Have you been reading about how GREAT the apartment industry is doing? Papers are reporting that the apartment industry is booming but perhaps you are still struggling to keep your head above water??? From Boston to Houston to the California coast rents are reportedly on the rise so why are you still at 90% and having to give away up front concessions?

If you are barely keeping your head above water there may be some internal office and operational issues you may need to deal with or consider. Sit down with your key team players and ask the tough questions:

1. Is our product the best for our target market? You may not have all the bells and whistles but of the bells you do have do they ring? Are they clean and presentable or are they questionable?? If you are not requiring your teams to put their best foot forward and present the highest quality product for your customer you will always be just holding on and turning over apartments in mass!

2. Are you creating a community for your residents? Do you know your people by name? Do they WANT to come to the office to see you or do they slide rent in the night drop even when you are open for business?

3. Do you believe in your team and your product or are you just checking in and out daily? When was the last time YOU walked the model and tour route or sat down to go over a lease with a new resident?

4. Are you reaching out to your community? Are you building a presence in the community? This can be a form of outreach marketing but it can also mean just eating lunch at a local place and telling them you are in the community as a partner!

Not every property will be 100% occupied with a waiting list but if you can get to the bottom of why your property and your team may not be performing at 100% occupied then you can easily turn the ship around and be the newsmaker! You can be the property manager or leasing agent that is bragging because you have no vacancies and no turn over – because people will love living at YOUR community not at ABC Apartments!!

HAPPY LEASING!!