Comments for The Contrado Group

Comment on How Do We Respond To Change? by Larry Buckalew

Larry Buckalew — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:43:48 +0000

Great Post! I read the book myself.. Wow, It’s a great book.. Easy Read too.. Who moved my cheese?

Comment on Differentiate Your Property From Others by Stuart Platt

Stuart Platt — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 16:31:39 +0000

Thanks so much for your comment Karen. Those are great ideas and I especially like the poker tourney (being a poker player myself). The “Ladies Night Out” is a great idea too. It sounds like you are doing a great job getting your residents involved making it feel more like a community.

Comment on Differentiate Your Property From Others by Karen

Karen — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:23:49 +0000

We do multiple events each month. We host movie nights and show different sporting events, depending on the season. We have a monthly Texas Hold’em Poker tournament and the prizes are 100.00, 75.00 and 50.00 off of next month’s rent for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, we’ve had 3 on 3 basketball tournaments, pool parties, ice cream sundaes on Sunday by the pool, volleyball games, cook outs,Halloween parties, “laidies night out” parties (these usually consist of someone coming in who sells jewelry, handbags, etc), During the holidays we do a pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner where we provide the Turkey and the residents bring side dishes and desserts, after which we decorate the XMas tree in the clubhouse. Last year we did a “Kick-Off to Christmas” event where we invited local vendors to bring items to display and sell and had finger foods and other refreshments. It’s a definite that when people know each other and like living by neighbors, they tend to stay a lot longer!

Comment on Differentiate Your Property From Others by Stuart Platt

Stuart Platt — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:48:11 +0000

3-4 big events per month? That’s amazing. Could you give a few examples of the events and what do you mean by “cross marketing” to eliminate most of the costs? And I completely agree the social events can very much separate one property from the next and really make you shine.

Comment on Differentiate Your Property From Others by Jennifer Saucedo

Jennifer Saucedo — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 11:46:41 +0000

Lifestyle events at 3-4 per month. Pretty big events that mostly we cross market with leaving the event costing us virtually nothing. Lifestyle events that residents actually show up to and look forward to. At the end of the day when it comes to Renewal time and you are offering increases (steep in some cases), the Resident is no longer just sold on the wood flooring, granite and all the bells and whistles of the unit but more so sold on the community environment we created. If you continue to have those, they will come!

Comment on What’s More Important – Material or Social Upgrades? by Paul Salmonson

Paul Salmonson — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:19:35 +0000

That’s a Great Call! I believe this should be at the top of the list of concerns for all property manager’s and owners.

First, one should look at the basics such as lighting and area surveillance. However, adding a security system per unit would certainly be a nice add on feature that may even get the renter a discount on their insurance.

I would also say, that a complex could also add their version of “Block Watch” so everyone is watching out for eachother.

Other ideas?

Comment on What’s More Important – Material or Social Upgrades? by Lisa Torkkola

Lisa Torkkola — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:46:17 +0000

What about Security Systems breakin’s are on the rise does anyone care about their safety?

Comment on Is It Really Time to Buy A New Home Again? by Bill Gelbaugh

Bill Gelbaugh — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:00:56 +0000

Here is a link to a great new article on Five Ways to Woo Your Buyer from Builder Online http://bit.ly/jQ4suK

Comment on Who is your Most Profitable Home Buyer in 2011! by Bill Gelbaugh

Bill Gelbaugh — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:58:42 +0000

Here is a link to a great new article on Five Ways to Woo Your Buyer from Builder Online http://bit.ly/jQ4suK