Multi Housing News August 2012 : Page 4
Leaving Las Vegas NAA 2012 conference touches down in Boston fter a number of years in Vegas, the National Apartment Association held the 2012 Education Conference & Exposition in Boston. The sleek Boston Convention Center is a bit more buttoned-up than Mandalay Bay, but I did spot an Elvis impersonator roaming the show fl oor; so you can take the NAA expo out of Vegas but you can’t take Vegas out of the NAA expo. The enormous exhibit hall was fi lled to capacity with suppliers—a good sign for the economy and a great resource for apartment operators. A number of new product offerings were rolled out during the show. See our expanded coverage at MHN Online, and watch MHN TV for interviews on a range of topics affecting the industry. Educational sessions like “60/60—60 Tips from Pros with 60 Years of Experience” provided pointers that are as valid for larger operators as for independents. Jim Stewart, Mike Butler, Dan Lieberman and Brent Sobol stressed the importance of using 3D fl oorplans in marketing efforts and capturing resident testimonials. They also suggested hosting a “pet page” on property websites where residents can share pictures of their pets. And invest in resident activities that will encourage friendships. This “glue” will make a community stickier and residents will be much more likely to renew their leases. In terms of curb appeal, never underestimate the importance of signage. Directional signs to the leasing offi ce are key, as are refl ective signs that help police and fi remen locate the property at night. Send someone who’s never been to the property to fi nd out whether your signage is as effective as you think it is. In terms of fi re safety, good practices will save money in the long run. Try two super-easy but important measures: a smoke alarm with a 10-year battery and a stovetop “fi re stop” device that will quickly extinguish a tenant cooking fi re. This simple canister, installed under the stovetop, is “the most under-talked-about great thing out there,” according to the 60/60 panelists. Their good ideas remind us that whether running a single multifamily asset or overseeing an enormous portfolio, property management is critical to multifamily success. What great ideas are driving your resident satisfaction and stretching operational dollars? Share them with MHN and we’ll share them with the industry. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Diana Mosher dmosher@multi-housingnews.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Keat Foong kfoong@multi-housingnews.com ASSOCIATE EDITORS Michael Ratliff mratliff@multi-housingnews.com Philip Shea pshea@multi-housingnews.com ONLINE NEWS EDITOR Jessica Fiur jfi ur@multi-housingnews.com CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Nicole Goodness-Landfried Craig Guillot Barbra Murray Jeffrey Steele ADVERTISING SALES Jason Lam (East) 212-977-0041 x 1488 jlam@multi-housingnews.com Marisa Boles (West) 212-977-0041 x 1434 mboles@multi-housingnews.com ART DIRECTOR & PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Matteson mmatteson@multi-housingnews.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Catriona Yung RESEARCH EDITOR Jack Kern A PUBLISHER/SALES Dan Waldman publisher@multi-housingnews.com CIRCULATION For circulation inquiries, please send email to circulation@multi-housingnews.com LIST RENTALS Brahm Schenkman, Info Refi nery 800-529-9020 x 29 bschenkman@inforefi nery.com REPRINTS Anastasia Minichino, The YGS Group 717-505-9701 x 168 anastasia.minichino@theygsgroup.com MHN EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Sharon Dworkin Bell Senior Staff Vice President, Multifamily National Association of Home Builders Tom Bozzuto, CEO The Bozzuto Group Doug Bibby, President National Multi Housing Council Dr. Sam Chandan President and Chief Economist Chandan Economics Terry Danner, CEO Riverstone Residential Mark Humphreys, AIA, CEO Humphreys & Partners Architects, L.P. Jack Kern, Managing Director Kern Investment Research, LLC Robert Koch, AIA Principal, Fugleberg Koch M. Leanne Lachman Principal Lachman Associates David Picerne, CEO, President Picerne Real Estate Group Alan H. Pollack, Chairman Providence Management Company LLC Lori Reeves Vice President, Chief Information Offi cer Forest City Residential Group Diana Mosher Editorial Director dmosher@multi-housingnews.com Leo S. Horey Executive Vice President Operations AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Follow us on TM 4 August 2012 | Multi-Housing News
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