BLOG

By Adam F 18 Dec, 2023
Ghetto Rescue believes that "all animals, regardless of their zip code, deserve to thrive."
covid-19 written in medication with virus graphics
By Sarah B 15 Feb, 2021
As COVID cases continue to impact Southern California, The Management Works is staying vigilant and taking all possible precautions through the coming winter months. There are many different measures that The Management Works has implemented since the start of the pandemic to keep residents and team members as safe as possible. All CDC guidelines are followed when interacting with current residents, prospective residents, and vendors. One tool which was previously in place for the convenience of residents turned out to be extremely helpful once the virus hit the United States. The Managements Works utilizes an online portal where residents and owners can easily access online statements, update renter’s insurance, and pay rent. Important maintenance work is also able to be effortlessly requested on the website. All leasing offices are closed to the public to minimize in-person contact, so we have increased our online and phone communication to stay responsive and helpful to residents. To protect our staff and eliminate unnecessary exposure for residents, we have confined our maintenance work to emergency requests only. When our staff does need to enter a unit, a PPE (personal protective equipment) is worn for the entire duration of the project. All maintenance work is completed with the utmost care and precaution. Before entering a unit to begin work, managers will check with residents to ensure they are feeling well and have not been in contact with anyone who tested positive for COVID-19. Work orders can always be rescheduled if necessary. Maintenance work areas are sanitized, and new sanitizing equipment is provided regularly to employees. Face coverings are worn by our staff for the entire workday, both inside and outside, to protect residents and team members. Prospective residents still need to be able to view potential apartments before deciding, so we have many 3D virtual tours available in an attempt to limit the need for in-person viewings. If someone still requests an in-person tour, we provide a lock box code which is changed daily. All units are also disinfected between viewings.
Example of survey response from a resident reading
By Sarah B 14 Nov, 2020
At the Management Works, our biggest priority is ensuring that our residents are happy with their homes. We seek to improve wherever we can and foster an environment of open communication with everyone living in a property we manage. One way we facilitate this is by surveying our residents after they move in, after they move out, and following maintenance visits. Using our online platform, residents can easily give a star rating out of 5 and answer a few questions. This provides a straightforward way to track how our residents feel after each important interaction, while simultaneously allowing us to see where we might improve. By providing an almost effortless way for residents to give feedback, we find they are more likely to respond and offer constructive comments. Property managers read through these surveys and track progress over time. We often reach out to individual residents following the surveys if they were not satisfied with any part of the moving or maintenance work process to ensure we fully understand their concerns.
THE MANAGEMENT WORKS PARTNERS WITH UNITED WAY IN A PLEDGE TO END HOMELESSNESS IN ORANGE COUNTY
By Sarah B 04 Jan, 2020
The Management Works is proud to announce a new partnership with United Way in their effort to battle homelessness in Orange County. United Way is a registered non-profit charity, and part of its mission is to reduce homelessness by working with property management companies and other community partners. By collaborating with top business leaders, governmental organizations, and other non-profits, United Way aims to reduce the number of those living on the streets of Orange County. They are uniting with the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness and Continuum of Care Board to achieve the goals laid out by the United to End Homelessness initiative. The Management Works is excited about participating in this program partnership which will help make affordable housing more accessible for members of the community while providing other valuable resources. This section 8 housing designation allows for those who are receiving housing vouchers to secure single and family housing in one of The Management Works’ lovely property locations in Southern California. United Way Orange County is also extending a similar program to veterans and homeless youth who are at least 18 years old. By partnering with Orange County United Way, The Management Works is gaining an intentional partner for aligning their company philanthropy with their business goals. The Section 8 Housing Program, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, is a federally funded assistance program that the United States government enacted with the intent to assist low-income families in finding homes to rent. In order to reach this goal, the low income housing program incentivizes apartment owners to offer reduced rents to the tenants in need. Prospective tenants can use United Way’s resources to furnish their new apartments, if necessary, helping to overcome one barrier for those needing to make a move with limited funds. United Way partners with other organizations to provide new residents with budgeting, tenant education, and other services to support the transition from homelessness. The HUD (US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development) Section 8 program performs background checks on potential tenants, and United Way additionally vets incoming renters in order to ensure they are a good fit for the program and apartment unit. The Management Works is incredibly excited about this partnership and contributing to working solutions to aid in the goal of ending homelessness in Orange County. They are thankful to be a part of United Way’s advocacy to raise hope and reduce homelessness in Orange County through assisting families in finding stable, permanent housing. To those looking to make a positive change and move into one of the Management Works’ apartments, welcome home. To learn more about United Way Orange County and program specifics please visit: unitedtoendhomelessness.org.
