the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 2
Triangle Apartment Association 7920 ACC Blvd., Suite 220 Raleigh, NC 27617 919.782.1165 • 919.782.1169 FAX www.triangleaptassn.org TAA Office Hours Monday through Friday 8:30am-5:00pm TAA Mission Statement The leading resource committed to the advancement of the rental housing industry through advocacy, engagement, and innovation.
@TriangleAptAssn
CONTENTS 4 President’s Pen
14 Legislative Update
6 Upcoming Education
21
8 Casino Night Recap
26 Calendar of Events
New Members
OFFICERS President
Vice President
Treasurer
Claire Michael
April Vasta
Kelli Lea
Secretary
@nctaa
Affiliated with:
CAM Fairfield Residential, LLC
CAPS, CAM Blue Ridge Companies, Inc.
CAM Greystar
Rita Zepeda
CPM, CAPS, CAM PRG Real Estate Management, Inc.
Andy Meador
CAMT McDowell Properties, LLC
DIRECTORS TAA STAFF MEMBERS Josie H. Eatmon, Executive Director jeatmon@triangleaptassn.org Suzanne Pratt, Director of Professional Development spratt@triangleaptassn.org
Rob Boggs
CAM TriBridge Residential, LLC
Julie Chu Zhang CAPS, CAM Bell Partners, Inc.
Berry Craven
Steve Hayworth
Judy Wade
Chris Williams
CAMT Ginkgo Residential, LLC
Drucker + Falk
Kristi Henderson Redi Carpet, Inc.
Craig Nardi
CPM Palms Associates, LLC
Vicki Franciosi, Meetings & Events Director vfranciosi@triangleaptassn.org Dustin Engelken, Government Affairs Director dengelken@triangleaptassn.org Susan Williams, Finance Director swilliams@triangleaptassn.org Candace Patrick, Membership & Marketing Manager cpatrick@triangleaptassn.org Meg Palumbo, Communications Manager mpalumbo@triangleaptassn.org Dan Pauley, Staff Accountant dpauley@triangleaptassn.org
Cindy Nitschke Rebecca Rosario-Bueno CAS Valet Living, LLC
CAM, NALP, NAAEI Full House Marketing
CAPS, CAM TradeMark Residential Properties, Inc.
Norm Praet
General Counsel Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS Education:
PR & Community Outreach:
Paula Kotarakos Derek Tarrant Kathy Woodard
Bret Smith Akeshia Thomas
Alyssa Clair, Education Coordinator aclair@triangleaptassn.org
Government Affairs:
Products & Services:
Ariel Rosario, Member Services Coordinator arosario@triangleaptassn.org
IRO:
Becki Hale Cindy Nitschke
Membership:
Rob Boggs Josh Scholl
Katy Boone Craig Nardi
Michel Charbonnier Tim Masters Robyn Gastol Elizabeth Godwin-Riley This issue of the ApartMentor is designed and published by Moonstone Studio, LLC, proud member of the Triangle Apartment Association.
RentPath, LLC
Chad Anderson
Special Events:
XCEL:
Total Members: 1,033 Total Units: 132,094 Apartment Communities: 572 Suppliers: 241 Management Companie s: 156 IRO: 64
TAA Snapshot as of 7/10/201 8 the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 3
President’s Pen Summer is in full swing, time to apply the sunscreen and break out the boogey boards. Lots of families in the Triangle take advantage of our fortuitous location and make that quick trek to the coast for some rest and relaxation. While many of us are going to utilize these sunny days to bathe in the pool or ocean, those in the multifamily industry know that the summer months can sometimes feel overwhelming because of the amplified traffic, AC units that fail, and increased exposure. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the mayhem and tackle the day-to-day operations as they occur, but what is crucial for successful communities to flourish is looking ahead amidst the summer chaos and exploring what innovations are on the horizon for the multifamily industry. But before we can look forward, it’s useful to examine the history of home buying to see how past desires to buy a home have been replaced with current trends towards wanting to rent. After the Great Depression, Roosevelt’s “New Deal” catapulted the American housing market. Following many of these consumer stimulus measures created by the New Deal, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was created in 1934. The establishment of the FHA helped solve money lender worries by offering protection to lenders and substantially reducing the risk of a borrower defaulting on a loan. With these safety nets, and other programs such as Fannie Mae, the housing market saw a surge in home purchases that had never before been experienced across the American landscape, and renting was losing momentum. Fast forward to modern day and we see a much different picture. More households are renting now than at any point in the past fifty years. While many Americans in the past were eager to buy homes and stay in one location for the rest of their lives, today’s market contrasts with a population that is more transient and wants the ability to be mobile. Families were also eager to have a large yard and plenty of space between neighbors. While many of us today still desire this, it can also be argued that potential residents will happily trade in a large yard for access to amenities and proximity to work/friends/ city. With this uptick in renting, it’s imperative for us to
stay ahead of the game and pay attention to the advances and modernizations that make residents in our community happy to call a rented space home. So what innovations will keep people renting at the record breaking percentages we see today? Here are four advances that I believe will keep the multifamily industry on the cutting edge of modernization and maintain our industry growth: Leasing kiosks that allows the consumer 24-hour access to tour and lease, flexible walls with floor plans that allow the resident to adapt their living space, smart-apartments that control everything from restocking fridges to anticipating maintenance needs, and future amenities such as drone landing pads and digital detox spaces. Leasing Kiosks When was the last time you used a self-checkout at your local grocery store? The answer is probably recently, and current market trends demonstrate that companies implementing these expedient systems are ahead of the curve. The apartment industry is changing in this regard as well, driven by customer demands. Modern consumers desire 24-hour leasing at their fingertips; with the ability to rent an apartment, sign a lease, and move in without ever entering a clubhouse. Leasing kiosks allow the renter to identify themselves at the kiosk and take a tour of the community, directed by a virtual leasing agent. Technology such as this will allow us to maintain optimal occupancy while operating on the prospects personal schedule. Flexible Spaces The physical layout of an apartment has always been important when it comes to the renter finding the perfect home, with the biggest concern being the actual size and orientation of the rooms. Today, customers in major cities are seeking flex spaces and homes that can be adapted to allow for changing life styles and family sizes. Future residents will have apartments with walls and modular spaces that morph and change based on their needs. What could be a kitchen at one moment could transform into a living area the next.
