commode, leaky faucet or garbage disposal are fairly typical in property management.

Some of my favorite stories contributed by property management professionals for my book, I Have A Complex, But I’m Managing It!, were those which revolve around pets. Here’s one from a manager in San Antonio that really tickled me “pink”!

As a multifamily housing industry advocate, your goal is to find a connection point—something or someone that personally connects you to elected officials. That way, when you meet with them, it is a conversation between friends. You have established a relationship with an elected official, now what? That brings us to Advocacy Tip #4: Know How to Communicate.

Like many people, I’ve stepped up my activity on social media as a way to stay connected with the folks I’ve not been able to see for the past few months. That being said, I recently came across something that made me smile, posted by a friend on Facebook. It was too good not to share with you.

When I was in property management, I grew very close to the other people who worked onsite with me. In fact, although it’s been years, many of us have remained friends. I remember being blown away when I visited an apartment community in Dallas and the manager shared a story about one of her team members who had a very interesting story.

As a leasing professional, it’s your job to assist prospective residents when they’re shopping for a new apartment to call home. From time to time, you’ll make a follow up call, hoping to secure the lease. Your prospect tells you they’ve whittled their list down to the final two—one being your property and the other is a neighboring community.

So, you’ve leased a one-bedroom apartment to a seemingly “normal” young woman thinking she’ll be a great resident. It’s not long before you and your staff start to wonder if your new resident may have a multiple personality disorder!

Opposition research, the dark art of politics, seeks to learn anything and everything about a candidate’s political opponents. Often associated with dirt-digging, closeted skeleton re-animations, and gutter dwelling, mudslinging, this seamier aspect of realpolitik deters many good people from seeking elected office. The shadows, curses, hexes, jinxes, charms, and creatures of political warfare rarely rise to Hogwarts level, and the truth is the best defense against political rumors and tabloid innuendos.

There’s no doubt that face-to-face marketing and meetings are on the downturn these days. And, while a virtual outreach can provide some degree of success in staying relevant in your customer’s eyes, there’s another effective way to connect with your clients and prospects and that’s by using direct mail.

Political advocacy is not a passive pursuit. Passive-aggressive might work in office politics but this approach fails in the political arena. Apartment Association advocacy efforts depend on members’ active participation.

You never know who’s going to walk through the front door when you work in a leasing office. In this case, a couple looking for a new place to call home, had a slight difference of opinion on which floor plan they’d need for their growing family. I love how the leasing director helped take some of the tension out of what could have otherwise been a stressful situation.

Submitted by a vendor in Houston from his days in property management, this story is a good example of what happens when you push a property manager just a little too far! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do .

Now more than ever before it’s time to get serious about your marketing strategy! Those who don’t won’t have a fighting chance of succeeding in our ever-changing business environment. And, although we must consider new and innovative ways to promote our businesses, there are still some great ways to stay relevant in the eyes of your customers

A guide to hiring a paint expert for you apartment community.

I got a kick out of this funny story a property manager from Austin shared with me a few years back about a flirty resident trying to score points with the leasing staff.

Minimizing risk is essential in today’s environment. Because crime can occur on any property, it’s important to be prepared to handle any threat. Partnering with a qualified security patrol or guard service can go a long way toward offering peace of mind to residents, managers and owners alike.

Oh, the joys of property management! It’s funny how you can tell your residents the rules, have them sign documents to acknowledge they understand them, then later learn how quickly they’ve broken them. This story, sent in by a property manager in San Antonio is one such tale.

While it’s always great to secure a lease and keep occupancy rates high, sometimes the folks we move-in are more trouble than they’re worth! Here’s a story about a rather obnoxious resident who single-handedly rocked the peace and quiet at this small community.

It’s summertime and the water looks inviting! With Texas temperatures heating up, many of your residents will be looking for a place to cool down. Now, more than ever, is the time to make sure your community’s pool and decking are in great shape.

I thought about this when a property manager in Austin sent in a story about a young woman who showed up to tour the community one day. The peculiar prospect was quick to share her ranidaphobia—or, in layman’s terms, fear of frogs, with the manager.

Every community has pet restrictions. While dogs and cats are usually accepted at most properties, occasionally onsite personnel will come across an “occupant” that catches them off-guard.

Ah, the community pool! Not only is this amenity the crown jewel of most apartment communities, it’s also where all the action is during the long, Texas summers. Here’s a fun story submitted by a frustrated property manager in Dallas about a resident who had a hard time following the pool rules.

Sometimes our favorite people are those with the most “colorful” personalities! Here, a property manager in Fort Worth shares some stories about one of her most memorable residents.

It’s important to understand that the highest levels of curb appeal are almost exclusively reserved for those who utilize the best landscapers available. Here’s a short list of what to look for in a landscaper as well as advantages that come with working with a professional landscaping service.

The parking lot can be easy to overlook when considering the presentation of your property. Oftentimes managers will go to great lengths to ensure things like landscaping and paint are well maintained, but they should also take care to keep their parking lots from falling into disrepair. Curb appeal is among the first concerns when attempting to present your property in the best light.