Becoming a Roommate Is Not Always Easy

Do you know how weird it is to pull up in your car, packed with all of your clothes, most, okay – just some of your shoes – and look up to see you are sitting in front of your son’s house? It’s a temporary solution to a new situation. At least, this is what I tell myself. The door was open and I could see a happy little face staring out of the glass, tail wagging, all excited to meet this person who will hopefully be new and full of time to give much deserved attention. Yes, moving in with my son – my son, his dog, his girlfriend, and until just a couple of days ago, now a paying roommate/renter. Add to this mix – The Mother.

My son’s name is Tom (Thomas Sean) and he adopted a black Lab who, unbelievably, was already named Sawyer. Get it – Tom’s dog is named Sawyer! What a hoot! Sawyer is a big dog who likes nothing more than sitting right beside you and begging for a scrap or two. If you don’t willingly offer him something, he’ll just nudge close enough to grab it right out of your hand. He’s not even the least bit apologetic either. But he is just so darn cute, it’s hard to stay too mad at him. Plus, it wouldn’t so any good since he honestly couldn’t care less if you’re upset … or hungry, still.

Sawyer has lots of beds, I discovered, throughout the house, including the corner of the basement TV room where I had just taken up residency. This room is tiny, as far as TV rooms go – real estate professionals such as myself would describe it as “cozy” but it is tiny. It’s dominated by his huge big screen with surround sound. That first night I pulled out my queen size air mattress and my son plugged it in and it magically, and quickly, expanded to fill the tiny space. Literally, it reached from one side of the room and touched the loveseat. No more room for Sawyer’s bed, which we placed in the adjacent laundry room, which, because it contained an actual sink and counter became my closet and dressing room. Sawyer accepted the change with great grace and didn’t seem to mind. He willingly snuggled up to me on the loveseat every chance he got and I did not mind at all.

One night, around 2 AM, I woke up to hear Sawyer running around the house like a dog obsessed. I rolled over and tried to ignore it. I heard him at one point come into the TV room-turned-bedroom and leave a minute later. Shortly thereafter, I smelled something. Hummm? I got up and turned on the light. Yep, he had left a smelly disgusting pile right there at the end of the bed. 

I went upstairs to tell Thomas Sean that his dog had pooped and to ask where the cleaning supplies were. After that incident, we just left the cleaning supplies in the TV room. Apparently, Sawyer did not think his bed being moved was such an agreeable proposition. Ahhh, the search for a new home for me cannot come fast enough! And that is when it occurred to me that being uprooted, even for a dog, came have ramifications we may not even recognize. Perhaps we should keep this in mind when dealing with those Prospects who come to us for guidance and help in deciding where to lay their heads each night. Yes, I understand – now more than ever.   

Leasing on the Frontlines

“Must be able to handle stressful, urgent, diverse situations in a calm and reasonable manner” is a line in a Job Description for Leasing Professionals at Greystone Properties, LLC. Well, I am here to tell you how it really is in the world of leasing apartments. Sometimes it ain’t easy to remain calm, cool and collected in a stressful situation. It can be especially more difficult if you are a Community or Property Manager who is filling in for a short staffed team.

May I share a few little things that have happened to me – some a while ago a couple that occurred only a day or so ago. Being somewhat out of practice or being very new to the business, we all learn on the fly. No one can really prepare you for the things that can come up during a property tour or apartment showing. The thing is, you just have to embrace your own unique style and enjoy the rollercoaster that each day in property management is.

Take for example, the time that I was actually a Manager who also leased the apartments. You know how they say we are all creatures of habit? Roll eyes, now. I had this particular resident who only EVER came to the office at 6:00 PM. For three years, this was her habit. So, the evening she came and brought me her rent check, and NOT being a Clock-Watcher (in fact, had no clock in the Office at all), I assumed <GASP> it was closing time of 6:00 PM. So I dutifully locked the door after she left and went to the back office to grab my change of clothes for my off time work out wear. Fully garbed in black workout pants and loose T-shirt, gym shoes and hair all pulled back, I heard someone knocking on the door. I ran to open it, thinking it was a Resident. To my surprise it was a Prospect who took one look at me and looked puzzled. I immediately jumped back into Leasing Whiz kid and told her, although it was technically after hours, I would stay over and show her around (and do my best to find her the perfect apartment home.) The whole time, she kept asking if I needed to be somewhere else and I kept insisting it was no trouble for me to stay over. When she left, she looked at me with an expression that said, “Clearly you are a nutty person” and said, “Don’t you usually close at 6:00?”

Again, I stated we did and it was my pleasure to assist her and I thanked her and closed the door. I then grabbed my stuff and ran out to the car thinking I was 45 minutes late. I started the car and looked at the digital clock on the dashboard. “What?????”

It was 5:45 PM. No wonder that Prospect didn’t lease. Would you lease from someone who clearly cannot tell time?

Or, how about the tour where I was taking a young couple who was accompanied by both sets of parents, grandmothers, aunts and uncles – everyone except the family pets – on a tour. I notice there are stray pieces of junk mail littering the tour path so I stoop the pick it up not realizing until it was too late that the paper was encasing three large pieces of dog pooh that rolled right out on top of my peep toe shoe - in front of every person in the entourage.