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 4
Continued on page 17
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www.RediCarpet.com the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 5
education classes
Please visit TAA’s website for full details about each class and to register online for courses and seminars: www.TriangleAptAssn.org. All classes are held in the TAA/Response Team 1 Education Center unless otherwise noted. Registration deadlines are one week prior to course date unless otherwise noted.
Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO) September 14 – 15 8:30am – 5:00pm $265 Members Re-Take Exam Fee: $165 Members
Instructor: Andy Meador, CAMT, Director of Capital Projects with McDowell Properties Please note! All CPO courses will be held on a Friday and Saturday. All those seeking CPO re-certifications must attend both days.
NAA Lease Review & Training Seminar September 19 9:00am – 5:00pm $179 Members
This session will cover changes/updates made to the NAA Lease and Addenda specific to the laws of the State of North Carolina.
Instructor: Todd Whitlow, Attorney-Partner, Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC
Legal Issues September 20 October 25 9:00am – 5:00pm $189 Members Instructor: Todd Whitlow, Attorney-Partner, Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC
Join us for this informative seminar to learn all the legalities of operating your property within the law in the state of NC. Get up to speed on the NC landlord-tenant law changes. In addition to learning about the laws, you will learn the legal aspects of property management as well as the eviction process and how to avoid pitfalls.
National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) October 11 – 13 | Course Dates October 23 | Exams November 8 | Presentations Time Varies Daily, See Website for Details $449 Members
The National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) Credential Program is meant to enhance the skills of the apartment leasing professional, resulting in better-informed, highly professional individuals with increased lease activity and improved resident relations.
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 6
Available in person through the Triangle Apartment Association. Member price: $499 www.TriangleAptAssn.org
For more information, visit: https://www.triangleaptassn.org/events/2018-nalp.
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 7
TAA held its Casino Night on Thursday, June 28 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley where many in attendance celebrated the attire theme of Bond‌James Bond, in Casino Royale. Thanks to the over 265 attendees for joining us at what was certainly an unforgettable evening! The event included food, casino games, prizes, music and dancing, a photo area, a VIP Lounge and the TAA-PAC Fundraiser.
TAA-PAC raised $5053 at Casino Night, surpassing our goal of $5000 and making it the most successful fundraising event in PAC history! Thank you to the volunteers who helped organize donations and worked the event including Karen Green, Katy Boone, Craig Nardi, Charles Persons, Kelly Goehl and Rebecca Kalishek. Additionally, a special thank you to our sponsor organizations who donated baskets for the PAC raffle: 1st Choice Construction Management, LLC; ACES Cleaning Services, Inc.; AFR Furniture Rental Inc.; Blue Ridge Companies, Inc.; Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC; Carolina Restoration Services, Inc.; Elite Flooring; Full House Marketing; Google Fiber, LLC; Greystar; Hawthorne Residential Partners, Inc.; Palms Associates, LLC; Redi Carpet, Inc.; Red Rhino Group; SERVPRO of North Raleigh, Wake Forest and North Durham; and Spangler Restoration.
Thank you to our
Event Sponsors! TAA’s 2018 Strategic Business Partners Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC Elite Property Services Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC Tidal Electrical Services, Inc.
20% OFF
All RENTALS
Contact Ariel Rosario at arosario@triangleaptassn.org for availability and details. Reservations must be made by August 31, 2018 and fulfilled by October 31, 2018.
