Team-Building and Traffic Generation x2
Our goal at Newport and Concord Village is to cross-train all our staff, increase qualified traffic, encourage return visits, and improve our closing ratios. In addition, by cross-training, we will be able to improve the market-ready condition of our vacant apartments and decrease the response time to our maintenance requests. Our team members include the Newport and Concord Village... Read More

Increase Renewals 10%
Offer your residents an incentive to renew their leases early. This can be, and has been, done during an open house, or you can set aside a special month, like February or March, for the renewal incentive. This is how it works: Advertise to your residents through your newsletter, emails and notices that you are offering a special rental increase if they sign their leases early... Read More

12 Ways to Increase Performance Anytime
With soft markets and shrinking budgets, the focus on retaining Residents and saving money is at an all-time high. Since our Service Team members are the key to achieving this goal, here's 12 ways to make it happen! 1. Why most people don't perform as expected: My basic premise is that 98% of all Employees REALLY WANT to do a good job (when you find you have hired one of the other 2%...  Read More

Unique December Promotional Ideas
Operation Santa Paws Month; Root Vegetables and Exotic Fruits Month; Safe Toys and Gifts Month; Tomato and Winter Squash Month; National Hand-washing Awareness Week; Gluten-Free Baking Week 19-25: a local baker can offer some wonderful tips and recipes; National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day Dec. 16: no explanation needed on this one but lots of PR opportunities... Read More

Raise Rents, But Offer an Early Lease Discount
None of us want to pay more money for the apartment or house we are renting. Most of us have trouble increasing our customers' prices when we ask for a new renewal commitment. One of the things I've learned is that perception is reality. So the key to raising the rents while keeping resident retention high is to help your residents perceive that they are getting a bargain... Read More

The Case Against "Business Casual"
"Employees who don't dress appropriately cap out a ceiling on their careers really quick," says professor Dennis Tootelian of California State University, Sacramento. According to the study done by Tootelian, nearly two-thirds of Americans have felt inappropriately dressed at a business or a social function; and more than two-thirds are uncertain about the differences among business attire, business casual... Read More

How To Quiet the Twitter Noise
Twitter is my news stream. I use it to get the best news and information from people that I trust and admire. I barely even use my Google Reader anymore because I carry my Twitter with me everywhere I go. As you find more and more interesting and valuable people to follow, you're going to find it difficult to keep track of all of the tweets you receive. You're going to need something to help you manage all of the noise... Read More

Register for Brainstorming 2011 Before January 1 and SAVE!!!
Registration is now open at http://brainstorming.multifamilypro.com/2010-sessions/register-now/. We're offering an UNHEARD OF special Super Early Attendee rate of ONLY $395 for paid registrations before December 30, 2010!!!  Hurry and reserve your seat now for our next event, September 13-16 at the Renaissance Glendale in Phoenix! It's the best Holiday gift you can possibly give yourself.  We'll see you there! Read More

Next week’s Optimization Summits Meet & Greet Tweet-Up, Sponsored by For Rent Media Solutions, will be webcasted live online and FREE, featuring interviews with several of our Workshop Leaders! Monday March 22 6:30pm central time.  Register today!

Social Media Optimization Summits Meet & Greet Tweet-Up
Not able to travel? You can still join us for a portion of our Optimization Summits event live and online! We're webcasting from the Meet & Greet Tweet-Up, sponsored by For Rent Media Solutions, from 6:30-7:30 pm central on Monday, March 22nd! Sign up to receive your FREE username and password for access!

Hosted by Tami Siewruk, the webcast will include interviews with several of our Workshop Leaders, including Jason Falls, Mack Collier, Chris Penn, Erica Campbell, Mark Juleen, Duncan Alney, Brent Williams, Charity Hisle, and more!

Please note that each free registration will generate password access for only one computer (controlled by IP Address) and cannot be shared for access by another computer simultaneously. Attempting to share your username/password will result in cancellation of your access. Multifamilypro reserves the right to cancel scheduled broadcasts, should unforeseen technical difficulties arise.

I have never shared a link to an article as a single post on this blog until now. If you are using or planning a fan page on Facebook you need to read this article, in fact read it twice and bookmark it!

From the article:

Facebook recently announced a series of changes to its platform, and the roadmap has a substantial impact on how brands approach building a Facebook presence. While changes to Facebook's platform are nothing new, this is the first time the company has announced a series of 19 changes that will be implemented over the coming months.

That’s it!
Tami

Playgrounds are not exclusively for kids anymore and are becoming increasingly popular because the concept has been revolutionized to cater to senior citizens. From my knowledge the emerging trend first appeared in the UK as community project in Manchester. The whole idea of a seniors’ playground is absolutely brilliant! Not only is the community brought together, older people, specifically those 60 years old and above, are encouraged to exercise and meet with their peers. In fact, a research conducted at the University of Lapland, Finland reveals that older people who go to playgrounds build muscle, reduce fat, and improve their coordination, speed, and balance. Having fun is the objective. The whole idea is to keep the equipment simple and gentle.

There is a difference between a playground for kids and that for seniors. The equipment installed is designed to exercise a part of the body. An example is the skate machine, which trains leg muscles and strengthens hip muscles. There is also equipment for static-cycling. The machines are user-friendly and offer little chances for injury. Some pieces of equipment are accessible to wheelchair users. Seniors’ playgrounds are designed to be safe for older people. These playgrounds utilize a special rubber mulch not only to pad rough edges, but also to provide cushions on the floor.

Gordon Lishman, director general of the charity Age Concern, said the playground could help older people maintain good physical and mental health. He said: "A well-designed fitness park could be a great way to encourage older people to exercise and socialize. "Exercising a few times a week can make a big difference to someone's health and doesn't have to be strenuous. "Equally, socializing with others can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression. "Many older people aren't exercising enough and we are really keen for local authorities to offer a range of accessible and affordable facilities that promote physical activity in later life.” Maybe just maybe exercising will be as fun as it was when we were children!

California-based fitness equipment company Expresso Fitness (www.expresso.com) will release its first interactive exercise bike, the S2r Exercise Bike, in April. The S2r is the first bike of its type to offer web-based exer-gaming features like the company’s signature road tours and off-road games on a 19-inch screen. The handles of the bike come equipped with integrated steering and shifting mechanisms and all Expresso bikes offer riders the option of riding cooperatively with friends or competing in real time against virtual competitors or friends in the same fitness facility.