Behind The Leasing Desk
Ideas Set Upon the World from Seattle, Taking a Closer Look at the People Side of the Property Management World
What's the What? Who's the Who?
I'm Heather. I live in Seattle and I work in the Multi Family Housing Industry with my company BTLD Consulting Services as a Consultant, Speaker, and Trainer. I'm going to throw this out there... I LOVE MY JOB!!! I also love marketing, resident retention, and helping out people. I like pretty much everyone, my dog, my Alan, and have special fondness for eating honey straight from the comb and putting seasoned salt on popcorn or cottage cheese.
I also enjoy talking with anyone who has new perspectives, ideas or just wants to bounce some thoughts. Twitter me or IM me on AIM with Artchickhb. You can also email me at Heather@Behindtheleasingdesk.com with questions about BTLD Consulting Services, and to book me as a consultant or speaker for your company!
Thanks for stopping by!
To get my txt business card, just text message "Hblume" to 50500!Be a Fan on Facebook!
Where else can you find Heather's writing?
Syndicate
Behind The Leasing Desk . Com
Where is Your App for That?
It's time to look past that shiny little apple...<< MORE >>
Clothes That Connect
97 Degrees and 85% humidity.
Heat index of 106 degrees.
And we want those fine folks on site to wear a wool suit while we sit behind our desks all day in an air conditioned office.
I've just come back from NAA in New Orleans, so maybe I'm a little heat sensitive right now, and correct me if I'm way out there, but there is something on the whole that is illogical about this train of thought. Don't get me wrong, here. << MORE >>
Heat index of 106 degrees.
And we want those fine folks on site to wear a wool suit while we sit behind our desks all day in an air conditioned office.
I've just come back from NAA in New Orleans, so maybe I'm a little heat sensitive right now, and correct me if I'm way out there, but there is something on the whole that is illogical about this train of thought. Don't get me wrong, here. << MORE >>
Social Media - This Guy Gets It!
So, from time to time, I've been known to share the #FAIL social media mistakes that I find. Today, I'm happy because what I have to share with you is about as far from a #FAIL as it can
get!
Meet Mark Mullet. Mark is the Owner/head-honcho/marketing mind behind our local Zeek's Pizza here in Issaquah. Zeek's is a regional chain in the Seattle area that makes, hands down, the best pizza in the whole region. It's a must eat if you ever come out to the Pacific North West. << MORE >>
Meet Mark Mullet. Mark is the Owner/head-honcho/marketing mind behind our local Zeek's Pizza here in Issaquah. Zeek's is a regional chain in the Seattle area that makes, hands down, the best pizza in the whole region. It's a must eat if you ever come out to the Pacific North West. << MORE >>
"Leasing Includes You!" Presentation for the RHA of Puget Sound
I thought that I had posted this presentation earlier, so I have to apologize for my tardiness on this one! This presentation was done for the Rental Housing Association of Puget Sound's Spring
Education Conference on March 17th this year. Not all of the information that I talked about is on these slides, so if there was something that I covered that isn't in the slides, and you would like
clarification on any of the points, please don't hesitate to reach out to me!
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Heather's Slide Shows from the WMFHA Ed Con, April 21, 2010
I want to thank all of you who came to yesterday's Washington Multi-Family Housing Association's Education Conference and Expo! It was an amazing show, and I was so impressed with the quality
of the classes offered - and let us not forget that amazing keynote given by the awesome Jackie Ramstedt! If you were there, you were probably laughing as hard as I was. She is one very funny
lady!
As promised, here are the slides from my classes yesterday - "Retain Who You Train!" and "Recessions, Concessions, and Marketing - OH MY!" If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via this blog, my homepage at BTLD Consulting or via email at heather@behindtheleasingdesk.com
Retain Who You Train!
Recessions, Concessions, and Marketing - OH MY!
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As promised, here are the slides from my classes yesterday - "Retain Who You Train!" and "Recessions, Concessions, and Marketing - OH MY!" If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via this blog, my homepage at BTLD Consulting or via email at heather@behindtheleasingdesk.com
Retain Who You Train!
Recessions, Concessions, and Marketing - OH MY!
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February Marketing Ideas - Written for Appfolio's PropertyManager.com E-Zine
Part of the monthly series on marketing that I write for Appfolio's Property Manager E-Zine. Check them out at www.propertymanager.com
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Business Lessons from 10 Year-Olds
This morning, my hair wouldn't do what I wanted it to. And you know what? I still look Good!