TAA Welcomes New Staff Alyssa Clair joins the TAA team as its Education Coordinator. Her key job functions will be to coordinate and implement all aspects of our half & full day courses and seminars, including serving as liaison with facilitators, speakers, instructors and sponsors; initiate and oversee TAA’s online continuing education programs; update education content to the website and other social media platforms as needed; and providing administrative support to department management in the planning, organization and coordination of educational events, fundraisers, TAAEF, and committee meetings. Alyssa obtained her Bachelor of Arts, Political Science degree from Michigan State University in 2014, finishing in just three years. Prior to moving to Raleigh, Alyssa worked for Arbor Research Collaborative for Health in Ann Arbor, MI, as their Administrative Assistant and was also charged with writing, updating, and reviewing the organization’s IT security policies. Additionally, her professional background includes serving as a Legislative Aide in the Michigan House of Representatives in Lansing, MI, where she managed all office communications and the Military and Veteran Affairs committee in the MI House and all subsequently related public policy her and her boss found to be necessary. She has a passion for writing, collaboration towards a common goal, photography, and of course her dog, Fitzgerald or Fitz for short. the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 10
Busy Leasing Season Mid-Point Check In By: RentPath, LLC This article was originally posted here: www.rentpath.com/blog/busy-leasing-season-mid-point-check
Look into staffing practices
Determine your advertising ROI
time to review your strategy. At the
Are your hiring practices for busy
Take a look at the advertising channels
midpoint of the season, look to deter-
leasing season effective? If you
that are bringing you the best ROI –
mine what is working well and where
determine that you are short staffed,
and those that aren’t bringing in leads
you should make adjustments to your
you may want to bring on some
at all. Then, make adjustments to your
processes. You are likely to discover
additional helping hands to manage
marketing spend as needed. Keep in
changes that will bring immediate re-
the increased traffic for the rest of the
mind that the renter journey is com-
sults, and you may find ways you can
season. Check in with your team on
plex. Don’t cut valuable lead sources
make improvements for the future.
a personal level as well. Remember
in favor of newer, untested channels.
Above all, it is important to review
that the in-person experience is as
your current strategy to ensure that
valuable to prospects as your online
Also, be sure that your online listings
you are on the right course to meet
presence. If a prospect arrives for
are fully updated with photos that
your goals.
a tour and is met with unhappy or
highlight any recent upgrades you
overworked staff members, they may
may have made. Today’s renters are
form a negative impression of your
visually minded and focused on ame-
property. Residents may also notice if
nities. They want to see the best that
First, take a look at how your oc-
staff morale is low and could po-
you have to offer before they submit
cupancy rates are trending. The
tentially leave you a not-so-glowing
a lead.
increased traffic you may now be
review in response.
Busy leasing season (May to September) is halfway through, and it’s
Investigate occupancy trends
experiencing gives you flexibility that
Effective planning when the busy season slows down
you may not have at other times of
Similarly, find out if your maintenance
the year. Check your conversion rates
staff is able to keep up with increased
to ensure that not only has traffic
demands on their time. Summer
increased but leases have also in-
brings tune-ups for air conditioning
Always have an eye toward the end
creased. If you are meeting or exceed-
units and pool maintenance on top
of busy leasing season. Do you have a
ing your occupancy goals, consider
of any updates or upgrades that new
plan in place for how you will con-
adjusting your rents or tabling any
residents may require. You need to
tinue to reach your occupancy goals?
specials until later in the year.
manage resident satisfaction while
Will you need to retain any extra staff
signing new leases – remember, it
you brought on for the busy season?
However, if you find that you’re not
costs more to replace a resident than it
Addressing these questions in advance
seeing the numbers you anticipated,
does to keep one. Be sure that current
is extremely important. Finally, keep
it may be time to introduce a pric-
residents can get the attention they
track of any projects that you may
ing incentive or reduce rents for new
need for issues inside their units. Ad-
have had to put off – this slower pe-
tenants. For guidance, take a look at
ditionally, maintain the curb appeal of
riod of the year is the perfect time to
your local competition. Are your rents
your property to ensure that prospects
tackle and complete these projects in
in line with your market? Are other
like what they see on arrival.
anticipation of the next busy season.
properties having similar struggles with their occupancy rates or are you losing traffic to them?
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 11
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Congratulations!
NAAEI CREDENTIAL HOLDERS
Congratulations go out to the following individuals who have earned the Certified Apartment Manager (CAM) credential from the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI).
Stormy Brinson | Green Meadows Apartments
Melissa Irgens
Dave Buompane
Heather Parody | Thornhill Apartments
Quantana Coleman | Fox Ridge Townhomes
Kate Shavit | Clarion Crossing Apartment Homes
Tanisha Corey | Laurens Way Apartments
Stephanie Tripp | Berkshire Main Street
Tyrus Hinton | Windemere Apartments
Jennifer Wilkins | Patriot’s Pointe
Congratulations! Congratulations go out to the following individual who has earned the Certified Apartment Supplier (CAS) credential from the National Apartment Association Education Institute (NAAEI). Brett Chappell | Carolina Air Conditioning Inc.
