In honor of Maintenance Appreciation Month, our latest Apartment Chat was all about great maintenance teams. We covered everything from training and keeping your team motivated, to showing appreciation for your maintenance team and how they can help market your property. Special thanks to our co-moderator, Jana Muma from Grace Hill.
Check out some of the highlights from our discussion:
We’re joined by a special guest moderator for today’s discussion. Please welcome Jana Muma from
@gracehill!#AptChat— Apartment Chat (@AptChat) August 24, 2012
Question 1: How do you train your maintenance teams? What is your best tip for training for maintenance?
@aptchat It’s ongoing. Every situation = learning opportunity. And make it first thing in the AM, coffee, & on their turf.#aptchat— tara smiley (@tarasmiley) August 24, 2012
Appreciate mnt. w/training -55% of employees cite lack of training as primary reason for low job satisfaction
#aptchat bit.ly/P9lLuf— Grace Hill, Inc. (@GraceHill) August 24, 2012
Question 2: What are some ways to show appreciation for your maintenance team’s hard work? How do you show appreciation for your team?
79% of employees who quit their job cite a lack of appreciation as a key reason for leaving –
#aptchat bit.ly/P9jgbp— Grace Hill, Inc. (@GraceHill) August 24, 2012
@30lines A previous company used to send nightly emails out to everyone, so that the bragging was received company wide.#aptchat— tara smiley (@tarasmiley) August 24, 2012
@tarasmileyWe love the brag board and it similar to a Maintenance Wall of Fame – one of our favs#AptChat— Grace Hill, Inc. (@GraceHill) August 24, 2012
@30linesAbsolutely!#AptChatWe love scratch off cards with prizes 4 hard work.Buy dinner for the Mnt. & their family.Afternoons off— Grace Hill, Inc. (@GraceHill) August 24, 2012
Question 3: How can you keep your maintenance teams motivated? What are some ideas that have worked well?
Bonuses (money), praise, paid days off, equal treatment, awards (certificates or trophies), appreciation
@aptchat@mikecasey219— Steven Van Zile (@StevenVanZile) August 24, 2012
@30lines We’ve also had fun with our “Done Right The First Time Program”- the teams keep track of compliments-winner gets dinner#aptchat— tara smiley (@tarasmiley) August 24, 2012
Letting maint techs shadow vendors during repairs is another free training opportunity
@gracehill#AptChat— Steven Van Zile (@StevenVanZile) August 24, 2012
Question 4: How can you use an excellent maintenance team to market your properties? To promote retention?
@aptchat It’s all word of mouth.Happy residents = retention = referrals.#aptchat— tara smiley (@tarasmiley) August 24, 2012
Excellent upkeep of the property & quick response to residents speak for itself & can be used in marketing, renewals
@aptchat— Steven Van Zile (@StevenVanZile) August 24, 2012
#aptchat To help maint understand their importance we have them shadow someprospects on tours with our leasing professionals.— Red Oak Apartments (@theredoaklife) August 24, 2012
@30lines@stevenvanzile#aptchat We had a leading professional who wanted to switch to do maintenance full time.— Red Oak Apartments (@theredoaklife) August 24, 2012
Now it’s your turn. How do you show appreciation for your maintenance team? What ideas have worked well for you? Leave a comment and let us know!
Be sure to join our next #AptChat on Friday, September 7 at 4 pm EST!