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A Resident Event Idea That Plays With Fire...Extinguishers
I really should wait until October to write this post. October is National Fire Prevention Month. But the fact of the matter is, I loved this idea so very much that I couldn't contain it within myself until October!
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A small announcement
You'll be seeing some changes on Behind the Leasing Desk's layout in the coming weeks as we transition it as part of BTLD Consulting. Our URL will remain the same, but the look will change to
mirror that of the consulting site, and this set up will make it so much easier for my faithful readers to find all of our content in one place. Not only will you find my blog posts, but also
the Multifamily 5x5 broadcasts and the Dear Heather Letters column, as well as all of the tips, tools and tricks that I keep adding to the consulting site. I got some great advice from Mark Juleen and Mike Whaling about incorporating everything together, and since they are two
of the smartest multifamily SEO guys I know, it would be careless of me to disregard their words.
Bear with us as we transition and I can promise you the occasional weird mouse click paths will be well worth it! << MORE >>
Bear with us as we transition and I can promise you the occasional weird mouse click paths will be well worth it! << MORE >>
Multifamily 5x5 for the Week of March 1st
It's Monday morning, and you know what that means - Another Multifamily 5x5! Check out our weekly web show here!
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Marketing Ideas for the Month of March
Is anyone else taking bets to see if March rolls in like a lion or a lamb this year? I'm not sure many parts of the country could take much more of this lion winter weather. I think we're all
craving more of those beautiful spring time days that seem to tease us sporadically this time of year. I've been itching for a picnic since the first day it topped 62 degrees in the Seattle
area. Best of all, we in the property management world know that sunshine brings in the tours, something that has proven to be a major challenge this year. To encourage a little more traffic, here
are 3 ideas for your marketing teams!
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"Wholesome Goodness," ...Whatever that means.
The MOST Dynamic and off the charts post you'll read in this lifetime! ...What do you mean words in advertising have to mean what you say they do? Fine then. "A post that is semi cool and rags on Luke Wilson."
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Monday Morning Multifamily 5x5
A new Multifamily 5x5 broadcast is up on our sister site at www.btldconsulting.com!
Today's topics included:
Marketing and Retention with NCAA March Madness!
Conference Conversation on the NAA Student Housing Conference
Reading Recommendation for "The Levity Effect"
Technology Talk about Texting Tips
Maintenance Minute focused on Assembling a Sparkle Kit
5 minutes traded for 5 ideas to start the week off with a bang!
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Today's topics included:
Marketing and Retention with NCAA March Madness!
Conference Conversation on the NAA Student Housing Conference
Reading Recommendation for "The Levity Effect"
Technology Talk about Texting Tips
Maintenance Minute focused on Assembling a Sparkle Kit
5 minutes traded for 5 ideas to start the week off with a bang!
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Feature Feature!
In case you were not aware, Tuesday is "Dear Heather" letter day on BTLD Consulting. This week's letter - Done Playing Nice - hit a bit of a chord with me, and I'd love it if you'd click over there and check it out!
I'm still working through all of the letters I received this week, so if you haven't heard back yet, no fear, I am on it! And if you have a problem or idea that you'd like to ask my advice on, submit it in email form to Heather@behindtheleasingdesk.com, with a subject line of "Dear Heather Letter." ( I promise a response, and I promise honesty, but remember, if the problem is you, I'll tell you the truth, just as I did in my letter today.)
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I'm still working through all of the letters I received this week, so if you haven't heard back yet, no fear, I am on it! And if you have a problem or idea that you'd like to ask my advice on, submit it in email form to Heather@behindtheleasingdesk.com, with a subject line of "Dear Heather Letter." ( I promise a response, and I promise honesty, but remember, if the problem is you, I'll tell you the truth, just as I did in my letter today.)
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Bigger isn't always better - Originally written for Appfolio's Property Manager E-Zine
Bigger isn’t always better.
When she was in 8th grade, as is tradition in my family, my sister got her first set of matched luggage. It was dark blue with tan piping and I remember it was from Jaguar. For 8thgrade promotion, I think she received all the pieces to that luggage set that she hadn’t gotten for the holiday season prior. There was a garment bag, and a little overnight suitcase, and there were also make-up cases and duffel bags.
<< MORE >>Announcing Our New Sister Site!
