Ratcheting Up
In all of the hubbub about multifamily mobile apps that allow for service requests with a thumb click, we often forget that, eventually, an apartment community representative needs to respond physically to the digital request, enter a unit, and fix whatever might be wrong. Helping to remind us of the front line that maintenance professionals play in customer service is Maintenance Mania, a 38-state competition sponsored by HD Supply that pits regional maintenance teams against each other in timed competitions that include door jamb armor installations, key control tests, faucet repair, appliance repair, and the holy grail of all service requests: the toilet installation. Jacksonville, Fla.-based WRH Realty services sent 75 service pros to various state qualifying rounds this year, nine of whom placed high enough in their respective events to warrant a trip to the national competition to be held in conjunction with the NAA Education Conference in June.
Man Caves
When it comes to catering to the Apollo side of the Gen Y renter equation, apartment operators are likely looking at a 50/50 shake. According to new research by Santa Monica, Calif.-based ILS Rent.com, 53 percent of male single renters have the means to live alone, which is great news for one-bedroom and studio-heavy communities, but unfortunately a full 46 percent of single adult men are still living free of charge with family or friends. For savvy property managers looking to pull some of those dudes out of the basement and into an apartment, the Rent.com survey reveals some of the single successful male’s renting predilections: 45 percent of bachelors seek single women as their neighbors (compared to only 17 percent of ladies who are looking to move in next to a single guy); only 4 percent of male renters want a spacious kitchen (take out, anybody?); and nearly 40 percent of single men will pay between 25 percent and 50 percent of their monthly income on rent. Just goes to show you that when it comes down to it, guys are willing to pony up for chicks and food.
Awesome Open House
If you’re looking for the latest in apartment unit design and decoration, you might have done well to visit one of the 65 Riverstone Residential Group managed properties that participated in a “Parade of Apartment Homes” on April 30. Held in support of the Children’s Miracle Network, Riverstone communities across the East Coast participated in the event that featured raffle and contest activities, full-on gourmet catering, and an open-house viewing of decorated units for residents and prospects alike. “The Parade of Apartment Homes is truly a special event,” says Riverstone Residential Group eastern region division president Maura Bilafer. “We have been extremely pleased with the success of similar events in individual cities and decided to expand our reach with multiple regions and host a one-day celebration to allow numerous properties to participate.” The Children’s Miracle Network raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across North America.
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