You how when a person dies without a will, it is said the
person died “intestate?” That may be bad enough, especially when there are heirs
who stand to inherit money, family heirlooms, items of sentimental value or the
quilt Grandma made. What happens to our Residents when they are no longer
capable of making decisions for themselves, including what items they should
eat, or what to do so the electric doesn’t get shut off, and not to mention whether
or not they paid rent for the month. The basics should be a given. Or, they should
be unless there is something wrong
with the Resident.
In property management, it is seemingly drilled in our heads
that this is a business and not to take things personally. Over and over, we
are told to collect the rent, issue eviction notices, and make the tenants
follow the rules as set forth in the lease. What happens when the business side
takes over?
Does it leave room for the personal?
What happens when your resident suddenly isn’t coping, or
didn’t pay rent, or needs help? How far does your management company want you
to go to get to the bottom of the problem? Dare I say, about as far as a phone
call and then a walk to the door to post a notice?
It causes me to question life. When things like mental
illness, dementia, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and death affect our residents and my
hands are “tied” I am so torn by doing the right thing versus taking care of business
that it makes sleep hard. So, I throw it out there to those in the industry, do
you follow your own moral compass, or not?
I will. I do. But it doesn’t mean it is easy. And it always
means there are consequences.
