Renoir Staffing Blog

Last week we attended the California Apartment Association Housing Education Expo (mouthful, right?) where we had a chance to talk to the people who make things happen in our industry. It was a busy day for us, we were blessed to have a lot of visitors to our booth!, but we hardly felt it because we had such a great time! Here’s a picture of us before the doors were open to the registrants:

We Build Winning Teams at Renoir Staffing! From left: 707/925 Account Executive Karen Quennell, 415/650 Account Executive Theresa Cannon, Marketing Coordinator Jessie Williams, and 408/831 Account Executive Amanda Landon.

The theme this year was ‘Go for the Gold,’ a play on the Olympics, so we gave out Gold Medal Cookies and water bottles at our table in front of the Olympic torches which flanked our banner. Both were a big hit but then again, who doesn’t like cookies?! Swag (the free promotional materials that companies pass out to attendees) is definitely a big draw to these events and adds to the fun, so we’re really glad that everyone liked our swag!

But the best part of our day was the opportunity to network with professionals in our industry! We introduced our new Account Executive for the South Bay, Amanda Landon, and she repeatedly stated throughout the day how much she was enjoying the chance to meet the people she was looking forward to working with in the near future. I don’t think she sat down once the whole day! But that is one of the reasons we love Amanda so much, her enthusiasm for the property management industry and customer service, coupled with her bottomless energy, are what make her such a perfect fit for Renoir Staffing and our dedication to the community we serve. If you didn’t get a chance to meet Amanda at the event, be sure to send her an email to say hello! She can be reached at alandon@renoirstaffing.com.

However, Amanda wasn’t the only one networking that day! Director of Sales Arisha Williams, and Account Executives Karen Quennell and Theresa Cannon were also having a great time meeting with the attendees, many of whom they have worked with extensively over years. Including previous temps who have now been working as permanent employees for the property management companies we placed them in! Catching up with these employees is the part I enjoy most about these events.

Check out the rest of our pictures from the expo here. And while you’re on our Facebook site, be sure to take a look at our other albums, including those Employees of the Month that have made this business a joy to be in, as well as last year’s RHA Expo where our booth was turned into a Parisian tea shop!

Happy Wednesday to all and it was a pleasure to see you last week!

Jessie Williams, Marketing Coordinator

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The CAA Expo is next week on Wednesday, April 25^th at the Santa Clara Convention Center-come say hi! The theme this year is “Go for the Gold” and we’ll be at booth #620 to tell you about how we can build your winning team!

There will also be a great raffle prize you can win!

Can’t make it? Be sure to check out our online resources: website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, where we keep you informed on the most pertinent industry news and events! We’re here not only to provide you with the best candidates in property management or to match you with the position that will propel your career, we are also here to make sure that you have the access you need to participate in the Property Management Industry like a champion!

We hope to see you next week!

Jessie Williams, Marketing Coordinator

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The busy summer season is nearly upon us which means all of us want to not only do our best on the multiple worksites we’ll be sent to, but also look our best, meaning professional! This week we are re-posting a great blog from last year outlining the type of clothing that is appropriate for all property management positions.

“Why does work attire matter? There are many reasons why you should and need to follow work attire policies. In today’s society first impressions mean a lot more then some would like to think. Just recently I walked into a property that I was interested in moving into. As the leaser greeted me, I couldn’t help but notice that she was wearing open-toed heels, old worn-looking jeans, a low cut t-shirt, and her hair was pulled back in a messy ponytail. As she gave me the tour of the property I noticed she had a difficult time walking around. It appeared she got tired very quickly (I think this might have to do with the high heels she was wearing) and as we cut across some grass area she almost fell when her heel got stuck in the grass. It was obvious that she didn’t consider her job and duties when she was getting dressed that morning.

I had a difficult time getting passed her appearance and based on her work attire I couldn’t help but question the professionalism of the property and the employee herself.  I know not everyone has an eye for fashion but this is why we have dress code policies. If the employee looks sloppy it makes the property look sloppy too. I thought to myself, “I don’t ever want to give that impression,” so I did some online searching and found some great work attire guidelines that I would love to share that may relate a little more to our industry.

