Renoir Staffing Blog

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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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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CHOC, or Community Housing Opportunities Corporation, is a successful organization serving people and families in the greater Sacramento area.  As their website explains, “CHOC exists to empower families through the increase of available affordable housing, substantially improving the quality of life for very low to moderate income households.  This is achieved through the development of high quality, affordable, and environmentally-sensitive housing; advocating for affordable housing programs; the efficient leveraging of all corporate resources; and the continuing, shared dialogue between CHOC residents, staff and board members.”

Renoir Staffing has partnered with CHOC over several years to staff trained, skilled, and exceptional candidates in subsidized property compliance and maintenance.  CHOC requisitions include Tax Credit or HUD qualified personnel, bilingual staff, and experienced and knowledgeable maintenance workers.  Many of these Renoir-provided employees work on long-term, full-time contract assignments.  On occasion CHOC has offered permanent employment to our candidates, a lucky few of whom are currently employed with them today!

My experience with CHOC and the management team is always enjoyable, and truly beneficial for the parties involved.  Renoir Staffing has a wonderful, time-tested relationship with contacts in various CHOC departments.  From the corporate office in Davis to traveling area supervisors, representatives are professional and pleasant at all levels.  It’s a pleasure to do business with a company like CHOC.  Not only do they offer the local community needed solutions and services, they promote positive social values and encourage growth and education in an economically expanding field.

Congratulations to CHOC for being an inspiring example of a community-minded organization!

For more information about CHOC, click on the following link to their website: http://chochousing.org/

Christina Mason, Recruiter

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