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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our government officials have made the announcement that we’ve allbeen waiting for—start preparing to reopen your businesses! However, knowingthat COVID-19 is still spreading, what is a business owner supposed to do inorder to reopen safely? Here are some good tips that might spark some ideas foryour Grand Reopening Game Plan.