I especially was thrown off once when it was summer. I wanted to highlight the sparkling blue pool we had just refinished with a glittery finish and it was especially stunning glistening in the sunlight. So, off I go with my Prospects, a nice elderly couple who had just mentioned how much they enjoy swimming and how their doctor had recommended they continue since it was easy on their joints. Imagine my motification to find some young men passing a joint round at the pool surrounded by empty beer cans. One person’s joint – tomayto, tomahta …

Or, the time I took my Prospects to the dry sauna. When I opened the door, I discover a couple of horny, oversexed fourteen year olds with barely any clothes on making out hot and heavy on the wooden bench. I quickly back up trying to prevent my Prospects from seeing what was happening and try to close the door. I think to myself – won’t this be a fun phone call to their parents?

But one of my favorite stories is the one where I am touring some Prospects through my own unit. At the time, there were no vacant apartments, so by default, I would show the furnished unit I would stay in when in town. At one point, however, I had canceled the contract on the rented furniture and started buying a few pieces myself. So, this one family I was touring had a young son about eleven years old. All throughout the tour, he kept opening up closets, cabinet drawers but when he got to the dresser in one of the bedrooms, he opened it up, pulling out some unmentionables and said, “Hey, look, Mom! They even put underwear in here!” I quickly grabbed the panties out of his hand and stuffed them back into the drawer. Talk about being embarrassed – because after they moved in they realized that the apartment they toured was where I stayed.

Yeah. They don’t tell you things like this happen when you interview for a position as a Leasing Consultant. And they sure don’t tell you to prepare for things like that when you are a Manager. J

   

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.

The Art of Sale Doesn't Compare To the Art of Being a Mother

Today is a good day to be brutally honest, I think. Today is Mother’s Day and I would just like to say “Thank You” to the man who made me a mother, the one true passion in my life besides work. I used to say that my drawing was my second passion above work and behind motherhood; however, because I suffer from limited feeling in my hands, that part of me is somewhat stifled. Maybe I just lost my creative edge.

All I ever wanted to be, really, was a mother. I love children. I love everything about them: their curiosity, their truthfulness, their zest for learning, their energy! Their ability to believe is incredible and wonderful. They trust. They thirst for life and enjoy laughing, giggling and caterpillars. They long for the day when they become butterflies.

As a mother, I love teaching them, laughing and giggling with them, rubbing their backs as I sing them to sleep, watching them close their eyes with their lovely long eyelashes brushing their cheeks. As I watch, I realize there is a wayward tear gliding down mine. I miss those days.

So, today, I remember their birthdays, the ones that made me a mother, my two beautiful, wonderful, talented, intelligent, oh so funny, children who are now butterflies, flying to their own heights, making their own way in this wide world. Adults. Wow. When did that happen?

And even though this weekend I worked in the Leasing Office so that the Leasing Consultant could spend this Mother’s Day with her family, and even though I closed five leases, the high euphoria experienced at the close of the sale can never compare with being a mother, and I am grateful to their father who gave me the greatest joy I could ever know. Happy Mother’s Day to all those who mother someone or something in whatever way they do.

But My Lease Ended Already, You Moron!

Long story short, I spent more than enough time trying to defuse a volatile situation yesterday due to a) a misunderstanding; b) a miscommunication and/or c) a clerical error. I am still not sure which is responsible for this nineteen year old pair of roommates who were sitting in front of me telling me their lease ended the day prior and cussing me out for a) having tricked them into signing a year lease; b) having falsified the lease document because they NEVER would have signed a year lease – why would they when they would be graduating at the end of April?????; and/or c) just plain not caring and trying to take advantage of their inexperience by not reminding them of their lease expiration.

Not only did I have to endure their glares, sneers, and profanity, but I also had to speak with parents on the phone and meet with one’s father for an extended period of time. A time during which his daughter sat with arms crossing muttering, “It’s not fair; I am not going to pay!” (and you can’t make me!) His conversation came around with his accusation that our Office had altered the Lease end date and that we were taking advantage of his innocent, sweet, and naïve daughter.

“We would be happy to look over your daughter’s copy of the Lease and compare the two,” both the Leasing Consultant and I chimed in on several occasions. Of course neither roommate could produce her copy. Her father proceeded to point out that the way the original lease signing took place was not “correct” to which I replied that I am always looking for ways to improve that process; however, when I conduct lease signings, it takes an hour or so and I am very thorough. I also said that even though I was not present at that time (or, even an employee at that time) I was trying to help him. Inevitably, it led to the father asking for Corporate’s number.

Ultimately, from my point of view, and because no one can remember exactly what was said in a phone call, on any given day at any given moment, the written lease agreement is the decision maker. This is why I explain that the lease agreement a new Resident or a renewing Resident is signing is a legally binding contract and should be entered into reverently – something not unlike a marriage.

