Just wondering why people won’t participate in market surveys?

“Go look on line” is not an appropriate answer.
I would never allow anyone on my staff to respond that way... stunned..

Because companies seem to be hiring children ???? Never understood it either.

Seriously! I send the numbers every week and nobody responds. Gets super annoying to have to call them over and over to send the email since they all say they won’t do it over the phone.

It’s not hard to answer a few questions!

I agree we are all in this together!

I know a few companies that don’t allow their employees to answer any questions

I actually pull the info off line before calling. It's typically more accurate than what they tell you on the phone. I just ask a couple questions and I'm done.

I get pricing online, and I call and say “you have time for a few quick questions “and just ask their occupancy, preleased, traffic and leases. I always smile when I call and say thank you, it seems to make a difference.

Megan McCluskey Same. I will gladly give info that can’t be found on the website. I don’t like when someone calls and asks 5 billion questions without regard to what else might be going on at the moment. We also have a group of communities that have access to a google doc and we input data to share with about 100 other local communities. That helps a ton!

I know! It’s rude!

When a locator calls you weekly and asks you the same questions every time...things that normally don’t change weekly like the management company etc...it’s annoying. Especially when the company doesn’t even work with locators. So it could be handled more gracefully, but I can see the annoyance to the staff. I’m the property manager and I’ve said as such to these people. Just playing devils advocate here

Sarah Jackson totally agree... simple occupancy and how has traffic been only takes a minute

It’s when the same woman calls every single week (with a very distinct voice)and asks the same questions pretending to be interested in renting, that’s when when we get short and rude in our office. Tell us who you are and we can totally chat. We now make a game of messing with her. We don’t understand the secrecy.

Heather Clemons VanNess I’d agree that is annoying. I’m just up front unless I want to really see performance in a given market

Some companies are publicly traded and do not allow the release of occupancy and touring patterns.

Plus, they won’t answer your calls, and have had them lie to me. I mean 20 or 30 move ins and your numbers don’t change

There really isn’t any good reason not to participate. We are all part of the same ecosystem so to speak. If communities would work in concert with one another in areas of close proximity it would be better for all. It’s the prisoners dilemma played out with Muttifamily complexes

That’s why I have my staffs go to the prop, meet them face to face, take a treat and get an email. On Mondays they can send one email with everyone on it, sharing their info first and then hopefully everyone else will follow by replying and providing info. It’s so silly to be like that with folks in your community!

Yes agreed.

www.realpage.com/explore

Me and all my comps managers have started doing a monthly email with comp info

In my market of Williamsburg, Va we freely share information each Monday morning. My comps are top class. We all refer people back and forth based on needs. We are very fortunate to have the rapport that we do.

Amy Gruver you are very fortunate.. I don’t get the snarky replies when we ask.. I wish people would just see that together we can succeed!

I guess some think that sharing rates is some form of "collusion" to falsely increase market rents. But, that's now how it works. I'm not going to blindly increase rents on units if my comparable properties are. There are so many more factors that go into whether a property is leasing well or not. Its just one piece of data.

Kimberly Erler-board..... it’s a common trend in the Atlanta market as well. I’ve always done all of my own market surveys as a PM, because I’ve found that if I introduce myself as the PM they’re more likely to give detailed info. Also, in some occasions I have asked to speak directly with the PM to let them know I’m not able to get pertinent info from their staff.

Jill Durand Capo truth he told... they are following suit.. I have literally tried EVERYTHING

Kimberly Erler-board we should all look out for each other as industry professionals. We are not asking for any proprietary information. I do not understand why some people act as if they work for the CIA??? It’s like pulling teeth! ????????‍♀️????????‍♀️

We have the same probable around here. I usually just email them from my personal email and then I get the information in writing

I have no problem sharing with my comps at all-where I have a problem is the is the big companies that do them like 4x a week and ask the same questions, how many styles do you have, how many total units, what is the break down of each style, when were you built, do all units come w/appliance, ect the answers have been the same for the past 20 years (we have 15 floor plans)-I would be on the phone for hours.