THE MANAGEMENT WORKS PARTICIPATES IN SHARE OUR SELVES ANNUAL ADOPT A FAMILY EVENT
By Sarah B 20 Dec, 2019
The Management Works continued their annual tradition of volunteering with the Adopt A Family program this holiday season. Every year The Management Works team gets together and partners with the Share Our Selves (SOS) community event and gathers gifts for a family in need in Orange County. This season The Management Works worked together to purchase toys, presents, and gift cards, and were able to fill three large boxes with items to make the holidays a little bit more special for a wonderful family of five.
02 Oct, 2019
One of the most frequent requests was for the laundry rooms to be upgraded, have more reliable machines, and extended hours of operation. In response, we recently completed renovation of the first laundry room on the property. All the machines were replaced with new ones, the cabinets and countertops were refinished, and that laundry room is now accessible 24 hours a day. Our maintenance team consistently does amazing work, and this job was no exception. The before and after photos really highlight these improvements.
17 Sep, 2018
If you are self-managing your investment properties, you are missing out on the many benefits of using a property management company. Professional management teams are highly trained to limit liability, reduce vacancy, and lower costs all without incurring deferred maintenance. The following benefits are how The Management Works can help you. 1. Increase Listing Visibility Increasing visibility via powerful online tools means less time your unit remains vacant. The Management Works uses software that uploads your listing to dozens of websites to reach a greater number of applicants, which increases the chance of finding an excellent renter. This technology allows us to track inquiries and maximize efficiencies of your advertising budget. Gone are the days of manually uploading listings to sites like Craigslist. The process is now streamlined and automated. 2. Decrease Maintenance Costs Our software allows residents to submit maintenance requests remotely from anywhere, 24-hours a day. This means no more late-night phone calls about backed-up toilets. It automatically logs maintenance requests and assigns the unit number, allowing you to track and prioritize your maintenance team efficiently. You may access all maintenance records including the dates they were completed. Finally, tracking costs per unit has never been easier because bills and invoices can be posted quickly. This is an important feature if you ever want to understand a certain maintenance job or cost. 3. Online Payments Today 60% of people use a mobile device to search for apartments. A similar number of people use their devices for online bill pay. By using The Management Works software, we can encourage online payments. Tenants can conveniently pay via e-check and set up autopayments directly from their checking or credit card accounts. Rent payments are collected faster and with more reliability thanks to the built-in security measures. Your residents will love the ease and consistency of this system. 4. Economies of Scale The Management Works uses project managers to save you money on capital expense projects. Their job is to get you the best vendor for the best price. They accomplish this through vendor management. Since The Management Works orders thousands of dollars’ worth of materials each month, we get large discounts from suppliers. In addition, each vendor is thoroughly vetted, and contracts are rebid each year to take advantage of competitive pricing. 5. Fast Property Reports Ever wonder how your property is performing? Unless you have accounting experience, it is difficult for owner-managers to prepare their own financial statements. The Management Works provides current financial reports via an owner portal. These are accessible anytime, anywhere and give you a complete picture of, your income and expenses. We strive to be completely transparent. With these reports, you can see how your property is performing. By using The Management Works team, you will benefit from increased access to technology both for advertising and reporting purposes. You also benefit from the economies of scale and vendor connections of a professional project manager. If you have not considered hiring a property management company to handle your investments, contact The Management Works today to find out how we can help you maximize your investment’s potential.
26 Jun, 2018
-Exterior paint and stucco repair -New garage doors for each unit -New landscaping, monument-style mailbox structure, irrigation, exterior lighting, and new fencing for each unit -Interior drywall -Full interior renovations including granite/quartz countertops, paint, stainless-steel appliances, wood-like flooring, and light/plumbing fixtures Despite the scope of these repairs, our project management team came in under budget following the year-long remodel. They were instrumental in acquiring excellent vendors and negotiating fair prices for all of the needed projects. In addition, much of the interior remodeling was completed in-house by our professional maintenance team, saving the owners additional labor costs. The Right Management As a result of prior mismanagement, rents were approximately 52% under market upon purchase. Following the remodel and leasing efforts, The Management Works doubled net operating income – adding $400,000 in valuation for its owners. The property is now fully leased and cash flow positive. Our professional managers keep a close eye on the area’s market rates for when lease renewals become eligible. We are proud to say that our residents opt to continue renewing with us. They feel the location, amenities, and value of these units are exceptional. If you are in the market to purchase commercial real estate but don’t know where to start, let The Management Works guide you through the process. Hopefully this case study shows that we are able to acquire, remodel, and manage any size project for you. For more information visit our “Contact Us” page to either email or call our corporate staff. They will help you identify the next steps to acquire a new property or improve the ones you already own. Contact us today and see how we are improving the way our residents and owners live!