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 12
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government affairs Senate Bill 224 Passed! How and Why Did it Happen so Quickly? By: Dustin Engelken, TAA’s Government Affairs Director This article was originally posted on TAA’s Blog: www.triangleaptassn.org/news/sb224-passed On Thursday, June 14, the North Carolina General Assembly passed Senate Bill 224 Landlord Recovery of Expenses. The bill took an unusual path through the legislature, but now that it has officially been enacted following the Governor’s choice not to sign or veto the bill, it will clarify that apartment communities are allowed to charge residents for out-of-pocket expenses related to eviction proceedings. The Legal Issues column of this issue will delve deeper into the law itself and the ramifications for the industry, but given the intense interest in the issue, it also seemed like a good idea to provide a recap of how things played out in the General Assembly with SB224. Normally, bills take a deliberative path that can take weeks and even months from start to finish. First, the legislation is drafted and introduced by a sponsoring legislator in either the House or the Senate. Next, the bill is referred to a committee where it is carefully studied, amended, and a recommendation is made by the committee. Once the committee approves the bill, it reports this fact and the bill is placed on the calendar for consideration by the full body. Once a bill has been sent to the full membership, the sponsor is allowed the opportunity to introduce the bill before opening the floor for debate and amendments before a vote is ultimately taken. If the vote is favorable, the bill is sent to the second house where it undergoes the same process of committee review, amendment and a vote before the full membership. If the second house passed the bill in it’s original
form, then it is enrolled, signed by the presiding officers of both houses, and sent to the Governor for his signature before finally becoming law. If the second house amends the bill before passing it, then it goes back to the original house, which then must vote to concur before it is enrolled and sent to the Governor. In North Carolina, the General Assembly session is two years long and always starts with the “long session” in the odd-numbered years, and the “short session” in the even-numbered years. The short session is meant to offer the General Assembly an opportunity to amend the two-year budget and vote on any outstanding bills leftover from the long session. In theory, the General Assembly does not allow new bills to be introduced during the short session. However, in reality, the Assembly has developed a workaround over the years in which bills that have passed the first house in the legislative process are gutted, and a new bill is “substituted” in its place in the second house. The practice offers the opportunity to introduce new bill language and speed up the legislative process, and it has become so common that the News & Observer recently put together a list of notable bill switches! In our case, Senate Bill 224 was a completely unrelated bill pertaining to breaking and entering before getting a new life in the House Rules Committee when our language was substituted in place of the original bill text. In its prior form, SB224 had passed the Senate Rules Committee in the the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 14
spring of 2017 before unanimously passing the Senate and getting sent to the House Rules Committee where it stalled. Once our language was substituted into the bill on the evening of June 12, it was brought up for debate in the House Rules Committee and despite several attempts to amend the bill on the floor, it was reported favorably from the committee without substantive changes the same evening. The next day, after a furious round of lobbying, the bill was placed on the House calendar where it was introduced by Rep. Hardister and passed nearly unanimously with little debate. Once the bill was referred back to the Senate, we were able to bypass the Senate Rules Committee because the original SB224 had already passed a committee vote, and thus the bill was eligible to go straight to the floor. After another full day of lobbying, this time on the Senate side, the bill was placed on the calendar for June 14, when it was introduced by Senator McKissick. After Senator McKissick offered a brief explanation of the clarifications included in the bill on the Senate floor, it went to a vote and was passed unanimously, just two days after introduction in the House. It may be easy to look back in retrospect at the speed with which the bill moved or the unanimous votes and assume that passage was easy, but in reality, it took dozens of meetings with lawmakers and staff, countless volunteer hours from association members, and a strong lobbying strategy to guide the bill to passage.
legal Issues
SB224 – What does this mean for me? By Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC As you can see from Dustin Engelken, TAA’s Government Affairs Director’s article on the adjoining page, SB224 is now law. SB224 was the result of a tremendous amount of work done by many people over several months, but what does it mean for you now? SB224 clarifies a property owner/manager’s ability to charge court costs and legal fees after a resident is in default. It does this by adding additional language to North Carolina General Statute 42-46, the statute that provides for which late fees and administrative fees surrounding an eviction can be charged. The new statute language reads as follows: SECTION 1.1.(a) G.S. 42 46(h)(3) reads as rewritten: SECTION 1.1.