What's your most embarrassing moment in Property Management?

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12 years 3 months ago #9853 by Stephani Fowler
We've all made mistakes like pulling the wrong keys or walking into the wrong apartment thinking it was vacant. Recently the memory of my most embarrassing moment keeps creeping up on me.
We had two 14 unit building that were having quest leaks (something to do with sub-par plumbing). Anyway we had an insurance assessor coming it to take a look at the damage, and he wanted to walk all the units in that building. Well like a good manager I typed up a notice to send out 48 hours in advance. Having been an English major (okay it was only one semester but still) I was a little too confident in my writing skills and didn't have anyone proof read the notice. Well what I told the residents is that someone from the insurance company was coming in and we needed them to show their asses to the assor. What I meant to say was show their damages to the assessor. Lucky for me all I got was some ribbing from the residents and my staff.
12 years 3 months ago #9853 by Stephani Fowler
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12 years 3 months ago #9854 by Johnny Karnofsky
I was on my very first property and my first solo tour; I was sent to a unit with a prospect, after being assured it was ready to view....... Guess what?

When we got to the unit, it had looked more like the keys to the unit were turned in the night before; trash all over the place, clogged toilets and sinks, huge holes in the wall, and an unknown stain in the bedroom carpet.....

I did my best, but the prospect wanted to get to the office to pick up their ID and RUN...... And all I wanted to do is rip the head off the person that told me it was 'ready'......
12 years 3 months ago #9854 by Johnny Karnofsky
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12 years 3 months ago #9855 by Sandy Martin
My first day on the job at my current property, I was walking the grounds and noticed a vacant had the patio blind open. I walked toward the back of the unit and got to a small hill I had to go down to get to the unit.

It had been raining earlier and was more slippery than I thought, so down I went. At the bottom, there was very soft dirt under the grass that I didn't see. Both of my shoes went in mud up to my ankles. I lost one shoe and when I tried to get it, I fell back on my bottom into the mud.

I was wearing white pants, too. I sat there in the mud and just laughed at myself. I looked around to see if anyone saw me. The mailman saw me and came running to help. I told him I could get out and not to come down the hill or he'd end up in the mud, too.

I had to drive home and change clothes, but it made for a funny story on my first day on the job.

He's still my mailman. Wonder if he remembers that day? :laugh:
12 years 3 months ago #9855 by Sandy Martin
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12 years 3 months ago #9859 by Herb Spencer
I hate to tell you mine. In fact I might not, except what the hey, I will!

It was a long day at a complex far, far, away. I wanted (insisted) on getting the paint job done and not have to come back again. Wife was helping me. Things were going well. We were done and putting the unit back together. At 2:00 in the afternoon I realized we had not done lunch. I put things on hold and took wife to a cafe I had noticed a couple times when we were in that town. I was hungry, and we decided to shelve our suspicions about the place after we went in. (A greasy spoon to be sure). I ordered a BBQ plate of pulled pork, beans and slaw. (major error).

Tasted ok, and then we went back to finish up. First it was the stomach cramps, and a pain coming up in my right side. Then---about 5:00 ish----all hell broke loose.
The on site was in the unit and I was doing the "runs". On the second run I had to lose my undies into a plastic bag, and then double bag them and take them to the dumpster. My poor wife was trying to explain what was happening.

Real bad!!!!
12 years 3 months ago #9859 by Herb Spencer
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12 years 3 months ago #9864 by Johnny Karnofsky
At my last property, I had been scheduled for a file audit and a physical inspection of some units by the local housing authority.

Since we did not know what units the inspector wanted to look at; and the inspection was scheduled for a Monday, I issued 3 day notices to all residents on the Friday to inform of the planned entry (24 hours is minimum, but I preferred to give more notice when possible).

The inspector shows up as scheduled and goes through the files with no trouble, finding minor errors (none in the files for residents that moved in since I arrived, or that I completed the annual recertification for); so we begin the physical grounds and unit inspection.

We knock and enter one of the units where the resident was 'entertaining' himself, and clearly had visual stimulation. I was fortunate enough to be able to stand in front of the TV, and ask the resident to turn off his TV while the inspector goes to another part of the unit..

BTW, the auditor/inspector was female and I knew her from another property as being very conservative.
12 years 3 months ago #9864 by Johnny Karnofsky
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12 years 3 months ago #9867 by Manuel Ramirez
As I’m a real estate agent. I called a seller to let them know I would be bringing a potential buyer to view their home. Well, the home was a rental and the landlord said she would let the renter know we would be by. The buyer and I showed up, knocked on the door, received no answer so I let ourselves in using the lockbox. So for, so good. My client starts looking at the kitchen and I meander towards the bedrooms. To my disbelief, the renters were, well let’s say, doing the wild thing! I quickly ushered my client out of the house. The renters never got the word we were previewing the home.
12 years 3 months ago #9867 by Manuel Ramirez
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12 years 3 months ago #9920 by Donje Putnam
I can't decide if it was walking in on the guy in his underwear lounging on the couch with my 2 tours at one time. I thought it was vacant! (One actually leased!) Or having to call "Tony" & his wife because the ENTIRE BUILDING knew his name from his wife hollering it during, um...YOU know. Or the time I fell down the stairs ONTO my prospect (did not lease, but thank God was gentlemanly enough to catch me).
12 years 3 months ago #9920 by Donje Putnam
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12 years 3 months ago #9930 by Betsy Green
I just had to reply to this topic. I think Property Manager's have seen it all at some point. My most embarrassing moment in Property Management came during our annual apartment inspection. We had sent letters out 48 hours ahead of time that we would be doing inspections. My District Manager decided she wanted to run the inspection and she would knock and enter first. We got to one unit and there was no answer so she called out and opened the door. It seemed as if no one was home until we entered the bedroom and came face to rear ? :blink: with the resident and her husband in a "swing". My DM was so embarrassed she went to rush out and in her haste ran into me and we both fell down in the bedroom with her muttering "I am sorry" over and over.At this point maintenance caught up to us and I can imagine the picture we made. Myself and the DM on the floor and the couple in the swing. Needless to say we did not finish the inspection and the couple never came into the office again. They paid their rent online and submitted work orders online from that point on. :blush:
12 years 3 months ago #9930 by Betsy Green
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12 years 3 months ago #9933 by Johnny Karnofsky
That sounds like the start of a bad 'grown up movie'......
12 years 3 months ago #9933 by Johnny Karnofsky
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12 years 3 months ago #9935 by Betsy Green
It was horrible. I don't think I have ever been that shade of red in my life. :laugh:
12 years 3 months ago #9935 by Betsy Green
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12 years 3 months ago #9940 by D Pinney
My maintenance man & I were doing quarterly filter changes/inspections (yes, prior notice was posted) and knocked on the door of a newly married couple. No answer so keyed in & noticed a trail of clothing starting w/ shoes at the door, then shirts, pants, etc to the hallway that led to the bedroom. I quickly closed the door & we moved on to other apts. We returned to the apt about 20 minutes later, knocked & were let in. The wife was now sitting on the sofa in the living room reading a magazine & hubby was seated on the bed reading a magazine. Both were fully clothed & the "laundry" was picked up off the floor. Small talk was a little awkward !
12 years 3 months ago #9940 by D Pinney
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12 years 1 month ago #10256 by Jennifer
That is to funny! It sounds like a situation I would end up in. That was a great story.. I am sure you were cracking up when you finally got out of there. Oh my goodness!
12 years 1 month ago #10256 by Jennifer