Property Manager/ Leaser: Some properties will have standard attire, such as black, blue, or gray slacks with a black or white top with a collar. Some may prefer a pantsuit. Inappropriate pants would be leggings, spandex, exercise pants or sweatpants. Casual dresses and skirts (split below the knee) are acceptable. Dress/ skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti strap dresses are inappropriate for the office too. Dress or casual shirts, sweater tops, and turtlenecks are acceptable. Tank tops, midriff tops, halter tops and tops with bare shoulders are inappropriate. As for shoes; when you know you will be doing a lot of walking (ie: property tours) it’s best to wear flats with a rubber sole. High heels, open-toed shoes, flip flops, and sling-backs are inappropriate. Jewelry, make-up, perfume and hair should be in good taste. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to some chemicals in perfumes and make-up, so wear these substances with restraint.

Building Maintenance/Porter:There are properties that may give you a standard uniform to wear. Some may require you to wear coveralls. If you go to a property that doesn’t require either then the best way to go is with solid color t-shirts and/or sweaters. Inappropriate attire would include tank tops, shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, or slogans.  You don’t want to wear anything that may be new that you won’t want to get dirty or mess up. Keep in mind that, just because you work in building maintenance, it doesn’t mean you can show up to work dirty already. Work boots are best but talk to the property manager to make sure you are wearing the best-fitted boots for the job.

Remember that first impressions can make or break you. Make sure your clothes are pressed, clean, and that your outfit is safe for the type of work you do. Keep professionalism and safety in mind when getting dress for work and ask yourself, “What does my outfit say about me?” ”

Maria Torres, Fashion Expert and General Great Advice-Giver

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It’s busy around the office this week! Have you been running around, trying to play catch-up, move forward on certain projects, leave time to be innovative? In acknowledgement of the busy season’s swift approach, here is one of our most popular blogs from last year: on multi-tasking! Enjoy!

We have all been there, ‘there’ being the ever so isolating and energy-draining lure that every Monday morning seems to engulf us in once we walk into our work space ready for administrative combat.  From having to address numerous emails that all seem time sensitive to racing from meeting upon meeting while still fitting in the unpredictable tugs of each day, we can agree that the term ‘multitasking’ is an understatement.  With today’s economic challenges, many companies have felt the all-mighty sting of layoffs and downsizing which has thus drenched  the surviving staff members of these companies with an even heavier load, as they aim to pick up the slack where needed.  This creates an almost chaotic existence among an office that most likely deserves some serious organization and attention to detail, concentration and patience, and commitment to integrity and production.  How can those qualities be achieved may be the question we must ask ourselves and the answer lies with a realistic and solid approach to multitasking.

Prioritizing:  Understanding Your Position

First thing first, do you understand your position and what responsibility you have to your company and team overall?  If not, ask yourself how your job affects the team around you and how your deadlines affect the company as a whole.  What key repetitive tasks do you perform on the daily that aid in generating the overall success of your company?  Once this is realized a miraculous thing happens, you are now ready to prioritize!  Put in order all of the things that need to be done first while also understanding the tasks that need your complete focus without interruption and plan to carry them out from start to finish.  This will help you get them done with little to no interruption or distraction.  For best results, take a task one at a time.  Gage how long each task will take and comingle the time needed to complete it within the time allowed for you to be at work, which for most of us is an eight hour day.  The goal here is to get in the habit of thinking about everything that needs to be done in one day, not one week.  Remember, being realistic will promote a can-do attitude and propel you into feelings of accomplishment and endurance.