(b) G.S. 42 46 is amended by adding two new subsections to read: (i) Out of Pocket Expenses. – In addition to the late fees referenced in subsections (a) and (b) of this section and the administrative fees of a landlord referenced in subsections (e) through (g) of this section, a landlord is also permitted to charge and recover from a tenant the following actual out of pocket expenses: (1) Filing fees charged by the court. (2) Costs for service of process pursuant to G.S. 1A 1, Rule 4 of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure and G.S. 42 29. (3) Reasonable attorneys’ fees actually incurred, pursuant to a written lease, not to exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the amount owed by the tenant, or fifteen percent (15%) of the monthly rent stated in the lease if the eviction is based on a default other than the nonpayment of rent. (j) The out of pocket expenses listed in subsection (i) of this section are allowed to be included by the landlord in the amount required to cure a default. When reviewing the new statutory language above, it is important to keep in mind that the fees charged to the resident must be actually incurred by
the landlord. Accordingly, if an eviction filing was dismissed prior to a resident remedying the default and the landlord accepting the funds, the filing fees should not be charged. Additionally, the attorneys’ fees are limited to 15% of the amount owed by the resident or the monthly rent. This will not usually be an issue, however appealrelated attorneys’ fees may exceed this cap and you should be careful going forward to not charge any excess cost to the resident. Further, we strongly suggest that you review your policies with respect to what fees you can and should charge, and when you charge them, with your legal counsel prior to rolling out any specific provisions. Why was this necessary? Many of you are aware that you have recently stopped charging court costs and attorneys’ fees for evictions but are not clear on why, especially because your lease allows for these charges. The answer goes back to 2009. Prior to 2009, some property owners and managers were charging administrative fees surrounding evictions to try to recover time that was spent by their employees as a result of the resident’s failure to pay their rent on time. These administrative fees varied significantly from a few dollars to several hundred dollars. This practice was called into question by a lawsuit. To avoid further litigation and to remedy this issue, AANC reached a compromise with the Justice Center/Legal Aid to allow the Complaint Filing Fee, Court-Appearance Fee, Second Trial Fee, and “reasonable attorneys’ fees as allowed by law” that are contained in Section e-g of NCGS 42-46, and provided for in your leases. To make sure that the administrative costs were limited to what was provided by the statute, the following section was added as well: It is contrary to public policy for a landlord to put in a lease or claim any fee for filing a complaint for summary ejectment and/or
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 15
money owed other than the ones expressly authorized by subsections (e) through (g) of this section, and a reasonable attorney’s fee as allowed by law. It was understood at the time that a landlord could pass along out-of-pocket court costs to residents and that collecting court costs and attorney’s fees was allowed. This is clear because this practice was never questioned, particularly by Legal Aid/Justice Center. Now, almost 10 years after the provisions to NCGS 42-46 above were added, a plaintiff’s litigation firm who was largely unfamiliar with general property management practices brought an action, and then a series of actions against large management companies questioning the landlord’s ability to pass along the out-of-pocket court costs and attorneys fees. In response to the lawsuits, AANC, with the help of the local affiliates such as TAA and other industry professionals, set out to legislatively clarify the ability to charge attorneys’ fees and court costs to residents and when they may be charged. Ultimately AANC was successful after a Herculean effort, including the efforts of many people from TAA, to pass SB224 which became law on June 25, 2018 and was effective immediately. Although no bill ultimately passes exactly as we would like to have it written, we hope that SB224 will assist the Courts hearing lawsuits to understand that it was always the intent of the Legislature for the property owners and managers to be able to pass on these fees to the defaulting residents, as was explained by Senator McKissick when he introduced SB224 to the Senate. This article is not intended as legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal counsel for advice on any of your specific questions.
THANK YOU TO THE 2018 TAA-PAC CONTRIBUTORS
TAA-PAC GOAL: $18,500 Help us reach this goal by making an investment in the TAA-PAC! Your contribution ensures a strong voice for you and the apartment industry in the legislative decision making process.
TAA-PAC GOAL $18,500
President Club Level $1,000+ Chris Loebsack
Chris Parrish
Ambassador Club Level $500-$999 Craig Nardi
WHY IS THE TAA-PAC IMPORTANT?
Rebecca Rosario-Bueno
Many laws significantly
Capitol Level $200-$499
Currently $13,091
Brenda Brantley Charles Persons Cindy Nitschke Dustin Engelken Ed Harris Judy Wade Julie Chu Zhang
impact apartment
Karen Green Kateri Bain Katy Boone Kelli Lea Kelly Goehl Kristi Henderson Norm Praet
Rebecca Kalishek Rita Zepeda Teresa Boland Vicki Franciosi William MacRae
owners and their bottom line including water & sewer rates and rental and zoning regulations. Contributions to the TAA-PAC help assure
Advocate Level $50-$199 April Vasta Bret Smith Chris Fortune Chris Williams Hans Dara Jennifer Wilkins
TAA’s involvement in
Josie Eatmon Kathy Woodard Laura Lee West Marci Strathmeyer Matt Whaley Melissa Caruso
Misti McElwee Patrick Johnson Paula Kotarakos Peggy Patterson Peter Haygarth
the legislative decision making process. Your contribution is an investment in yourself and your property’s future!
