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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Tenderloin Housing Clinic (THC) opened its doors in 1980 with a vision of  supportive and affordable housing community in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco.

THC’s mission is and has always been, “To improve living conditions for Tenderloin residents, prevent the loss of affordable housing through conversion or demolition, and to enhance the quality of life for neighborhood residents.”

As an Account Executive with Renoir Staffing I have had the privilege of partnering with TCH to fill their immediate staffing needs for Janitors, Maintenance Technicians, and Property Manager. These employees acquired full-time gainful employment in a position and a working environment they have a passion for and can grow and thrive in.

 It has always been a pleasure working closely with the THC Management Team, I truly commend them on their professionalism and consistent outstanding customer service.

Thank you, Team THC!

Theresa Cannon, Account Executive

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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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Industry events are an important part of one’s growth in their line of work. While it can be difficult to schedule in an event with all your other duties, the rewards you can receive (such as meeting industry leaders, acquiring new knowledge that can improve your skills, and/or promoting your company) have the potential to move you higher up the business ladder.

We often hear that it’s ‘Not What You Know, But Who You Know.’ If this is occasionally true (because let’s not discount the fact that a strong skill-set will get you far!) then networking with the community of your industry can prove to be beneficial to you if you are looking to move into a new position, or simply want to make new contacts in order to promote your business. At the very least, you can demonstrate your knowledge and advertise your expertise with the people who can contribute to the growth of profession or business.

And speaking of expertise, what better way to increase all the knowledge you already possess than to attend functions that give you the all the latest, up-to-date information available in your trade? And, not only are many events designed to inform you, topics that includes increasing your business are often presented in a workshop manner in which you’ll not only been given examples of how a particular tool has been proven effective, but also the way in which you can utilize it to your own advantage!

Networking is also a great form of advertising your company. We all know that branding is only effective if our target audience is exposed to it, and therefore meeting with potential consumers is paramount. But use it not only as an opportunity to spread the word about your company but also as a way to build a relationship with your consumers. You may notice familiar faces at these events as you begin to attend them regularly. Use this as your chance to get to know people on a more personal level; it can only increase your chances of being relied upon when they have a need!

Wondering how to get started? The first place you should go is the Associations that are relevant to your industry. In our case, it’s property management and therefore we belong to, and attend events by, the Rental Housing Association (RHA) of Sacramento, California Apartment Association (CAA), and many more, and the events they have held, such as trade shows and luncheons, have proved an invaluable source of information and opportunities to network.

Another great place to get associated with your industry’s community is LinkedIn Groups. Simply by joining a few relevant groups can open the door to expanding your brand and skills tremendously. You’ll receive emails about current topics of discussion, invites to events, as well as the opportunity to reach out individually to these people, great for the follow-up message after meeting them at a luncheon!

If you’re looking for opportunities to strengthen your relevance to your business community, and we all should be, then attending events should be at the top of your list! The knowledge you’ll gain, as well as the people you meet, can only serve to boost your business or marketability!

Happy Event Browsing!

Jessie Williams, Marketing Coordinator

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Is your office ready to take on the New Year? We found an excellent website, Valen’s Point (www.valenspoint.com), and we had to share with you their tips on how to make 2012 the most productive and prosperous year yet! Here are their 4 recommendations in improving your business ventures this year:

1. Review Current Projects:

Capture lessons learned, customer stories, and case studies. Review and take note of any negative experiences that may have occurred and brainstorm ways to correct these problems before they happen again. The value of your business is in the stories and experience of your best projects and customers.

2. Survey customers to measure satisfaction and look for opportunity:

It is best practice to conduct periodic customer satisfaction in order to address issues or validate your process. Understanding their level of satisfaction and why they continue to do business with you is necessary input for your strategy and plans.

3. Update your business plans.

Be specific with your plans and establish the actions and the measurements you can use to gauge success. Your marketing plan should include the development of content, execution of seasonal programs, and advertisements.

4. Update your referral marketing system resources with current material:

Referrals drive many small businesses and word of mouth advertisement is a significant means of business growth. Optimizing your referral marketing system begins with delivering a remarkable experience and being referral-worthy.

By mapping out the year and taking care in the execution towards accomplishing goals, you can successfully make 2012 an excellent year for your business! Remember that Renoir Staffing is here to provide you with the best temporary and direct-hire employees in the property management industry, which can leave you worry-free to focus on your year’s goals while keeping your business running smoothly.

Here’s to a great new year!

Maria Torres, Staffing Associate

You can find the complete article on Valen’s Point by clicking on the following link: Checklist! Planning and preparing for the New Year

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Education is ongoing and has no boundaries to what is obtainable. Some of us prepared through high school what would be our career choice and obtained a college degree in our field of choice. Some may have stumbled into our professions while pursuing other areas of work. And passion may have driven others into meaningful fields of endeavor.

While all of us have been educated through various trainings that shaped our careers, there is always opportunity to enhance upon what we already know.

New process and procedures dictate that we re-educate ourselves continuously in order to stay marketable; personally and professionally. Our economy dictates that we become octopus-like creatures, being able to perform masterfully in various areas of skill in order to maintain our careers and manage our financial stability which in turn continues or enhances our quality of life.

As the New Year quickly approaches, look at what your current position is; is there room for improvement where you are? Are you financially satisfied? Could you be bored and have been complacent about looking at other opportunities where you can grow? What can you do to challenge yourself at work in order to grow?

Challenge yourself to learn something new in the coming year. It will take you as far as your vision will allow. Make 2012 a year for stimulating and fulfilling yourself intellectually.

To the New Year,

JoElla Barkus, Accounting Assistant

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As we head into a weekend of celebrating family and friends, and preparing for the New Year shortly thereafter, we’ve been reflecting on the history of the company. 2012 is Renoir Staffing’s 27th year in the property management industry, and the company’s path to present time has been quite exciting.

On October 31, 1985 Carol Kotewicz-Dencker started Renoir Staffing Services, Inc. to offer the highest level of service to the property management industry. By 1996, Carol had opened Sacramento Office and the company reached its’ first million dollars in revenue. From that point on, Renoir Staffing continued to prosper and grow, receiving such honors as Largest Woman-Owned Business and Fastest-Growing Private Company from the Business Journal Lists.

In 2010, Kotewisz-Denker retired and sold the company to Blue Lake Rancheria, and we became an LLC. With the new company Renoir opened up two new offices: the Phoenix office in 2010 and Newport Beach in August 2011. It’s been exciting for us to expand our services within the industry and we take our responsility to be relied upon as a leader in staffing seriously. We’re happy to do so too!

2011 has been a year of growth and evolution for Renoir Staffing, and after spending time with our candidates and clients this year, we have noticed that others have experienced these trends as well. A common opinion has been one of excitement. They’re preparing for the future: beefing up their skill-set and expanding the role of their position, or making plans for their property’s community. 2012 appears to be the year of action, and it’s no different for us.

We’ll be busy listening to the needs of the industry and responding with stellar service. We’ll also be offering the tools the industry’s leaders need to grow their own businesses, namely employees that are the best the area has to offer. And we’ll continue and expand our role in finding highly qualified candidates great jobs in their fields. This is why we’re excited for the New Year!

We’d like to wish you a very Happy Holiday season and thank you for being a part of Renoir Staffing’s growth and evolution. May you experience joy and prosperity in the New Year!

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The Team at Renoir Staffing with special thanks to Carol Martinez for providing historical reference of the company.