05 Jun, 2018
Community Facebook Page In today’s technology age, many people turn to sites like Facebook to stay in touch. A free community Facebook page is a great way to share information with your residents. It also serves as a communication tool for residents to ask questions, post concerns, and generally keep you informed of your property. Share pictures of on-going projects, advertise your resident functions, and post your vacancies. The back-and-forth from engaged community members could lead to discovering deferred maintenance or potential criminal activity, which you can proactively solve with the help of you community manager. Finally, make sure to name your Facebook page after your community and that it is registered as a “Page” not a “Profile” . Maintenance Technicians Your boots-on-the-ground maintenance technicians interface with your residents every day. Keep an up-to-date picture of the quality of service you are providing with the help of paper surveys. If your management software has a survey feature even better! You can activate this feature to send a survey every time a work order is completed. Be sure to reward your team for excellent service with gift cards or bonuses. Also, follow up with residents who submit a survey or comment card with a thank you note or email. You should also take this time to promptly address any unsatisfactory comments you may receive. Happy maintenance technicians are professional and courteous. They will go above and beyond to help a resident feel safe and comfortable in their apartment. They are your rental business’s front line, so do not overlook them when considering ways to keep your residents engaged. People want to live in vibrant communities where they feel connected and engaged. The result will be loyal, long-term residents who care about your property. These examples are a few ways you can engage residents and grow a community they are proud to call home. Contact us today and see how we can help you improve the way your residents live.
By Appfolio Websites 30 Mar, 2018
The weather is warming, days are getting longer, and the dust bunnies are rearing their furry heads. If you are like me, the last deep cleaning you did was months ago. In the new light of spring you notice the smudges and stains you said you would get to when sunnier days returned. Well, now they are here and it is time to freshen up your winter den. Below are five spring cleaning tips for apartment living. 1. Make a kit Gather the necessities including all-purpose cleaner, sponges, window cleaner, rags, wipes, carpet stain remover, and a duster. Place all of these items in an easy-to-carry plastic caddy that you can take from room to room. Like a contractor with their tool belt, you will always have the necessary tool for the job within arm’s reach. This will cut down on the time it takes to look for a sponge and makes cleaning much easier and more efficient. 2. Begin by decluttering Dusting around several small items is a pain, so before you begin, make “keep”, “toss”, and “give away” piles. Put anything you wish to keep and will organize later in the “keep” pile. Likewise, anything you wish to get rid of can either end up in the “toss” pile for trash or the “give away” pile for donating to second-hand stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army. Once you have well-defined piles get rid of as much stuff before starting the general cleaning. 3. Work from top to bottom An easy way to organize your cleaning is by prioritizing higher places first and moving downwards to the floor. For example, take an extendable duster and clear out the cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. Next, dust shelves, wipe down counters, and vacuum furniture. Lastly, clear spots on the carpets, vacuum, and mop. By moving from top to bottom you are sure to capture any dust and dirt that may have fallen and settled onto your floors. 4. Break it down by room It is easy to get overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning your entire apartment. Instead, think of it as a series of rooms. Start with smaller rooms like closets, bedrooms and hallways, and work your way up to larger, harder to clean rooms. This takes advantage of the snowball effect, where small actions cascade into additional motivation to complete your project. If you feel like only doing a little each day, that is fine too. 5. Finish with lesser used areas Once all the rooms have received a good once-over, return to catch places you don’t normally clean. One example of this is the fridge. You will want to wipe down shelves and drawers and check all food for expiration dates. Anything passed its sell-by date should be thrown out. Take this time to also clean under beds, dust curtains, and the base of any toilets. These are often overlooked and can make a difference in the overall feel of cleanliness in your apartment. Use these tips to get a leg up on the spring cleaning season. They will save you time and sanity and your apartment will be a fresh and clean. Are you are looking for a new place to live? Visit our website’s vacancy listings and follow our blog for more apartment tips this year!
Show More
Share by: