I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!

Topic Author
Heidi Huff
5 years 11 months ago #25876 by Heidi Huff
I’m managing a C class property with lots of kids! Most of them teenagers who get into all kinds of trouble. Breaking windows and vandalism. Don’t know who most of them belong to or where they live. How would you find out? What can I do to give these kids something to do besides beat up my property we’re working hard to clean up.
5 years 11 months ago #25876 by Heidi Huff
Topic Author
Charlotte Garris Wilson
5 years 11 months ago #25877 by Charlotte Garris Wilson
Replied by Charlotte Garris Wilson on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
I would start with a notice to all residents about acceptable behaviors from residents.
What amenities do you already have?
5 years 11 months ago #25877 by Charlotte Garris Wilson
Topic Author
Stefanie Ragan
5 years 11 months ago #25878 by Stefanie Ragan
I would try doing something nice for them. It's hard being a kid living in an apartment, they do get bored and their parents may be working. Maybe serve ice cream or give out snacks as they come home from school if you have it in your budget. If you do something nice for them, maybe they will choose not to be bad and cause trouble.
5 years 11 months ago #25878 by Stefanie Ragan
Topic Author
Heidi Huff
5 years 11 months ago #25879 by Heidi Huff
sport court ,
playground, picnic tables and grills with pagodas.
5 years 11 months ago #25879 by Heidi Huff
Topic Author
Amy Freeman
5 years 11 months ago #25880 by Amy Freeman
Have teen events. Have them sign in amd start learning them. It takes time but I did it and before I knew it. We knew them.
5 years 11 months ago #25880 by Amy Freeman
Topic Author
Eric Rivera
5 years 11 months ago #25881 by Eric Rivera
Bribery and interaction worked for me. Talk to them as a person. Find out what they would like to do. DO NOT talk to them as mgmt nor as their friend. Be curious and open to what they say. Have drinks, snacks, etc available to them. Build rapport.
5 years 11 months ago #25881 by Eric Rivera
Topic Author
Misty Bergman
5 years 11 months ago #25882 by Misty Bergman
I had younger kids who wanted to do something. I said we could use help keeping the grounds picked up. Gave them gloves and a bag. They brought the trash back and we gave them snacks and drinks. Parents loved it!
5 years 11 months ago #25882 by Misty Bergman
Topic Author
Catherine Ann Terry
5 years 11 months ago #25883 by Catherine Ann Terry
Replied by Catherine Ann Terry on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
This has worked very well for me on 2 different properties. We also took their photo and featured them on our Social Media pages. Big ego boost...before long they were cleaning up without me organizing it or sending out notices. Truly amazing to watch.
5 years 11 months ago #25883 by Catherine Ann Terry
Topic Author
Shelly Croft
5 years 11 months ago #25884 by Shelly Croft
I did this also and it was a double benefit and it give the kids some purpose so they didn’t want to harm what you are trying so hard to make nice.
5 years 11 months ago #25884 by Shelly Croft
Topic Author
Morgan Barfield Hutchison
5 years 11 months ago #25885 by Morgan Barfield Hutchison
Replied by Morgan Barfield Hutchison on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
Have a Snapchat or Instagram contest. Have them post a pic and tag your community and use other hashtags. Get a big prize and chat it up. Meet them off the bus with pop cycles. Celebrate their accomplishments. Have them bring in their good test scores and give them a treat. It’s so hard, but if you gain their trust and can befriend some of them, they will respect you and in return the property. Been there done that. It’s a process. Good luck!!
5 years 11 months ago #25885 by Morgan Barfield Hutchison
Topic Author
Heidi Huff
5 years 11 months ago #25886 by Heidi Huff
Thank you for the feedback. I have never been at a property with this many kiddos!
5 years 11 months ago #25886 by Heidi Huff
Topic Author
Valerie Vincent
5 years 11 months ago #25887 by Valerie Vincent
And cameras are a good idea.
5 years 11 months ago #25887 by Valerie Vincent
Topic Author
Jim Dean Jr.
5 years 11 months ago #25888 by Jim Dean Jr.
Rewards program for information that leads to prosecution, productive activities, mentor programs
5 years 11 months ago #25888 by Jim Dean Jr.
Topic Author
Lisa J Thomsen
5 years 11 months ago #25889 by Lisa J Thomsen
Kids definitely have a harder time doing these kinds of things if they know you and your staff. Make a point of getting to know them. Functions where they can hang out and have fun will help. Also get involved with your local PD, promote National night out with the local PD, get involved with crime free program with them if they have one. This could help you immensely
5 years 11 months ago #25889 by Lisa J Thomsen
Topic Author
Chris Finetto
5 years 11 months ago #25890 by Chris Finetto
Reach out the to the nearest YMCA. Sponsor the kids for after school programs.
5 years 11 months ago #25890 by Chris Finetto
Topic Author
Lisa J Thomsen
5 years 11 months ago #25891 by Lisa J Thomsen
For the littler kids we used to promote good behavior by rewarding kids with prizes, popsicles, popcorn, chocolate, etc..if my staff or myself “caught them being good” I had more kids volunteering to pick up trash on my property and bringing bags in to get little prizes then I could shake a stick at!
AND these kids were my “informants” and would let me know what was really going on, on the property!
5 years 11 months ago #25891 by Lisa J Thomsen
Topic Author
Michelle Cornelison-Cruz
5 years 11 months ago #25892 by Michelle Cornelison-Cruz
Replied by Michelle Cornelison-Cruz on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
In my personal opinion, the key to keeping the kids on the property from destroying stuff is to get them on your side. If they don't like you they will do stuff just to spite you. At 1 of my properties if they picked picked up one bag of trash we would have a pizza party every other Friday. They went from tearing stuff up to reporting other kids that were tearing stuff up. Totally worked for me. If you take a hard approach it's not going to help. Trying to get the parents involved has not been successful for me because the parents are already not involved which is why these kids have all this idle time on their hands to get in to trouble.
5 years 11 months ago #25892 by Michelle Cornelison-Cruz
Topic Author
Kimberly Brewer Cross
5 years 11 months ago #25893 by Kimberly Brewer Cross
Replied by Kimberly Brewer Cross on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
My opinion rewards are better than consequences. Positive influence will be better yet with a firm expectation of right and wrong. I grew up as a latch key kid. Everyone needs a purpose.
5 years 11 months ago #25893 by Kimberly Brewer Cross
Topic Author
Johnny Karnofsky
5 years 11 months ago #25894 by Johnny Karnofsky
I would sponsor Scout groups, or sports teams (baseball, football, basketball, soccer, etc)..... kids need an outlet, make it a positive one.... I have so many good childhood memories from my time in Scouts; whether it be something we did or learned, or a friend I made (many of those I am still in contact with FOUR DECADES later)....
5 years 11 months ago #25894 by Johnny Karnofsky
Topic Author
Helen Marie
5 years 11 months ago #25895 by Helen Marie
If they are damaging the property call the police find out where they live give the family a warning letter about controlling the kids , if happens again give them notice to vacate
5 years 11 months ago #25895 by Helen Marie
Topic Author
Anonymous
5 years 11 months ago #25896 by Anonymous
Have an electronic gaming contest or start a gaming group
5 years 11 months ago #25896 by Anonymous
Topic Author
Michael Quattrochi
5 years 11 months ago #25897 by Michael Quattrochi
Replied by Michael Quattrochi on topic I’m managing a C class property with lots of teenage kids!
Get a salt gun and drive the property at night. Once you see one , aim and fire. Let them feel the sting.
5 years 11 months ago #25897 by Michael Quattrochi
Topic Author
Michael Johnson
5 years 11 months ago #25898 by Michael Johnson
Install landmines throughout the heavy traffic areas. Be prepared to have your landscaper out the next day.
5 years 11 months ago #25898 by Michael Johnson