Surprise!

Everyone loves a good surprise….

Except when the surprise isn’t great news. Please make sure your business has the resources to solve any surprise!

I was a busy property manager for a long time. I’m trying to think of any good surprises in the property management business. I’m sure there were a few, but surprises are typically not good news.

Over the years, it became clear we need our rental properties as boring as possible! We have systems to fill our apartments with good tenants in apartments that were prepared properly for the resident’s quiet enjoyment. Less than good residents in unsatisfactory apartments is a recipe for “surprises!”

I should have avoided the following surprises….

Around 10 or 12 years ago, we had a failing septic tank at our 14 unit property in North Greenbush, NY. Fortunately, we received news that the town was running the public sewer adjacent to our property. This was a great surprise! We planned to hook into the public sewer and the septic would no longer be a concern.

At the same time, we were using a “man lift” on the property to paint the exterior. I was “carefully” moving the large piece of equipment to another section of the building and “Surprise!!!” I drove the “man lift” over the septic tank area and the large front wheel collapsed into the old, concrete tank. This was an interesting surprise that could have been avoided.

Fortunately, my partner (brother) owns an excavation/paving company that solved this problem.

Unfortunately, we installed a new tank 3 or 4 weeks before we hooked into the new public sewer system. Since hooking up to the public sewer, our property has not had any issues….

The main plumbing for the building exited the building for about 40 feet before it hooked into the new public sewer system. This section of pipe was not replaced…..

Surprise! 3-4 weeks ago, our coin operated washing machine was “backing up.” It had to be a simple clog???

Here we go again. Once I looked at the plumbing in the basement leading to the newer system, it was clear the line had “failed.”

Once again, we utilized our resources to solve this problem.

The residents are not necessarily concerned about the surprise (problem). They are concerned with the solution to the problem.

Please set your business up so it operates routinely but plan properly to avoid surprises and have the necessary resources to solve any surprises.

Regards,

Bill

REAL ESTATE LINGO:

Surprise – An unexpected event

Resources – A useful possession or quality that can be “tapped” for help or support.

Manlift – a customized aerial work platform to perform work efficiently at heights.

Septic tank – Typically underground, in which sewage is collected and allowed to decompose.