HELP TELL THE STORY

The story of your brand isn't a single page. It's a multitude of stories that all come together to create a tapestry of experiences. This includes your maintenance crew. Sharing about them firms up the story of your brand that you're already telling. It shows what you value, and what you prioritize. When you connect their story with your history, mission, and/or values, you can get engagement from your prospects, and loyalty from your current residents. Telling a story is something that appeals to the masses—it's not just about problems and solutions, it's about the people who are helping solve those problems (and why they're passionate about it).

SOLIDIFY YOUR BRAND PERCEPTION

If your brand is perceived positively, congratulations, you have a brand to protect and push forward. If your brand is thought of negatively, you have your work cut out for you. Either way, highlighting your maintenance shows where your priorities lie:

• You care about the residents and their comfort
• You value your staff (every one!) and want to keep everyone happy with quick maintenance fixes

It's not quite enough to post about maintenance staff on socials and include them on your team page or About Us page. Make sure you show your appreciation for maintenance with something tangible, too. (Think gifts!)

MAINTENANCE APPRECIATION GIFT IDEAS

Appreciating your maintenance team isn't quite as simple as a thank you note—but a handwritten note of thanks would go really well with these gifts for your maintenance crew, who have gone above and beyond:

• Branded swag (something they can use!)
• Amazon gift cards to let them do the shopping
• Beer or liquor to enjoy on their off days
• Extra PTO—speaking of off days, this is a fantastic thanks for hard work or extra hours put in
• New tools to make their work easier
  
  

If gifts aren't really the best way to show it, then throw them a party! At the party, you can hand out awards, and even involve your residents to help show appreciation, since residents have the most to be thankful for when it comes to maintenance. Once you connect residents and maintenance, your community will be stronger for it—jokes exchanged and bonding over a party will help solidify the positive culture you're working so hard to keep (or create).

MAINTENANCE AWARD IDEAS

In order to really recognize your crew going above and beyond—give out awards! Based on performance and dedication, you can determine the best categories and criteria. Here are a few of our ideas:

• Jack of All Trades - A maintenance person who always goes above and beyond to resolve resident issues quickly and effectively
• Handyman Hero - Someone who takes pride in their craftsmanship and shows exceptional skill
• Customer Service Champ - Resident satisfaction scores always skyrocket after this maintenance staff member completes their work
• Team Player Award - Someone who is willing to jump into any maintenance problem to help out
• Innovator of the Year - Solutions outside of the box are the norm for this staff member
• Safety Star - For this maintenance crew member, safety protocols are the name of the game
• Rookie of the Year - Newbie alert! This staff member has made huge strides in their work in the community in a short amount of time
• Lifetime Achievement Award - If a staff member has been around for a long while, unwavering in their dedication and service, this is the award for them

Your maintenance crew helps your apartment community be successful. It's not the most glamorous job, but without a leaking tub fix or an air conditioner serviced on a hot day, your reviews might go down and your reputation can suffer.

Your maintenance crew works hard—be sure to formally appreciate them this month (and any other month you like)!