Associate Support
Property management is a specialty. Obviously, we are committed to the concept of specialization. So, why wouldn’t we apply that same philosophy to office tasks? We believe that specialists produce higher quality work and are able to accomplish more in a given time. There are many facets to this business and we have appointed staff members to handle many of the tasks typically considered the responsibility of the property manager. For example, our property managers do not get involved in routine maintenance calls. We have assigned maintenance orders and follow-up to an employee. Property managers are not responsible for collections or accounting. Again, staff handles these tasks. Our property managers are primarily responsible for:
- Customer / Client Service
- Oversee Major Repairs
- Property Site Visits (Inspections)
- Building Your Portfolio
Each of these activities assigned to the property managers are targeted at either producing income or maintaining income through quality service. By eliminating the time consuming and routine tasks from the property manager’s job description, there should be plenty of time to build and pamper that growing account portfolio.
We provide our associates with all the training and tools. Most functions of our business have been reduced to systems and checklists, so it is very easy for a new associate to hit the ground running. Each new associate receives an office orientation, a set of business cards and a presentation book developed to walk prospective clients through our services with a colorful visual presentation. Associates have free use of telephones with voicemail, digital-color copier, fax, word-processing and other computer support. Our office is networked with PCs and has ample workspace for associates to handle business matters. We charge no overhead to the associates and do not pass-on the costs of forms and brochures unless custom. Space is available on our website should an associate desire a home page and home page development is available at no cost. Producers need only ask and we’ll provide whatever support makes sense to enhance their productivity.
Marketing Advertising Program
Unless we rent our vacancies, they not only fail to produce an income, but represent an expense and liability. So, we’ve developed a marketing program that produces results. Here’s what we do….
- MRIS – The Metropolitan Regional Information System is a Multiple List System serving in some 30 counties and 4 states. This system takes sales and rental listings. Listings are placed on the National Association of REALTORS website. Through MRIS, our listings are promoted on several other Internet homes sites.
- MMI Real Estate Investors Society (REIS) – REIS is a membership organization founded by MMI in 2006 for the purposes of educating investors and potential investors, forming a network of investors, Realtors and service providers and developing an vehicle for investors to pool money for the purchase of investment real estate. MMI associates are encouraged to attend the these meetings to meet the movers and shakers of the local rental real estate market. Find-out more at www.REISLink.net.
- RentalHouses.com – All of our rental listings are promoted on the Rental Homes national search site where calls are directed to the listing agent. The company pays for this service.
- Maryland Association of REALTORS Conference in Ocean City – In 2006, MMI became the first property management company to ever take a booth at this show. It was such a smash hit that we have already signed-up for 2008–see us at booth 96!
- GOOGLE – We advertise on Google and pay for each click to cause our name to come-up near the front of each search.
- Referrals – Our highly successful Listings in the Bank Program draw agent to us as their “Partner for Better Client Service.” Agent refer clients for property management and we have now added an extra incentive: a trip for two to Mexico!
Advancement Opportunities
Because there are so many facets to the Property Management business, there are a variety of directions a Property Management career can take. At MMI, our primary focus is on residential management. Most of our current business is rentals of detached homes, town homes and condominiums. But, we handle several multi-family buildings, too. And we manage homeowners associations and condominium associations.
As MMI grows, departments will form to handle specific types of properties. Each department will need a department head and support staff.
Any of these areas of the business are open to our managers to develop. But, that is only within the management business. Our sister company, Market Ready, Inc., is a licensed Home Improvement company. Until now, Market Ready has worked almost exclusively on MMI managed properties. But, the public and the real estate community are asking, with increasing frequency, that we perform maintenance services outside the MMI portfolio. So, we’re getting ready to expand that company. There will be openings for workers, supervisors, estimators and sales reps as well as office support staff.
MMI is now one of the areas most recognized and certified Association Management companies. We expect our growth rate to explode in condominium and home owner association management over the next few years. There will certainly be opportunities for the right person on that department.
But, let’s remain focused on residential Property Management for now. Our other business interests are supported by a sound base in the management business. We can never lose site of that. If we fail to perform as managers, we’ll not get the opportunity to offer our other businesses. And, the bigger our management business grows, the bigger the others become by default. So, we encourage our Property Managers to establish themselves as Property Management professionals. Our job is to show you how.