Take a moment today to skate on over to BTLDConsulting.com, our new sister site, and home of Heather's new weekly Multifamily 5x5 broadcasts and the "Dear Heather" Advice column! That's just
the tip of the all new site content to come in the future months, so check back frequently as new links and lists are published, new Right On Ribbon Winners are announced, and new contests, polls and
more are brought to life for this digital audience!
Today is the first broadcast of Episode 1:1 of the Multifamily 5 by 5 with Heather, so take 5 min from your day and grab some new ideas and information!
www.btldconsulting.com << MORE >>
Today is the first broadcast of Episode 1:1 of the Multifamily 5 by 5 with Heather, so take 5 min from your day and grab some new ideas and information!
www.btldconsulting.com << MORE >>
Beating Burnout - Saving Stars from Supernova
Is it any wonder in an industry where we refer to our great workers as "stars" that some of them supernova over time?
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Announcing the BTLD "Right On!" Ribbon
It's a fact of life that 99% of the time, when you mess up, everyone sees it, and 99% of the time when you do something right, no one notices. This inequity can easily grate on nerves at a micro and
macro level, whether you're one rotating cog or the machine as a whole, and it can bring destruction to good employees, good systems and good ideas. It is for this reason, and a recent trip to Kansas
City where I shopped one of the most outstanding communities EVER, I've been inspired.
That's why I'm introducing a new regular addition to my blog. I'm calling it my, "Right On!" Ribbon, and will be sending it to properties or employees who go above and beyond. << MORE >>
That's why I'm introducing a new regular addition to my blog. I'm calling it my, "Right On!" Ribbon, and will be sending it to properties or employees who go above and beyond. << MORE >>
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg"
Why a chip on your shoulder isn't going to help your bottom line<< MORE >>
The choice between a hammer and a feather - Originally printed at Appfolio's www.propertymanager.com
Maintenance Mention: Graffiti, Get Gone! - Written for NAA's UNITS magazine
It happens on even the best of properties. Graffiti, tagging - whatever you want to call it, these uninvited spray paint masterpieces on your buildings aren't a welcome addition to your asset.
Depending on the surface, a coat of KILZ and some paint might not cut it for the clean up. Here are some tricks to getting graffiti off of other surfaces your teams might have to deal with:
Aluminum- Signage or siding, the first step to removing the offending tag is to discern if the paint is latex or oil based. To find that out, it's as simple as testing the paint with a little GOOF OFF in a spot, which should lift up latex paint. << MORE >>
Aluminum- Signage or siding, the first step to removing the offending tag is to discern if the paint is latex or oil based. To find that out, it's as simple as testing the paint with a little GOOF OFF in a spot, which should lift up latex paint. << MORE >>
A Few Maintenance Mentions for Fall - Written for NAA's UNITS magazine
Getting your property ready for the winter months can be a daunting task for any maintenance team, but asking your office staff to send out a maintenance survey at this time of year can help your
team prioritize the upcoming tasks and deliver outstanding customer service at the same time. Here's how it works:
Develop a survey with your team about the most commonly placed work action items over the winter. Examples of what you can include are: Fireplace pilot light relighting (which everyone forgets about until that first super cold day), Replacing damaged weather stripping or caulking on doors and windows, loose railings on stairwells, any low hanging branches or branches that may be responsible for the disconnection of power in an ice storm, or any outstanding leaks that could turn in to even bigger problems if the pipes froze. Sending this to your residents as a Winter Home Wellness checklist gives them time to evaluate possible problems in their own homes. When the surveys/checklists have been returned (set a specific date on this one for efficiency's sake), the office staff can enter the repairs needed in to a database and your team can then begin systematically working through the process of getting your property winterized, building by building. << MORE >>
Develop a survey with your team about the most commonly placed work action items over the winter. Examples of what you can include are: Fireplace pilot light relighting (which everyone forgets about until that first super cold day), Replacing damaged weather stripping or caulking on doors and windows, loose railings on stairwells, any low hanging branches or branches that may be responsible for the disconnection of power in an ice storm, or any outstanding leaks that could turn in to even bigger problems if the pipes froze. Sending this to your residents as a Winter Home Wellness checklist gives them time to evaluate possible problems in their own homes. When the surveys/checklists have been returned (set a specific date on this one for efficiency's sake), the office staff can enter the repairs needed in to a database and your team can then begin systematically working through the process of getting your property winterized, building by building. << MORE >>
Testimonials Video on Brainstorming
If I haven't convinced you to try Brainstorming this year, maybe Lisa Trosien, Toni Blake, Kate Good or Lori Snyder can!