Knowing How to Manage Your Time

Technically, we have already addressed this subject with prioritization and since these two are close cousins as well as counterparts they need to be presented separately in order to produce the most potent results in your goal to be a master at multitasking.  Time management is self-explanatory and if implemented can really help you stay on the right road when trying to get work done.  Assess the time you have in a day and divide it amongst all of the important tasks that need to be addressed as well.  For example, block out a time when you are able to review and respond to email messages and voicemails if possible and stick to it.  For those of you that have jobs that require constant communication on email, filter through your emails and organize them based on priority.  This will help you focus on the more important emails that need an immediate response rather than the emails that can wait.  If you have meetings all day, communicate to your clients, customers, employees or anyone that will need to contact you in advance so that they know not to expect a response from you right away.  This could eliminate the amount of emails you receive while unavailable also.

Follow Through

Often times we consider the raw definition of multitasking as doing many things at once while effectively and accurately completing them from start to finish.  This is not advisable when so many people’s jobs rely on accuracy, efficiency, and professionalism.  Instead, consider multitasking the art of organizing and completing a variety of tasks one by one within an allotted amount of time.  This may assist you in viewing the task as something that needs to be done from start to finish, hence the ultimate goal.  Realistically, you may have a series of interruptions or distractions which is why planning can really be a plus in regards to getting things accomplished.  Even still, learn to roll with the punches if unexpected changes do occur in scheduling tasks out for the day.

Consistency

This is very critical in maintaining and mastering effective multitasking practices.  Without a ritualistic approach, how will you know what works for you and what does not?  Committing to a routine would be advisable and the best part about it is that you can always switch it up once in a while if it proves to be ineffective.

The power of multitasking lies with you and anything goes within the boundaries of professionalism and productivity.  So, start tackling your tasks with authority and confidence.  Make them work for you instead of the other way around.  Multitasking does not have to consume us; instead it should sharpen our skills by challenging us to be assertive and professionally poised employees.

Wakema Ligons, Multi-Tasking Extraordinaire

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This week we’d like to remind you of the many online resources we offer to make the candidate’s job search a successful one as well as help build the success of our client’s businesses.

Renoir Staffing Facebook Page: Our Facebook page offers an endless amount of information: industry-related articles, tips and trends in job searching and candidate sourcing, job postings, the Renoir Staffing company culture, events, and so much more! ‘Like‘ our page to keep up on the latest news!

Renoir Staffing Twitter: We keep our followers up-to-date on the latest news in the property management industry!

LinkedIn: Want to network more closely with our Account Executives? LinkedIn provides you with an in-depth look at the professionals employed here at Renoir Staffing!

We take pride in our efforts to inform our industry. Be sure to check us out regularly!

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There has been a lot of positive movement and strong indicators of growth and opportunity that we have seen recently in that past few months in both the staffing and property management industries.  As the demand for rentals has increased in the housing market, the need for more qualified staff on both a temporary and direct hire basis is becoming even greater.  While this news is exciting, it is also very important to not only keep residents and tenants happy, but also to attract and retain qualified staff    There is a direct correlation between resident retention and  on site management staff.  In order to retain residents and tenants, it is critical to remember that it starts with customer service and the quality of staff members.   Some of the ramifications of not having the right staff on site include loss of productivity, low morale, overworked staff members, and most importantly, unhappy residents.

 Here are some ideas to help improve resident and tenant relations to consider:

Tenant Relations

 The cost of retaining satisfied tenants through a proactive appreciation program is much less than the cost of finding a replacement to fill a vacancy.

 Below are some of the ways that Renoir clients have created effective tenant relations programs.

 Activities that build unity and encourage involvement contribute to a successful community.

• Bring your tenants together at events to celebrate holidays or kick-off the summer BBQ season.
• Offer a kid’s movie night once a week during the summer and set aside a place for parents to gather and talk during the film. 
• Put together a team to participate in an event to support a non-profit organization.
• Join your city’s softball league or organize a community tennis, Frisbee or other sports tournament at your complex.
• Invite health professionals to an on-site health fair or plan a career advancement event with colleges and employers.
• Host informal happy hours on your patio or in your lobby with music and snacks.

Loyal tenants feel connected to their community.  Don’t be afraid to get your current staff involved in the creative planning process as well.  You never know what great ideas you might find by reaching out to your staff members!