Member Level $5-$49 Alisha Hymes Andrea Meador Andres Hernandez Annette Baldwin Ashlee Akins Becki Hale Berry Craven Betsy Petruccelli Bill Powell Brandy Rutledge Bryce Benjamin Candace Patrick Candy Shannon Carly Connor Cayla Winn Chris Cannon Christina Penque Claire Michael
Dale Holder Danny Woodard David Lowery David Martin David Smith Debbie Brewington Derek Tarrant Dwayne Lewis Eddie Pimentel Ericka Gillis Fayre McNeil Franklin Rodriguez Gray Pike Heather Arndt Hira Moin Howard Han
Jaimie Lemon James Hester James Hibbert Janis Gallagher Jeff Brasel Jeff Goldman Jeremy Lyman Jerone Perry Jesse Jenkins Jesse McArthur Jocelyn Reed Joe Holt Joe Seftner Josh Carmenate Josh Michael Josh Scholl Justin Ligon Karen Anderson
Karen Klaus Kari Guillette Keara Farmer Kellie Wingold Kenneth Jones Kert Martinez Kevin Haas Latoya Mosley Latoya Patterson Laura Valley Lisa Kane Luis Hernandez Ayala Luke Michaels Maggie Corgan Matt Stewart Meg Palumbo Michell Garcia-
Brown Natalie Cook Nicole Woodley Randal Bryant Reta Lane Rick Pearce Rob Boggs Rob Clarke Roshni Patel Ryan Canady Sarah Brady Sarah Emanuels Sarah Longee Scott Marczewski Sheema Davis Skei Tora Chan Stefani Link Stephanie Smith
Steve Hayworth Suzanne Pratt Sydney Bryan Thomas Lopez Tiffany Hastings Tim Tucker Tommy McDaniel Tonya Presby Tracy Miketa Walter Morgan Wesley Mays Whitney Nye Wil Knowles
Please consider making a contribution that will help strengthen the apartment industry’s voice by visiting TriangleAptAssn.org or mailing your personal check to TAA-PAC 7920 ACC Blvd., Suite 220, Raleigh, NC 27617. the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 16
continued from page 3
President’s Pen One example of a technology that allows more flexible space is the Ori (www.orisystems.com). This voice activated, movable piece of furniture, turns your studio into an office, creates large closets, and pulls your bed down by voice activated request. As prices for precious square footage continue to increase, flexible spaces will certainly be something that potential residents will search for in the coming years. Smart Apartments Smart apartments are changing the future of our industry, and the adaptations go beyond digital locks and Nest thermostats. Technology will be able to streamline the residents’ needs and allow for immediate customer service in their new homes. What if your apartment was smart enough to predict your lightbulb was about to burn out, or that the HVAC system was leaking Freon? What if your refrigerator anticipated that your milk was going to expire, and restocked it before you even knew? We can expect to see these technological advances entering our market in the immediate future and some homes already have them incorporated. One company already dominating this smart space is WePlenish (www.weplenish.com). This pioneering company has already created the vision of a reordering system with smart containers that sense when your food essentials are running low. On the maintenance side we are fully aware that the modern consumer expects immediate solutions to any issues they encounter. Too often we find ourselves being reactive when it comes to failing mechanics in our residents’ homes, since the only way to learn of a problem is to receive a work order. But these issues highlight another way that the smart apartments will change how we resolve maintenance issues. Appliances will send automatic alerts to our maintenance team members to let them know they need service, that the Freon needs refilling in the HVAC, or a light bulb is due to be changed. Smart apartments will revolutionize how we conduct our business and head off any maintenance concerns before they become larger issues.
hint of declining, we can sometimes feel like we are working in giant storage lockers! But there are apartment communities that will be able to alleviate these frustrations by featuring drone delivery decks and landing pads. Communities with these pads are already being constructed in Los Angeles and New York. Residents can coordinate deliveries on their smart phones and pick up packages on designated landing areas, freeing up space where lockers once stood. Another example of innovative amenities are co-working spaces. Co-working spaces are already popular in cities everywhere, and they offer another avenue for our industry to attract potential renters. What a benefit it would be to renters if they could walk out of their home and conduct business in a communal office, without having a commute. And best of all, these co-working spaces could be a work area during the day while offering a location for pop-up events after hours. Some current pop-ups include wine tastings, book club meetings, cooking classes, and even childcare. Making spaces versatile and able to accommodate work and pleasure will certainly attract prospective residents. Finally, an amenity that will become increasingly popular are digital detox spaces. Digital detox spaces are relaxing areas where people can unplug from the constant onslaught of information we ingest daily. One example recently mentioned in a “National Multi Housing Council” article, demonstrates living green walls lined with foliage, large trees, and art. Residents can experience serenity, quiet, and tranquility within the walls of their apartment community. Although we only touched on a few innovations that are on the horizon, a quick search on Google will demonstrate that there are many more trend-setting features that will become part of our industry. While we try to beat the heat this summer and support our communities, remember to always look forward and stay ahead of our residents expectations.
Amenities Future amenities are the final item I would like to explore. Anyone working onsite can attest to the fact that package delivery to residents can become problematic and exhausting. With packages already stacked high in closets, and a trend of online ordering that shows no the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 17
Claire Michael, CAM TAA President Fairfield Residential, LLC taapresident@triangleaptassn.org
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 18
Ann u
ent am
Golf Tourn al
TAA
Join us for
TAA’s Annual Golf Tournament Friday, September 21 | 9:00 AM | The Neuse Golf Club 918 Birkdale Drive, Clayton, NC 27527 Registration for Golfers and Sponsorships will open the week of July 23. Watch for details. Format: Shotgun start at 9am. Superball format. Each team consists of 4 players. Players move their ball to the site of the best shot of all four team members and take their next shot from there. Everyone gets a chance to play every shot on every hole. This tournament is for all skill levels. Cost: $550 per team of four or $140 per person (includes green and cart fees, range balls and lots of fun!) Participation is limited to TAA members and guests of TAA members. NOTE: One guest per member. Teams: You may put together your own foursome; however, all four registrations must be submitted and paid together. TAA will pair single registrations. Prizes: There will be a contest for the longest drive and closest to the pin for both men and women in addition to a putting contest. Raffle tickets may be purchased for the chance to win additional prizes. Registration: Watch for details and remember to REGISTER EARLY! This tournament always fills up before the deadline date! Visit the TAA website at www.TriangleAptAssn.org to learn more. Registration forms may be emailed to vfranciosi@triangleaptassn.org or faxed to (919)782-1169 as online registration is not an option for this event.
