Passing up an opportunity or dodging a bullet???

Although I have experience in sales, customer service, online education and even staffing I'm new to property management. I have been a leasing consultant for a "C" class property for 6 months. There has been little to no training or structure here. The lack of guidance is what lead me to seek out help and discover this website. Now there have been talks of moving me to the position of Assistant Manager at one of our worst properties! It's online reviews are embarrassing. Even my current co-workers say it's a bad idea to move. In my mind I don't have the knowledge or experience to give it a try but at the same time I would love to be the person who turns things around. From what I hear the office staff is like a rotating door of unprofessional and unfriendly people. The maintenance staff is trifling, inexperienced, and careless. Am I passing up an opportunity or dodging a bullet???

I would give it a lot of thought Danielle. Work is already stressful as it is just in every day life. I guess you would really need to weigh out how this situation could affect your overall personal life and measure the risks and rewards.

Yes but I'm trying to see pass the obvious. Is there something I may not be considering? Why move me? Why not hire a manager with experience? Do they want this property to be successful? Is hiring me the best possible decision? I'm hoping posting this question would help me to see things that someone with my lack of experience might not notice.

Those are great questions that are key indicators as to the possible overall health of the property management company. Typically there is high employee turnover as a result of little or no training and support. If you do not have the support from corporate to turn the property around then this makes your job extremely difficult.

Of course this is an opportunity, Danielle. It could also be a set-up, which reading between the lines, I suspect this is what you already think. Danielle, please review your other posts and the answers the Multifamily professionals have given you prior to posting today. In your very first post you questioned whether or not you were utilizing your skills in your low paid leasing position. Has this changed? In another post, you lamented the fact that although both the Manager and Assistant Manager supported you you were still not growing within the company and you did not think you would stay. It is possible that your Manager passed along to a higher up your desire to be promoted. Now they are offering you this position. What is holding you back???? If you have all the confidence in the world, something is telling you to re-think the offer. Are you afraid of failing? It would be natural to have this fear. I know I suggested this a while ago. You need to decide if property management is the field for you. If it is, take the bull by the horns, find a mentor and educate yourself. Don't wait for the company to do it for you. Answer your own question - is hiring you the best possible decision? Your company is offering you a chance, but only you can be honest with yourself and make the choice because only you know whether you have the drive to succeed, the knowledge base to make informed, responsible decisions about the financial, marketing and staffing direction of this challenged property, and the power to make it all happen. Challenging properties REQUIRE management to work 70 hour weeks, to be available to mentor and support your team, and to be able to handle what comes downhill from upper management. It is a true investment of yourself, your time, your talents and it takes away from your family life and other things.

You are an "Expert Insider"!! This is the opportunity I've been waiting for and should it turn from hear-say to an actual offer I'll accept. My indecisiveness and fear of failing has held me back I'm sure. Time to find a mentor!

It would be very helpful if we knew a lot more about the property you are looking to go to. Under certain circumstances just about any property can be turned to positive, but that will depend on how badly the ownership/PMC wants to do it.
Were it me in your place, I would have an understanding of what management had in mind before I took it over. It could be one of two things:

1. Go manage this property and turn it upside down, cleaning out the bad tenants, (even if half the population are bad tenants) cleaning up the grounds, improving the curb appeal, rehabbing the units and installing a properly organized administrative office, inspecting the files and insuring that all remaining tenants "get it" if they indeed intend to continue living there. Also fostering a management style that will totally prohibit crime, drugs, and protect the good tenants, creating a place they can make a home of safety and comfort and peaceful living.

(Salary--$$$$)

2. Go manage this property and try a little to improve things and basically stay with the current status quo. Keep as many warm bodies in the units as possible.

(Salary--$)

Point is the PMC already knows the score. If you accept the job, make sure they get what they pay for. I would have an understanding first, and I would not be interested in #2, above.

As someone who successfully turned around a property and was key for the owner in terms of avoiding foreclosure (the owner fired the company that originally hired me, brought in another company and I stayed in place). Here is my advice:

Make sure you have a partner / mentor that is above you in pay.
Make sure you have a clear line of communication with the owner. They will tell you what their goals are. This allows you the ability to ask for things you need to meet/exceed their vision.
Make sure that the owner understands that any decision you make is intended to meet their expectations and based in reality.
When you communicate with the owners; be direct and honest about what you are experiencing.

I am working on a small series of short articles that may help you, shoot me an email and I will send you my most recent draft. The entire article is approximately 10 pages.

This is all great advice and I'm excited to put it to use so hopefully I can. Right now I'm just waiting for upper management to contact me directly. In the meantime I'm going to be looking for a mentor and discussing everything with my husband. It's time for me to kick my self-training into over drive. I don't mind I just have had to learn to change my expectations from "a company is supposed to train you" to "You're responsible for your own growth". I was very hesitant at first; almost immediately rejecting it than something told me to ask the Insiders. Good thing! Thank you!

My email is [email protected]

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Just checking in.... have there been any developments on this for you, Danielle?

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