Welcome to the newly designed BTLD Consulting! This is the place to find out what's new Behind the Leasing Desk, check out our weekly Multifamily 5x5 broadcasts, browse through the classes and seminars that are currently being offered, and find out where you can go to see Heather Blume speak next!
Dec
2
Dear Heather - Searching for Sense in Fair Housing
Submitted by artchickhb on Thu, 12/02/2010 - 19:17
Hey Heather,
I'm looking to rent a room in my condo (subletting or space-sharing some call it), but I'm really nervous about posting on Craigslist, etc. because Fair Housing laws (which seem to apply to individual home owners as well) stated that you can't even post things that could make people feel discriminated against (example: "Perfect for singles and young couples" might make people with kids feel uncomfortable).
I'm not the kind of guy that would discriminate based on race, gender, or creed, but I'm a young bachelor who likes to throw the occasional party, and if I were legally bound to rent to a family of four with an infant living in one of my bedrooms (hey, I can't discriminate, right?), partying would be impossible (or at the very least, awkward).
Also, there are things that I honestly can't help: I have a pet allergy (which would make a seeing eye dog very inconvenient), and I live on the second story, making the home inaccessible to wheel chairs. After reading examples of "Discriminatory wording," the regulations seemed to imply that statements like "Not Wheelchair Accessible" or "No Seeing-Eye Dogs; Pet Allergy" would be illegal, but those are just statements of fact.
I don't want to get sued for discrimination when it's simply due disclosure. My condo is not wheelchair accessible and I'm allergic to shedding dogs (and most seeing eye dogs shed).
How can I put those facts into my add without breaking the law?
Also. It's my house, and I own it. Don't I have the right to preferences when I sublet or space-share my own property? Businesses have the right to "refuse service to anyone." If it's my property, shouldn't I have that right?
Thanks,
Sir Knight of Ni!
Oct
26
You Can't Afford to Skip the Shot!
Submitted by artchickhb on Tue, 10/26/2010 - 20:14
Whether it's the cold and wet weather that weakens our immune systems, or it's the fact that we're constantly hugging and sharing food and drinks with others, or maybe because those welcoming, professional handshakes are carrying more than just sweat these days, this time of year is a breeding ground for catching the strain of crud de jour. I've seen an increasing number of Facebook statuses mentioning how bad this year's strain of the flu is, and there are quite a few of us out there who weren't in tip top shape to begin with. When a nasty strain of the flu hits someone like that, it doesn't matter how much orange juice you drink, you're going to be out from work for a while. Of course, that's after you infect the rest of your team.
May
10
Multifamily 5x5 for the Week of May 10th, 2010
Submitted by artchickhb on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 19:54
Marketing Madness- Are You in the Top 10?
Resident Retention - Start the Swimming!
Employee Engagement - Giving Credit where credit is due
Go Green! - Rain Barrels ( Link : http://www.cityofbremerton.com/conten... )
Seasonal Suggestion - "Ouch-reach" with local hardware store partners
May
3
Multifamily 5x5 - May 3rd, 2010
Submitted by artchickhb on Mon, 05/03/2010 - 17:46
This week's topics:
Surviving Social Media: Facebook Fanpage reminders
Simple Savings: Leave it Shaggy!
Emergency Prep: Thunderstorm Season (Link: http://www.noaa.gov/ or www.weather.com )
Maintenance Minute: Pool Tips (Link: http://www.naahq.org/about/join/Pages/AffiliateDirectory.aspx)
Reading Rec: When Generations Collide
Apr
7
Dear Heather - Irritated in Illinois (Fair Housing)
Submitted by artchickhb on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 07:00
Dear Heather,
I just got written up for violating fair housing. It's completely not fair, since I wasn't being discriminatory at all! We have an indoor pool at my community and in the early afternoon there are a lot of senior citizen swimmers in there. Last weekend, one of them was very annoyed because there were a lot of little kids in the pool who were splashing around and cannon balling into the water, right by them. She complained, so I told the kids that they had to stay at the end of the pool that the older people weren't swimming in. I thought it was a good compromise, but then one of the kid's parents (who NEVER controls their child to begin with!) came in and complained to the manager about my compromise.
I got written up. It was complete crap.
I don't want you to think that I think fair housing laws are stupid, but my manager makes such a huge deal out of them! I know they are super crucial to the industry, blah, blah, blah, but I don't understand why me doing something that's just good customer service is a violation of them. Can you tell me how to fight this write up? It's not fair, and it's not right.
-Irritated in Illinois
Mar
30
Dear Heather - Promoted but Demoted
Submitted by artchickhb on Tue, 03/30/2010 - 00:43
Dear Heather,
I just got "Promoted," and I'm not exactly happy about it. Until recently, I worked at a beautiful property. Good residents, normal issues, and a okay time at work. A manager position came up at one of our newly purchased sister properties, and they offered it to me. I didn't want to leave my current property, but in the current economy, I couldn't turn down the jump from Asst. Mgr to Manager. I didn't know what the new community was like until I got there for my first day.
My new community is a nightmare. In my first week, 3 residents were arrested, two cars were broken in to, and I got screamed at by a resident who wanted to pay her rent in cash. When I talk to my Asset Manager, he acts like I should just be happy to have been promoted, and tells me to get busy cleaning the place up.
Heather, it's not that I'm unappreciative of the promotion. I just wish it hadn't been to a complete craphole property. I have no idea where to even start. Do I try to clean this place up? How do I do that? Or is it better to let this promotion go and ask to go back to my old job, which they haven't filled yet, or even move to another company?
-Promoted but Demoted
Mar
22
Multifamily 5 by 5 with Heather Blume
Submitted by artchickhb on Mon, 03/22/2010 - 05:22
There isn't a 5x5 this monday because I'm enroute to the OPT SUM in Dallas! Follow the update feed on Twitter with the hash tag #optsum!
To make up for no 5x5, I'll be posting some candid confrence videos this week! I hope you enjoy the change of pace!\
Check out the full Video Recap of the Opt Sum Here: http://www.btldconsulting.com/home/OptSumVideoRecap
Hire Heather!
Want to hire Heather? Drop her an email at heather@behindtheleasingdesk.com or call her at 785.410.7385