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Scratch 'n' Sniff Strikes Again!
Follow up idea from last week's #aptchat. Have you been to #Aptchat yet? Fridays, 4PM Eastern time on Twitter, moderated by Lisa Trosien and Mike Whaling!
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The Advantages of Testing on a Curve-ball
If you're going to shell out the money for a mystery shopper, then pay for useful information
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WMFHA's Washington Apartment Outlook
Were you at the Washington Multi Family Housing Association's "Washington Apartment Outlook" on Sept 29th?
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We're back, Baby!
Technology Happens.
Behind the Leasing Desk is happy to announce that we are back after a short hiatus caused by a software bug that has recently been fixed. I was not able to post any articles that weren't already preset to publish, so it was annoying to say the least. Unfortounately, our down time came during the middle of the 7 Deadly sins series, so I'd like to invite you to click back and take a look at the end of the series that you missed, as well as some of the blogs from last week!
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Behind the Leasing Desk is happy to announce that we are back after a short hiatus caused by a software bug that has recently been fixed. I was not able to post any articles that weren't already preset to publish, so it was annoying to say the least. Unfortounately, our down time came during the middle of the 7 Deadly sins series, so I'd like to invite you to click back and take a look at the end of the series that you missed, as well as some of the blogs from last week!
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Where do all the good ideas come from?
Come check out Multifamily Pro's Brainstorming this year! I'd love to shake your hand and thank you for your readership!
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Seven Deadly Sins Week Starting September 7th!
Next week's BTLD posts will be a bit different. I've decided if the History Channel can rock the 7 deadly sins, so can Behind the Leasing Desk, with a slight twist to the multifamily industry. We'll
have your favorite PM sins here, one each day, from the 7th through the 13th, so don't forget to check back each day. Seeing as how Monday is Labor Day, my sense of Irony tells me that it's right to
start with Sloth.
See you then, if you're not too tired to check in! << MORE >>
See you then, if you're not too tired to check in! << MORE >>
Penmanship Counts!
You might be smarter than a 5th grader, but what if your handwriting doesn't look like it?
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8 Ideas for making move in day magic! - Read it at the Property Manager E-zine!
Here's the link to my August 18th article on making the most of move in day with your residents. Check it out on www.propertymanager.com!
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Have you found your way to the #Aptchat?
It's starting in 10 minutes! Today's #aptchat topic is on Gearing up for the slow down in the leasing season and what your teams can do/are doing to prepare for it. Come join in and share your
industry expertise with the group! I like to use tweetchat, which just links right up with twitter and seems to be the best way to view everything without getting confused.
Remember to add a #aptchat hastag to your posts so that they run in the stream. If you're not ready to join in yet, you can watch the AptChat or read the transcripts on the facebook page, or on Multifamily Insiders.
Can't wait to see you there!
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Remember to add a #aptchat hastag to your posts so that they run in the stream. If you're not ready to join in yet, you can watch the AptChat or read the transcripts on the facebook page, or on Multifamily Insiders.
Can't wait to see you there!
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Communication Clarity With Your Residents
My July 15th article for Appfolio's Property Manager E-Zine. Check them out over at www.propertymanager.com!
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Happy Birthday To US!
To my very dear and much appreciated readers,
Behind The Leasing Desk is one year old Today! We're definely up and walking, taking more and more strong steps to providing you with awesome content for your on site and regional teams, and, like any toddler, we have some HUGE surprises in store for you this year! Keep referring us to your friends, because and readership grows, so does my ability to bring you more and more awesome ideas. Our growth this first year has been amazing, this blog getting between 5K to 7K hits a month, and we would like to thank our supporters. A huge thank you out to the following folks who have supported me as a writer in the last year:
My amazing readers, who keep coming back and keep googling to find me. You're why I'm here!
Mike Brewer (who's blog inspired me to blog in the first place)
Lisa Trosien at The Apartment Expert
Mark Juleen at JC Hart
Brent Williams and his amazing community at Multifamily Insiders.com
Mike Whaling at 30 Lines
Charity Hisle at Benson Media
Jesse Hartman, Steve DeMuth, Darcey Forbes and the rest of the amazing marketing and communications E-Team
Eric Brown with Urbane Apartments
Amiee Miller and her team at AppFolio
Mindy Williams with Rent and Retain
Toni Blake with Totally Toni
The amazing team at the Washington Multi Family Housing Association who have given me so much encouragement
All my favorite human beings on Twitter
My patient and understanding guy, Alan, who has spent far too much time waiting for me to, "finish just one more paragraph."
