{"id":11881,"date":"2019-11-08T15:49:42","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T23:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/?p=11881"},"modified":"2019-11-08T15:49:42","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T23:49:42","slug":"issues-in-apartment-communities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentecdirect.com\/blog\/issues-in-apartment-communities\/","title":{"rendered":"Solutions to Common Issues That Plague Apartment Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Owning and maintaining an apartment complex is not an easy task.<\/span><\/p>\n

Owners of large communities simply hire management companies with a team of employees to oversee the entire operation. Obviously smaller properties won’t require as many employees, but larger communities require on-site maintenance, leasing staff, and an apartment manager. The entire team is overseen by a general manager who is in charge of navigating various complex issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

No matter how big or small, all properties have one thing in common: there are always ongoing challenges that must be addressed. These can certainly impact the day to day operations. Apartment managers and owners will find that many can be solved, but others are ongoing issues that have no solution in sight. Here are some of the most common issues that plague apartment operations and their solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Break-ins and Other Crime<\/span><\/h2>\n

Crime in and around the apartment complex can certainly influence the property. Many prospective residents check crime maps and other review sites specifically looking for comments and opinions before they apply. Prospective tenants don’t have to put forth much effort to investigate issues related to your property since so much information (whether it’s accurate or not) is found online<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of the most common crimes reported on properties:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Property crime like car break-ins<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Domestic violence<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Theft can be a big issue in large apartment communities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Solution: <\/b>Owners and management teams should be active and check the property address for any crime reports. This can be done by checking with the local police department. Crime needs to be minimized or the property may suffer from higher vacancy rates and lower rents. If car break-ins are reported, then additional lighting or security<\/a> should be instituted on the property to rectify the situation. More aggressive screening can be put in place to weed out dangerous tenants who have criminal backgrounds<\/a> that will put the property or its tenants at-risk. Crime maps can be found online in many cities. Just try typing in crime maps + (your city).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    High Turnover<\/span><\/h2>\n

    As many residents can testify, leasing staff and even managers are in a constant state of flux. It’s even common for owners to hire and fire property management companies. This high turnover can certainly be an issue for a manager. Having to constantly train and retrain new staff certainly takes time and resources away from the manager on-site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This isn’t just an issue for managers and staff. It’s also an issue for maintenance and technicians who are employed full-time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Owners of the communities who hire management companies to run their property operation will likely never see the turnover that occurs on the property.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Solution:<\/strong> Property owners should not hesitate to switch management companies<\/a> looking for the best fit and results. According to <\/span>NAA<\/span><\/a>, a new compensation strategy might result in lower turnover rates as can other employee retention strategies<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Apartment Wear and Tear\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

    As properties age, it’s inevitable that the apartment homes and the communities areas will begin to break down. Repairs and are a never-ending cycle that involves every single apartment community. As more and more technology is put into apartment homes and amenity areas, we can expect potential repairs. Here are some of the <\/span>more common issues <\/span><\/a>property owners will come across.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n