So, now that you have great ideas for keeping your residents happy, how do you find and keep the right talent at your community and/or office to ensure that your residents and tenants are handled with the care and attention that they deserve?

In order to retain your valued staff members, it is important to remember that they need motivation and encouragement to keep up morale.   Management staff  should try to keep things fun and enjoyable in the workplace as well as  offer activities or incentives that will keep your leasing and maintenance staff engaged and excited.   This will not only keep up morale but also increase performance levels critical to the overall success of the company as well as to ensuring the retention of your valued residents or tenants.

When faced with the task of hiring for an open position, remember that it takes more than just a simple review of the resume.  It is important to effectively screen potential candidates thoroughly with detailed, open ended questions to allow the candidate to expand on their skills and qualifications as well as provide examples of how they  handle workplace situations.   You should also remember to evaluate skills through various assessment programs and verify any credentials that the candidate might have as well.  The cost of making the wrong hire could be enormous if you don’t have a systematic and detailed screening and evaluation process when hiring.   

Here are some things to keep in mind to assist you in making the right hiring decisions:

The Cost of Making the Wrong Hire

Filling an open position appears to be a relatively easy task. The challenge for hiring managers is that they just don’t have the time to effectively screen, interview and hire staff. And, hiring the wrong person can be an expensive waste of time. Follow these guidelines to reduce the risk and even consider using Renoir’s recruiting services.

 ·         Take your time – Interview several people to find the right candidate. Fill in with a temporary employee rather than rushing to hire someone.

• Write a Job Description- Written criteria will help you define your needs, attract appropriate applicants and be consistent in evaluating skills.
• Research Salaries – You’ll gain an advantage in negotiation if you know typical salary ranges.

Here’s a great way to reduce the costs and risks of making the wrong hire

Temporary to hire or direct hire

Have you ever considered hiring through a staffing agency on a direct hire basis?

Trying to recruit on your own is an expensive and time consuming process. Having to read through hundreds of resumes, trying to match skills to job descriptions, and endless interviewing can cause frustration and anxiety. However, there is a solution to the hiring madness. Turning to Renoir for your real estate and property management staffing needs will not only save you time, but it will also save you money.

•  Save Time- By using your human resource professionals at Renoir to screen candidates for your. we do the recruiting for you, then send you only the most qualified candidates to interview

• Depend On- Each candidate you see on having the specific skills you are looking for to fill your open position. We test our candidates.
• Save Money- By reducing the cost of advertising for your open positions. Simply let us know what you’re looking for and we take care of the rest- including the advertising costs.

Save Money Still- When you make a hire that is actually the right fit. We make sure that each candidate we send for you to interview “fits in” from skill set to company culture. We reduce the likelihood of making a “bad hire”; which positively affects your bottom line.

Arisha Williams, Director of Sales

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I have already seen a popular trend this year.  Since the beginning of January, I have been working with several property managers and owners who want to replace thier current staff.  It seems that the current decision makers are standing firm on performance and if its not there, they replace them.  Owners want properties that are performing.  In this economy there are a lot of people that are still looking for rentals and the owners do not want excuses, they want production. Understandably!

With the economy still soft, apartments have the best opportunity to stay strong with fewer vacancies.  Now is the time to capture all possible traffic and rent to them, because if you don’t, being replaced is a strong possibility as there are many qualified managers and leasing agents that are hungry for work and will do whatever it takes to meet goals. 

If your property is not doing well, and the heat is on you personally, now is the time to buckle down, get creative, and ask for help!  The rentals and traffic are out there, so bring them in and make your goal and property managers happy!  Shop other properties that are above 95% occupancy and find out what they are doing differently, and make sure your property has “Disneyland” curb appeal (and if it doesnt- get your maintenance team out there)! If you need a special for pricing, be proactive in asking for one and then sell it on craigslist.com or ForRent.com.  Dont forget your residents, make sure they are being treated like kings and queens.  Not only will you get your renewals signed, but referrals go a LONG way!

The bottom line here is rent, rent, rent, and then rent some more!