And last, but certainly not least, my company, Career Strategies Inc., who have patiently waited for my efforts to yield the relationships we now prize. << MORE >>
Behind The Leasing Desk is one year old Today! We're definely up and walking, taking more and more strong steps to providing you with awesome content for your on site and regional teams, and, like any toddler, we have some HUGE surprises in store for you this year! Keep referring us to your friends, because and readership grows, so does my ability to bring you more and more awesome ideas. Our growth this first year has been amazing, this blog getting between 5K to 7K hits a month, and we would like to thank our supporters. A huge thank you out to the following folks who have supported me as a writer in the last year:
My amazing readers, who keep coming back and keep googling to find me. You're why I'm here!
Mike Brewer (who's blog inspired me to blog in the first place)
Lisa Trosien at The Apartment Expert
Mark Juleen at JC Hart
Brent Williams and his amazing community at Multifamily Insiders.com
Mike Whaling at 30 Lines
Charity Hisle at Benson Media
Jesse Hartman, Steve DeMuth, Darcey Forbes and the rest of the amazing marketing and communications E-Team
Eric Brown with Urbane Apartments
Amiee Miller and her team at AppFolio
Mindy Williams with Rent and Retain
Toni Blake with Totally Toni
The amazing team at the Washington Multi Family Housing Association who have given me so much encouragement
All my favorite human beings on Twitter
My patient and understanding guy, Alan, who has spent far too much time waiting for me to, "finish just one more paragraph."
And last, but certainly not least, my company, Career Strategies Inc., who have patiently waited for my efforts to yield the relationships we now prize. << MORE >>
Coming Down to Chemistry - See it EXCLUSIVELY on MFI!
Scoot on over to Multifamily Insiders to see this exclusive
post! Leave me a comment there and let me know what you think! Thank you!
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"We Hope You'll Understand..."
"... Even though we know you won't."
What can we do when the pool isn't cooperating with our plans?
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A $6 Resident Retention Idea for the Summer!
That's right... just SIX DOLLARS!
Also, did you know they made pickle Popsicles? The things you learn from FoodTV...
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Banned Books
A totally personal entry about banned books- Not property management related in the slightest.<< MORE >>
My Bias for Other's Blogs
A list of blogs I'd recommend anyone check out for new multifamily thoughts and happier leasing!
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I have the coolest new twitter friend!
Twitter's applications are endless! Here's one more to add to your lists of reasons to reach out and tweet out!
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Heather's "You've Got 'Em, Now Keep 'Em" Slides from WMFHA Ed Conferece 2009
You Got 'Em, Now Keep 'Em
View more presentations from Heather Blume.
Thank you so much for coming to see me at the Education Conference! If you missed my presentation, you're still welcome to the slides and information. I hope that your onsite teams find these slides and resources helpful! Remember, When we connect, We retain!
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Notably Quotably Great
A great quote for your wall of great quotes. And if you don't have a wall of great quotes, you need to start one!
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A Bit 'Bout Balloons (Part 1 of 4 of Balloons, Banners, Billboards, and Boards)
Not 99 Red Balloons(sorry Nena!), but something even better! Some helpful suggestions to make your balloons POP!
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Coupon Craziness with Craigslist!
I love a good deal, and so does everyone else. Make them use their scissors for your move in special this weekend!
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Some helpful resources for shutting the back door!
3 great resources to resident retention<< MORE >>
E-Newsletters and a personal touch go together better than chocolate and peanut butter!
Cutting your budget a little, up your resident retention and go green all in the same step!
<< MORE >>On Being the "Blip"
Trying to sell by screaming in someone's ear all day works about as well as trying to get to the bottom of the ocean without an oxygen tank. Either way, at the end of it, you're dead in the water.<< MORE >>
Another Reason Why I Love Where I Live
A $50 resident retention idea from the community I live in!<< MORE >>
"Hmm... it's a beta." Microsoft's recent pull the clever lever
Where Microsoft and fish tending meet...<< MORE >>
Resident Retention Mention from the January Newsletter
I wrote this piece for our January newsletter, and I really liked the ideas, so I wanted to share them with everyone else out there, even if they weren't on our property mailing list! Enjoy!<< MORE >>
Heather's Book List
If you learn only one thing about me as a person, I ask that it be the indisputable fact that I am an Insatiable and Voracious reader. After being raised by a librarian, I feel like a piece of me is starving if I don't have my nose in a book at least once a day. Alan swears that I keep my local branch of Half Price Books in business with my quenchless vice. And I think I'm okay with that. I can stimulate my brain AND the economy in one fail swoop.
