Apartment Trends Magazine May 2020 | Page 17

HOME MIC By Heather Blume Illustrations by Jake Roth What Can Your On-Site Team Do From Home? Having a dynamic on-site team is vital for any apartment community, but what happens if they’re not all able to be on site due to crisis’ such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic? While it’s not optimal that your teams are working remotely when their jobs are centered around being at the community to serve your residents, there are still ways your team members can contribute to the success of their community. Consider this list, which was compiled by Cardinal Group Management in March, as suggestions for keeping your on-site teams engaged from home during a crisis. COMMUNITY MANAGERS • Updates / audits on vendor contracts • Vendor clean up in in your software (Yardi / Entrata for example) - inactivate old vendors • Audit your Inspection Schedules, certifications or license expirations • Update emergency providers (Fire Department, Police Department, monitoring company) with updated contact information and revised hours • Maintain your Customer Service/Courtesy calls to renewals • Review your budgets for areas that might be able to be trimmed ASSISTANT COMMUNITY MANAGERS/BOOKKEEPERS • Audit your resident’s insurance compliance and ledgers • Audit your future residents scheduled charges • Audit future concessions -make sure the concession addendum matches the scheduled charges • Storage locker, parking, amenity fee audits LEASING TEAM MEMBERS • Manage your prospects lists/portals • More thorough digital audits (social media, website, ILS) • Audit answering service information and confirm voicemail box can be accessed and is cleaned out • Role Play with other team members on phone calls • Remain active on website live chat • Follow up with reviews • In depth market survey audit and update (weekly) • Soft touch phone calls to residents to check-in MAINTENANCE TEAM MEMBERS • Look into online training courses through vendors and AAMD • Review Turn needs and prepare orders • Take online training couses via YouTube www.aamdhq.org MAY 2020 TRENDS | 15