Food Trucks Back By Popular Demand! There will be food trucks serving lunch and dessert to our golfers and sponsors. Both are included with your registration fee or sponsorship.
Sponsorship Opportunities This tournament provides an opportunity for sponsorships on a variety of levels, to meet the needs and interests of our Supplier members. And, remember, sponsorships for this event have historically sold out very quickly. So, watch for sponsorship details as all sponsorships are secured on a first come, first served basis. the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 19
Events The second of four After Work Networking events was held on Tuesday, May 8 at Tobacco Road Sports Café in Durham. The over 115 in attendance were able to enjoy a relaxing spring evening, with a great view of the Durham Bulls Ballpark, while networking with friends and colleagues. These events are open to all TAA members, with no cost to attend. And, they are held at different locations throughout the Triangle for convenience to our members. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on July 17 from 6pm – 8:30pm at Wild Wing Café in Brier Creek. We look forward to seeing you there!
In conjunction with the AWN event, the Membership Committee also hosted the first of two Membership Drive events for 2018! Members who referred a new company that joined TAA received a golden ticket and tried their luck spinning the prize wheel! The second event will be at the December AWN, so submit your referrals today! Referrals can be submitted online at www.triangleaptassn.org/news/2018membership-drive.
Thank you to our Champion Business Partners for serving as the exclusive sponsors for the 2018 After Work Networking events!
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 20
MANAGEMENT COMPANIES Capital American Services, LLC PO Box 41075 Raleigh, NC 27629 Contact: Jay Coleman Email: Jay@cas-nc.com Telephone: 919-904-1016
Boelstler Capital Group
115 Galsworthy Street Cary, NC 27518 Contact: Gerard Boelstler Email: gerardboelstler@yahoo.com Telephone: 516-287-3745 Units: 16
New Members Covis-Raleigh, Inc.
1306-C Leon Street Durham, NC 27705 Contact: Steve Levitz Email: steve@covenantpropertyservices.com Telephone: 919-220-6181
2618 Battleground Avenue Ste 130 Greensboro, NC 27408 Contact: Niranjan Patel Email: info@greenermeadowsproperties.com Telephone: 336-327-6618 Units: 0
4904 Waters Edge Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 Contact: Jeremy Wyman Email: Jeremy@covis-stone.com Telephone: 919-977-3284 Furniture: Exterior/Pool/Patio; Grills and Grill Servicing; Masonry/Stone/Pavers; Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors
Crowne Partners, Inc.
Progress Residential
Custom Staffing Solutions
Rehab Development
Dogwood Building Supply
Covenant Property Services
505 North 20th Street Ste 1150 Birmingham, AL 35203 Contact: Jake Levow Email: jlevow@crownepartners.com Telephone: 205-328-3120
Dominion Realty Partners, LLC 2626 Glenwood Avenue Raleigh, NC 27608 Contact: Sherry Collins Email: scollins@drp-llc.com Telephone: 919-582-2049
First Rate Property Management
PO Box 61146 Raleigh, NC 27661 Contact: Kerry Davis Email: kdavis@firstratepropertymgmt.com Telephone: 919-819-0612
COMMUNITIES District Station
2312 Bristol Creek Drive Morrisville, NC 27560 Contact: Ashley Legg Paulovits Email: districtparkwest@greystar.com Telephone: 919-388-0341 Units: 191
Duplex Village
1902 New Bern Avenue Raleigh, NC 27610 Contact: Phil Eisenhauer Email: downtownraleigh@3pointsproperties. com Telephone: 984-200-7620 Units: 66
Lodge at Croasdaile Farm
3130 Hillandale Rd Durham, NC 27705 Contact: Ashley Hawkins Email: croasdaile@bellpartnersinc.com Telephone: 919-382-0962 Units: 320
INDEPENDENT RENTAL OWNERS Barbara Hower
1203 Duplin Rd Raleigh, NC 27607 Contact: Barbara Hower Email: whworld@msn.com Telephone: 919-624-9940 Units: 2
Greener Meadows Properties, LLC
637 Poole Drive Garner, NC 27529 Contact: Cynthia Gore Email: cgore@rentprogress.com Telephone: 919-822-8039 Units: 898 6016 Silkwood Way Raleigh, NC 27612 Contact: Patrick Reilly Email: patrick@rehab-development.com Telephone: 336-215-7849 Units: 66
Tenant Success
4900 NC Hwy 55 Suite 160-192 Durham, NC 27713 Contact: Doug Peterson Email: douglasjamespeterson@gmail.com Telephone: 919-608-2019 Units: 4
ASSOCIATES American Roofing & Construction, LLC 3528 Legends Drive Southern Pines, NC 28387 Contact: Raul Porto Email: raul@americanroofing.pro Telephone: 910-964-0114 Gutter Cleaning & Pressure Washing Contractors; Landscapers/Landscaping Contractors; Painting Contractors; Roofing; Roofing Vent Repair Contractors
ApartmentData.com
2550 Gray Falls Drive Suite 450 Houston, TX 77077 Contact: Raedean Mitchem Email: Raedean@apartmentdata.com Telephone: 281-759-2200 Market Research & Surveys
Building and Grounds Management
65 Glen Road Suite 178 Garner, NC 27529 Contact: Jason Pierce Email: bgm.jason@gmail.com Telephone: 919-534-6264 Building & Construction Supplies; General Contractors; Gutter Cleaning & Pressure Washing Contractors; Painting Contractors; Plumbing Contractors; Renovation & Capital Improvement Contractors
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 21
5171 Glenwood Avenue Ste 103 Raleigh, NC 27612 Contact: Daniel Mastropolo Email: Daniel@customstaffingsolutionsinc.com Telephone: 919-622-3222 Staffing & Personnel Services 901 Bridge Street Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Contact: Kara Bonzheim Email: kara.bonzheim@dogwoodbuildingsupply.com Telephone: 336-650-9724 Building & Construction Supplies; Plumbing Supplies; Renovation Supplies
Raleigh Paving Co.