This is a list of the books I have read during 2008 and eventually, I hope it will include a short review of each as well. Enjoy!
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This is a list of the books I have read during 2008 and eventually, I hope it will include a short review of each as well. Enjoy!
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Building Bridges By Banana Bread
If you've ever wondered why no one listened to your new ideas...<< MORE >>
Why, "One Out, One In," Doesn't Equate
The math just isn't in our favor right now, folks. Maybe we need a new formula for success.<< MORE >>
Thanksgiving: "Verb Word" It!
As a young child, I had an English teacher who was obsessed with what she called, "the verb words," because they were active and led to more and more action in writing. She used to make us stand up and act out all the verb words in our papers when we read them to the class. I liked the writing part of that class, but the acting out "verb word" madness not so much. I was the fat kid, you understand. But what I did take away from that teacher is the importance of action, not only in our writing but also in our doing.<< MORE >>
Retention Intervention: Grow your Groups!
Plant some seeds now to grow some awesome groups and resident retention in the future!<< MORE >>
The Results are In!!! The prices of the two bedrooms are...
So, how much are YOUR two bedrooms?<< MORE >>
Going... Going... Going... GONE GREEN!
I'm a hippie at heart. In third grade, I decided that ecology was cool and have pretty much been hooked on saving the dolphins and trees ever since. I didn't know it was science until I was way too far sucked in to decide it was too hard to understand. Science is sneaky that way. But, to me, dolphins and trees are totally worth it.<< MORE >>
Presenting the Package
I'm going to need to know where doggy day care is, where a good hair stylist is, and where I can buy a new toaster.<< MORE >>
"Follow Your Nose"
Olfactory Demonology and how it can help you sell.<< MORE >>
Just a bit of info on some "Fur-esidents" I bet you didn't know you had
Unconventional pets on your property?<< MORE >>
Rethinking the "Resident Function" in terms of Retention
Where rock climbing and throwing resident functions meet, and how to get over the mountain of both
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Michelle's Mini-Models
I spend a lot of time talking with different property managers these days. Sometimes I get really awesome gossip, sometimes I get some interesting ideas out in the market today, and sometimes I get
either really great feedback or really great complaints. Either way, I'd say talking with my managers is one of the highlights to my day, even when they're less than happy with me in that particular
minute.
There is a manager that I met a few months ago who is doing something GREAT as a side business that I must shout to the world. She looked at the properties she had been at and found that while mini models can be a great sales tool there were some definite draw backs to using them. << MORE >>
There is a manager that I met a few months ago who is doing something GREAT as a side business that I must shout to the world. She looked at the properties she had been at and found that while mini models can be a great sales tool there were some definite draw backs to using them. << MORE >>
Let an IKEA be your Umbrella!
A few months ago, Lisa Trosien wrote about how Ikea had done a studio apartment in a box stunt that was working out
really well. Before I moved to Seattle, I had heard of IKEA, but I had no idea who they were or what they did. The Swedish furniture trend has yet to hit it big out there in Kansas... but we're
usually about 5 years behind everyone else. However, in the Seattle metro area, IKEA is HUGE. They have this large store that you can just utterly get LOST in while you wander through, living the
rest of your life on meatballs and sleeping in faux rooms that have the best solutions for storage you can possibly imagine!
As I was thinking about the section of my training course that discusses overcoming objections, I was listing the most common hurdles that I remember hearing from my days as a leasing consultant. << MORE >>
As I was thinking about the section of my training course that discusses overcoming objections, I was listing the most common hurdles that I remember hearing from my days as a leasing consultant. << MORE >>
Giving Something Back
Back in the day, a property manager changed the course of my life. I know, it's a little dramatic for a starting sentence, but just go with me on this. You see, at the time, I was in the middle of a
6 month course of chemotherapy for lymphoma, and I pretty much refused to acknowledge that when one is in treatment, one cannot do all the things that a normal person can do. I wasn't working
at the time (there are perks to having a phenomenal boyfriend who have incredibly marketable computer skills) and I was suffering that variety of boredom and loneliness where you start singing to
your dog just because you need someone to talk to. One day on a break from serenading my dog, Fox, I wandered down to the management office of the community where we were living.
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