Frequently Asked Questions

"Do I really need to hire a consultant?" 
It's a pretty good question to ask, considering the cost.  The best way to tell if it is worth your time and finances to hire an exterior consultant is to ask yourself, "How much am I losing in lost rent/team productivity/interpersonal problems/resident retention, and how much can this person save me?"  If I can save you more than you're losing, and odds are I can, then yes, you should hire a consultant. 
 
"Don't all you consultants essentially do the same thing?"
Nope, sorry, we don't.  You've got consultants out there who are very niche specialized and you've got generalists and all the 31 flavors of Baskin Robins inbetween.  For example, if it's a problem related to multifamily clients, employees, future residents or current residents, I'm your girl 100%, but if you've got an issue with your budget, I am NOT the person to talk to (that would be the illustrious Lisa Trosien!).  Since it is such an investment of your time and money, you really should do your research and make sure that you're hiring a consultant who is truly able to meet your needs best and is able to work in the style that you're looking for.  And if I'm not the right fit for you, I'll tell you up front and refer you to someone else in the industry who will do a great job for you.
 
"How much does it cost?"
My hourly rate is $175 for property management companies and $250 for supplier companies.  I also offer a retainer rate, which drops the property price down to $150/hr for 15 hours and the supplier price to $200/hr for 15 hours, and can be arranged to be paid all at once or in quarterly payments (at a slightly higher price).  *I'm currently running a special for my local apartment association, WMFHA, with 30% off for any dues current paying members!*
Contract writing rates vary depending on project.
My speaking rates vary depending on the venue and client, so please call me to discuss.  I'm very mindful of people's budgets this year, so I am willing to work with you on price.  NAA Affiliates are entitled to price reductions.
 
"If we start hourly, can we backdate the charges and hours if we decide to do a retainer?" 
You bet!  I'd rather work for you longer than ring a ton of money out of you.  I bill at the end of each month, so there is flexibility in timing to work with.
 
"What's your background?"
I grew up out in Kansas and attended Kansas State University, where I studied a hodgepodge of art, theatre, psychology, English, womens' studies and writing.  I've worked both on the on-site side of property management and as a supplier with an exceptional client retention rate of 92% and an employee retention rate of 95% with over 600 employees.  Over the years, I've educated hundreds of multifamily professionals and mentored several others. My blog, Behind the Leasing Desk, is generally considered a good industry resource and read.  I'm a featured writer on Multifamily Insiders where I also sit on the advisory board, the Property Manager E-zine by Appfolio, On-Site newspaper, and UNITS Magazine, as well as several other apartment association magazines nationally.  I've spoken at several conferences and trade shows, including Multifamily Pro's National Brainstorming Conference in 2009 and 2010, where I also served as a facilitator.  I'm also a CAM candidate for 2010
 
But most of all, I love this industry and I love the people who work here.  It's my mission to make our business a better place and to make a change for the positive for my clients and every person I come in to contact with.  Property management gave me a mission and a passion in life, and I'm thrilled to get the chance to pay that back.