Funny Stuff People Say In the Leasing Office

There are some funny (haha) conversations to be heard in a Leasing Office. There are also some funny (strange) ones, too. Every day either one or both occur and for various reasons. Here it is the twentieth of the month and this property is still trying to collect THIS month’s rent from some of its residents. People here do not even try to hide the fact that they aren’t paying on time – mostly because the rent collection policy has never been enforced.

When one of the Leasing Consultants finally did the inevitable – turned in her two-week notice – then the funny (haha) and funny (exasperating) conversations began to occur in the course of the interview process. Working in property management gives one a crash course in determining truth or dare situations, and there are many when it comes to collecting rent payments and interviewing candidates for jobs,

The thing that grates my nerves is having the UPS or FED EX delivery person drop off a package in the Office for a Resident who still owes rent. I usually pick up the phone and call them right away to let them know that they have a package so I can ask them, “Why?” I mean, I understand that it could be a gift from someone but really, if I were in those circumstances, I would almost feel obligated to beg forgiveness. Worse is the couple who went to a local Rent-a-Center and the business faxed over a Reference Request. Really? You guys owe $900 in rent but you want to rent furniture????

Then there are those residents who come into the Office for the purpose of turning in their keys – and they still have several months left on their lease. When I explain this, they look at me and say:

“We bought a house.”

“I lost my job and I paid this month’s rent already. I have next month’s rent, too, but I am not sure about that last month, so we packed up and moved.” I am thinking that gives you sixty days to find another job, plus your wife could also work.

My personal favorite: “Our lease is over so we moved.” When I explain they are obligated to provide a written notice, they tell me, “Oh, yeah? Even if we weren’t planning to renew?” I explain that yes, they are supposed to give notice so that we can market and re-rent their apartment. Otherwise, how would we know what their plans are if they don’t communicate them to us?

But some of the funniest things that are said happen during the interview process.  Interviewing someone for the position of Leasing Consultant one day, I asked, “Do you like talking on the telephone?” never expecting to hear, “Oh, no. I try to get off the phone as quick as I can!” I looked across the table at her and asked, “You do understand that as a Leasing Consultant the bulk if your time is answering calls, don’t you?”

My personal favorite though is the person who asks if she will need to work weekends, because, after all, I have a life and the weekends is when I really get to live it. Let me pause a moment while I ponder that remark. Yeah - I am not so sure you are the right fit for this job.