Naturally, no one is going to be happy about this outcome. On the one hand, I have two young ladies threatening everything from a lawsuit to posting terrible reviews online (which they are probably going to do anyway based on their level of anger on any given day for whatever reason) to knowing that it is the responsibility of all parties to enter into a contract with confidence they understand the clauses. The teacher in me is screaming that perhaps what we should follow up every lease signing with, in addition to the keys to the apartment, is a test covering all of the most contested points of the contract: giving written notice – required; breaking or terminating a lease early; late fees; what happens if your check bounces; utility charges, including who pays for what; when rent is due … Until the person can actually pass the test with a perfect score, they can’t get their keys.

Handling an Emergency When You Live Alone

According to www.weareapartments.org, there are 289,000 people who are residents in 187,500 apartment homes in the state of Kentucky. What matters to me, however, is that over the weekend I became one of them and something dreadful happened which made me wonder when our emergency 9-1-1 system is going to wise up and accept TEXT messages. Never mind, that MAYBE, just maybe, this really could only happen to me. In reality, I know it could happen to anyone.

Generally, I live alone. What happens when someone who lives alone encounters a life-threatening emergency? Last night, something really scary occurred while I was wolfing down dinner, while also tweeting, watching a DVD and reading a magazine. I knew it immediately. I little tiny piece of baked potato got sucked down my windpipe and in a split second I thought I was truly going to die.

And you know what one of my first thoughts was? You know that old saying about not being caught dead wearing such-and-such outfit? Yeah. That was what I thought. Briefly, while I pondered calling 9-1-1 and also thinking, “I can’t do that because I CAN’T SPEAK!” I looked down at my yoga pants and T-Shirt and thought:

“Oh, God! I can’t let someone find my body wearing this! Wait, do I have any makeup on???”

Followed by: “Do I have time to change before I pass out?”

Followed by: “Wait, can I text my situation to the 9-1-1 operator? I can type! But I can’t talk.” When the realization set in that I was choking and no longer breathing, I tried to cry but no sound came out. Then my chest began to hurt. Then I wondered if I was having a heart attack on top of choking to death. Then I thought maybe I should text my son or my daughter and let them know I need help.

Finally, the will to live kicked in and I doubled over and tried to dislodge the obstruction. Falling to my knees, collapsing, I still could not breathe and I could not cough. I don’t know if you have ever heard someone trying valiantly to get a breath of air, but it is something I will never forget. It is a sound of utter despair.

Just as I stood up and leaned forward I forced air into my closed windpipe. The rest is history now, since obviously it worked. Half an hour later, writhing in pain as every intake of air expanded a lung that would not fill without a fight, a violent coughing fit ensued. Sorry – don’t mean to be so graphic. Nothing was ever coughed out and even now, I have moments of terror at the memory.

It makes me wonder though. How many others live alone in our apartment communities who may not have someone in the next room to help them during just such an emergency? Wouldn’t it be great if our emergency response system could accept text messages?

There's No Such Thing As Zero Income

In the world of multifamily housing, dealing with income-based housing specifically, I can categorically state there is no such thing as having no income. Just as there most likely are no immaculate conceptions. However, if you examine many verification processes, you may discover quite a few residents in your communities whose files indicate otherwise.

True stories.

I was new to working with residents in our project based Section 8 community years ago when I was was interviewing a mother with two children. One child was a newborn requiring a lot of care. She reported she was not working, no longer able to receive cash assistance and therefore had no income. That struck me as odd, so I casually asked, "Are you nursing then?"

She looked at me with a questioning expression. "No," she answered. "Why is that your business?"

I told her, "If you aren't nursing, then how do you feed your baby? Is the baby wearing cloth diapers? Because if not, how are you buying diapers?" With further questioning, she admitted that she receives help. "And how much is your baby's father giving you to pay for things?"

Later, after some experience interviewing, I was talking to a resident for her Annual Recertification and commented that she has a car. Is the car insured? Who is paying the insurance? And for those who answered they don't pay for it, a lot of times I find the car is not registered to the resident. Hummm. I would simply say, "If your child's father wants you to have a car, then he should put your name on the registration and pay the insurance. And by the way,you have a state ID. Does that mean you don't have a drivers license?"

I love it when those who smoke come in to Recertify. "How do you pay for your cigarettes?"

People have some kind of income. They often do not like to report it. Whether they receive money from panhandling, doing odd jobs, mowing the grass, recycling bottles or scrap metal, they get money somehow. The thing is residents are fearful of admitting their truths. It takes a certain level of trust to get our residents to understand we don't judge them, we just want to understand  their story so we can help them. There are programs and resources out there. It's up to those on he front lines of housing to build that trust so we can educate our Residents on where to go for help if they want or need it.

My favorite story was the senior citizen whose apartment was heavily trafficked during the first week of every month. Finally I went to her apartment to check it out for myself. I knocked and she invited me inside. I noticed a stand up freezer (against our rules) and I asked her why she had a freezer. She proudly opened the door and said, "Now, Miss Mindy, you ain't gonna make me get rid of it, are you?" I peeked inside. It was filled with meat.

"That's quite a lot of meat! Why do you have so much? Looks like a butcher shop in here!"

Turns out she was selling it for other's food stamps.