Interview with a Complex Manager
SUMMARY
I had a chance to get a face-to-face interview with Mr. Emery C. Cray an apartment complex Manager at the Avalon Hackensack, Riverside. Mr. Emery concedes that the job is quite challenging though equally rewarding. As the apartment Manager, Emery is tasked with overseeing and controlling the entire facility and the grounds. His roles and responsibilities include attending to tenants calls during work hours and emergencies at any time. As a benefit to the job, Emery’s rent is subsidized as a fraction of the salary received. On the rental agreements, Emery is assigned to the duty to show the apartments to prospective clients, outline the terms and conditions, document the agreement and hold on to the deposits. In addition, the manager has to perform an inspection of the vacated premises. More responsibilities before the onset of a new customer include repair, painting, and cleaning of the rental premises. On property management, the manager ensures that the structural integrity of systems such as the cooling systems, the heating systems, plumbing are all in good working conditions all the time. Any breakages are fixed immediately by an independent contractor. The landscape, swimming pools, picnic areas and playground equipment are very critical areas the manager always has to oversee and make sure that they are all functioning well.
On the same note, the manager is the mediator for client-to-client disputes. More importantly, the manager sees that the pets and noise levels allowed should be contained at an acceptable level. On the finances, Emery is responsible for handling any rent collections and mortgage arrangements with the clients. He is also required to generate a 6- month report to inform the owners of the premises on the property conditions besides ensuring that all the landlord-Tenant laws are strictly adhered to.
As elaborated by Mr. Emery the roles and responsibilities of a complex apartment manager involve the following.
The manager should be a leader, leading by example and being a role model in addition to showing good judgment and demonstrating high levels of integrity in decision-making.
Respond to tenants needs. The manager should be the primary resource and source of support by being readily available, being responsive and try to be familiar with every tenant.
The manager will also provide a conducive environment that will be safe and create a sense of belonging. This way tenants will have their basic life needs met abundantly.
The manager should also ensure total endurance to all state, local and community laws. He is responsible for letting the tenants know their responsibilities so that they can live at peace with the authority.
The manager is also required to collaborate with the Department of Residence Life. He should maintain constant communication with the agency, attend and participate in associated events.
CONTROLLING
The apartment manager’s key function involves controlling property premises, people and everything in- between. The main purpose of controlling is to ascertain whether the goals of the business have been accomplished efficiently and effectively. To run the apartment complex proper, the manager should employ various control functions including:
Planning: In planning, the manager ought to outline goals and objectives of the apartment complex. The planning phase should be quickly followed up with implementation measures to ensure that everything goes according to plan. In this instance, Emery may want to set objectives such as being the cleanest apartments in town and seek to employ the right personnel for the job in order to meet the target.
Empowerment of tenants: Ensures that the system works efficiently with timely feedback on performances of premises workers such as cleaners, plumbers, and electricians - possibly minimizing chances of potential problems (Robbins and DeCenzo 392).
Protection of the Assets: Ensures that managers set up comprehensive controls that minimize inherent threats of disasters, financial pressure, scandals, tenant violence or security breaches.
The control process involves three crucial steps; measurement of the actual performance, comparison of actual performance with preset standards and taking appropriate action. In the measurement phase, the manager can employ various techniques including but not limited to personal observation (Management by Walking around), statistical reports, oral and written reports. Some of the elements Emery can put to measure include maintenance costs and tenant turnover rates. After the measurement, the manager would want to compare the actual performance of the apartment against the planned goals. Should discrepancies be found, the manager should conduct corrective actions on the actual performances or the standards set.
In the course of management today, there are challenges that are that managers have to contend with, some of which include theft, misuse or vandalism of property. The manager of the apartment complex can carry out the following feedforward controls in case of such:
Careful screening of clients before acceptance as tenants
Establishment of ground rules governing theft and fraud and punishments to be affected if found guilty
Involving the tenants in the writing of these policies so that they feel part of the whole exercise and a possible examination of the internal reviews by a professional
As for the concurrent controls, the manager should
Treat every tenant with the utmost respect.
Communicate via the appropriate channels the costs of stealing and its effect on the victims.
Use of CCTV and other surveillance mechanisms and
Establishing an emergency alert system
The feedback controls include
Honest communication on the occurrence of any theft or breakage,
Use of professional investigators in looking into the matter and
A redesign of the controls system faults.
In light of the above, the functions of the apartment complex manager involve linking the planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling roles. Through planning, it is seen that Emery conducts the basic management functions of determining the course of action for the future and strategies to achieving the business goals. The importance of planning is for the business to be able to manage and utilize resources in an efficient manner. By organizing, the manager has been able to merge all arms of the business including the finance and human resources and helped them develop a productive relationship. This is exemplified by using revenue from rent and mortgages for repair and other apartment renovations. Emery has managed to keep the business well-staffed by outsourcing plumbers, electricians, and cleaners who work towards achieving the goals of the business. In this respect, the manager has been able to offer satisfactory remuneration and perform the required appraisal performances on the staff to ascertain their credibility on the job. Through constant supervision, motivation, effective leadership and communication Emery has been able to direct the complex apartment by influencing and guiding the employees as well as the tenants on how to achieve the set goals and objectives. Finally, yet importantly Emery has been able to effect control by establishing standards, measure the actual performance of employees, compare and come up with appropriate corrective action.
Works Cited
Robbins, Stephen P, and David A. DeCenzo. Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001. Print.