Good luck!

Lia Lovelady, Account Executive

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We have a phrase here at Renoir Staffing that we use in all our marketing materials and in our general correspondence with clients and candidates that we feel describes this company and its’ premier status as the leading staffing agency in the property management industry and that phrase is The Fine Art of Real Estate Staffing. This catchphrase is more than just a play on the name ‘Renoir,’ it exemplifies precisely the level of excellence in customer service we strive for everyday. And part of that service includes delivering the best candidates for the job, and that is the backbone to our company.

Our mission is to find the ‘gem’ candidates of real estate property management. Once they are identified, we can then place them on either a temporary assignment or direct-hire position with our clients, and because we commit to providing the best of the best, the intensity of our screening process is what makes us unique. Candidates do not get placed in positions unless they have passed our rigorous qualifying process with flying colors, and our clientele has come to rely on our company for individuals with professionalism and experience.

To be a world class property management agency in everything we do exemplifies our commitment to excellence, both in quality and service, and our in-house discussions, often centered around our client’s needs and how we can better boost local employment numbers, creates a company culture that is grounded, innovative, and informed, not to mention successful. And that, is what makes Renoir Staffing The Fine Art of Real Estate Staffing.

Mariela Ramirez, Staffing Associate

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Making a promise to your clients and candidates, and sticking to it, not only makes their business run smoothly but also helps yours to grow! This is a philosophy that Renoir Staffing sticks to: we promise to do implement the best practices in finding qualified candidates, bringing our clients, and the candidates themselves, the perfect match for their needs.

Another promise we fulfill is our guarantee: if a client is not satisfied with the candidate we have placed for them, they are under no obligation to keep that individual at the property, and will we right the wrong by finding the best possible replacement. And that promise is the same to candidates should they discover that the position in which they have been placed is not for them, we will find them a better fit.

Temporary agencies not only have the privilege of strengthening the community through employment services but we also make promises to that community which we want to live and stand by.  The saying goes “treat others how you would want to be treated,” and case in point: we have plenty of candidates who are now clients and vice versa. That means we’ve done our job, kept our promises, and the community that we are honored to serve is stronger for it. This is the level of professionalism and service our clients and candidates should receive from any staffing agency.

Connie White, Account Executive

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In conjunction with last week’s post about the importance of industry events, Account Executive Karen Quennell presents the must-attend events in the Property Management industry of 2012:

It is my firm belief that if you are going to work in the Property Management Industry that you must understand the industry and immediately get involved.

Both CAA Contra Costa and CAA Tri-County have well-rounded programs that provide networking and educational events.

Once a year you get a chance to make a difference by attending the Legislative Conference where you get a chance to personally meet with your individual state legislators and get first-hand knowledge on state legislative proposals targeted at the rental housing industry.  This event will be held on Wednesday, February 15^th at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento.

Last year both CAA Contra Costa and CAA Tri Country conducted Reverse Trade shows that have been beneficial to the Industry Partners and the Property Management Companies. This year promises to be a sellout event with six new property management companies that have signed up. It will be held at Concord Hilton on February 23^rd.

The 23^rd Annual CAA Tri-County Golf Tournament will be held in June 2012 at the Palo Alto Golf Club. This is a fundraiser to assist the Housing Industry Foundation.

One of my favorites not to be missed is the CAA Expo “Go for the Gold” Trade Show being held at the Santa Clara Convention Center scheduled on April 25^th.  This event offers educational seminars and a chance to visit with over 100 industry partner booths.

Don’t forget to save the date for the Ninth Annual GEMM Award Celebration being held on August 23^rd at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville.  This is a fabulous event that honors the Best of the Best for 2012.

The Housing Industry Foundation holds The Bay area’s premier Multifamily networking event on Thursday, September 6^th .  This is their annual summit to raise funds to help prevent homelessness.

These are just a few of the numerous opportunities to support and learn about the Property Management Industry. Get out there and enjoy, learn, and network!

Karen Quennell, Account Executive

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