Property Management

Closet doors open or closed when showing?

Ghost....

About 30 people turned out for our first  movie, a success in our 
minds. Now we are off to market next weeks offering! We will keep you 
posted. M

Setting up for Cinema on the Court

As the buzz generates this is sure to be an amazing, amazing event.

The top Budgeting Secret and a Prize too!

As we all gear up for budget season I thought it would be cool to share some ideas and thoughts here. And by that I mean you the reader. Take the time to drop a thought or two in the comment section below and I will enter you in drawing for a cool prize!!!!

Bring on the Credit Crunch

Update to our post of a couple days ago: Check out this quote and article from USAToday.com Fading American dream of homeownership

"There's a whole segment of the market right now that can't buy. People are pretty much being forced to rent," Ervin says. "Our credit is not the greatest; we'd probably be in that segment right now."

The woes of the sub-prime loan debacle and the subsequent tightening of criteria by lending institutions can only be good for the rental market. Maybe not in the area of scathing rent growth but certainly in the area of occupancies. Not only that the amped up number of foreclosures dotting the landscape will bode well for the rental market.

To lie or to tell the truth

I am shopping comps this morning and I'm curious; do u tell the truth
when u shop or do u manufacture a personality? I'm sorry for the u's, I'm driving as I type this.

Craiglist Meets YouTube Round 2

Ran across [this story] at Wired Magazine about the use of YouTube as a way to market your sites. I like reelProperties the best so far. I think this tool is just now finding some traction in our business, it won't be long and every leasing agent in the country will be shooting her/her own video docs to send to prospects.

What do you think?

The 08' Sherwin-Williams color-trend forecast

Pack Your Bags For A Stylish Color Journey From the Runway to the Hallway, Fashion Designer Cynthia Rowley Selects Hues From the Sherwin-Williams Colormix '08 Trend Forecast
CHICAGO (June 12, 2007) - The latest Sherwin-Williams color trend forecast inspired fashion designer Cynthia Rowley to pack her decorating bags for a New England road trip; a journey to a desert oasis; and an bold exploration of Moroccan and Spanish architecture. "I find inspiration in adventure, and these colors remind me of places I have traveled," said Rowley, who added she was "drawn to a spicy mix of earth and jewel tones" from the Sherwin-Williams colormix '08 palette for her Pack Your Bags groupings. Looking to translate a look from the runway to the hallway or any other room in the home? Try these stylish color combinations selected by Rowley: New England Road Trip Real Red (SW 6868) Cocoon (SW 6173) Tatami Tan (SW 6116) Restful White (SW 7563) Blackberry (SW 7577) Granite Peak (SW 6250) Liberty Blue (SW 2942) Desert Landscape Tupelo Tree (SW 6417) Marquis Orange (SW 6650) Twinkle (SW 7135) Evening Shadow (SW 7662) Iron Ore (SW 7069) Plum Brown (SW 6272) Ash Violet (SW 6549) Flavors of Morocco and Spain Dynamo (SW 6841) Majestic Purple (SW 6545) Gecko (SW 6719) Borscht (SW 7578) Aquarium (SW 6767) Fleur de Sel (SW 7666) Frank Blue (SW 6967) Sherwin-Williams invited Illinois native Rowley to return to her home state to help unveil the colormix '08 forecast to interior designers as part of the NeoCon World's Trade Fair show in Chicago. "The home furnishings industry increasingly is being influenced by the apparel industry and fashion design," said Sheri Thompson, Sherwin-Williams director of color marketing and design. "Clothing and accessory styles change frequently, which creates a continued interest in other areas of our lives." Sherwin-Williams first teamed with Rowley in February to celebrate the launch of its Concepts in Color palette. As lead sponsor of Rowley's Fashion Week show, Sherwin-Williams artistically showcased some of its 250 new colors, including seating cards that were organized by color family and presented on the palette's generously sized 3 x 5-inch take-home samples. Rowley, who has used Sherwin-Williams coatings in her studio and home, long has been known for her creative use of color. "Just as wearing dark colors can make you look slim, dark walls and floors can make a room look sleek - and they provide a great backdrop for brightly colored accessories," Rowley said. "The modern way to decorate is not thematic, using all earth tones, for example. It mixes earthy with techno; retro with futuristic." About Sherwin-Williams For over 140 years, Sherwin-Williams has satisfied the coating and color needs of builders, designers, specifiers, property managers and contractors. Sherwin-Williams provides fast, flexible, responsive local service and personalized, expert advice. More than 3,000 stores and 1,800 sales representatives make Sherwin-Williams North America's largest single-source supplier of high-quality paints, stains, masonry coatings and brand-name wall and floor coverings. Visit Sherwin-Williams on the Internet at sherwin-williams.com. Editors' note: More details about the other groupings in the Sherwin-Williams colormix '08 forecast, including a fan deck of all 39 hues and room images, are available by request.
Contact: Carmichael Lynch Spong SHERWIN-WILLIAMS@CLYNCH.COM

Remarkable Leadership

Update: I am finally into this book and came across this interesting bit in Chapter 7.

The Keys to Building better working relationship;

• Listen
• Put yourself in the other person's shoes
• Learn more about the other person
• Be willing to help
• Teach them what they need to know
• Smile
• Be friendly
• Make time for the other person
• Be trustworthy
• Be honest

Why are better relationships important?

• Improved productivity
• Reduced turnover
• Improved safety
• Improved quality
• Heightened morale
• Improved attitudes

I have read the reviews and watched the YouTube video and I now I can't wait to read it.

The soul of property management

I read this and felt compelled to applaud the journey of women in general but more specifically in our industry. We all know that the bulk of senior management is made up of males and the bulk of middle and site level management is made up of women. But that is all changing now as we see more and more evidence of the women in the ranks of senior management. We applaud all of you!!!

Take the time to read the follow and let it soak in. It may or may not apply direct to our day to day property management worlds but it is striking nonetheless. Enjoy! M

Well, children, where there is so much racket there must be something out of kilter. I think that 'twixt the negroes of the South and the women at the North, all talking about rights, the white men will be in a fix pretty soon. But what's all this here talking about?

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman? Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

Then they talk about this thing in the head; what's this they call it? [member of audience whispers, "intellect"] That's it, honey. What's that got to do with women's rights or negroes' rights? If my cup won't hold but a pint, and yours holds a quart, wouldn't you be mean not to let me have my little half measure full?

Then that little man in black there, he says women can't have as much rights as men, 'cause Christ wasn't a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.

If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back , and get it right side up again! And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.

Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old Sojourner ain't got nothing more to say.