800 Lufkin Road Apex, NC 27539 Contact: Tracy Silver Email: tracys@raleighpaving.com Telephone: 919-859-3626 Concrete Service Providers; Parking Lot Contractor
Ruppert Landscape RDU
3801 Centurion Drive Garner, NC 27529 Contact: Robert High Email: rhigh@ruppertcompanies.com Telephone: 919-625-0182 Landscapers/Landscaping Contractor
Signal Hygiene of Central NC, LLC
416 Albertson Rd Thomasville, NC 27360 Contact: Brady Lancaster Email: Brady.Lancaster@signalhygiene.com Telephone: 336-382-6828 Air Duct/Chimney/Fireplace Cleaning Services; Apartment Cleaning Services; Odor Control
Slingshot Concierge Group
202 Government Street Mobile, AL 36602 Contact: Hayatt Ziboukh Email: randall@livingconnected.com Telephone: 251-406-9257 Telecommunications and Cable Services
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Follow Up… TAA Member Wins Trip to NAA’s Apartmentalize! Earlier this year, we held a raffle at our Trade Show to give away a trip to NAA’s Apartmentalize. Veronica Moser, Assistant Property Manager of The Ashborough Apartments managed by Rich Management, LLC was our winner! We caught up with her after the conference to ask her how her first NAA Conference went… How would you describe your experience? The experience that I had while at the conference was nothing less than amazing. I got to meet so many wonderful people, as well as experience a different environment because it was also my first time visiting the Western part of the United States. What opportunities did you have at the Conference? The opportunities that I had while at the conference included so many great things. There were many sessions with great speakers, as well as fun evening events that included a tour of the USS Midway, NAA Block Party, and the biggest Exhibition [Trade Show] ever. There were other events that I did not attend, but wanted to, which included a Kelly Clarkson concert and the National Maintenance Mania competition. On my off time while in San Diego, I had a chance to take a tour of the city, and I took a ferry to Coronado Island. What did you learn? My primary goal at the conference was to attend many sessions that would be beneficial for my company, as well as for myself and my career. I started my career in Property Management in 2014 and having the opportunity to learn new things to help advance my career in this industry was my primary focus. I attended leadership, marketing, and operations sessions. I learned that being a great leader requires knowing where you have begun, along with operational tips that I am able to currently use during my day to day tasks here at the Ashborough.
Veronica Moser What else would you like to share with the magazine readers? I would urge all management companies to take advantage of the opportunity of attending the Apartmentalize conference. It houses so much information for this industry and I feel that anyone attending the NAA conference will come back empowered. I would also highly suggest for anyone in this industry to attend NAA’s Conference at least once, you will be glad that you did!
What did you like best? What I enjoyed most about attending this conference will have to be the opportunity and experience that TAA has provided for me. Never in a million years would I have thought that I would be able win such a trip that catered to my career. This was a gift that will last a lifetime, because I was able to gain knowledge, and meet people that shared the same love for the apartment industry as I do. I cannot thank TAA and its partners enough for 2018 Trade Show Raffle Prize Winners this opportunity. the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 23
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the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 25
July
2018
4
12
17
18-21
Office Closed: Independence Day
After Work Networking & Happy Hour Headshots 6:00pm – 8:30pm Wild Wing Cafe | Brier Creek
Independent Rental Owner Lunch Meeting 11:30am – 1:30pm TAA Large Conference Room
Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor (CAPS) 9:00am – 5:00pm
August 7
8
28
29-30
TAA 101 9:00am - 10:30am TAA Large Conference Room
Executive/Board of Directors Meeting 8:30am – 11:00am TAA Large Conference Room
9
Independent Rental Owner Dinner Meeting 6:00pm – 8:00pm TAA Large Conference Room
CFC Retesting 10:00am
TAA Staff Retreat: 2019 Planning & Budgeting
Save the Date!
All classes are in the TAA/Response Team 1 Education Center unless otherwise noted. Please visit the TAA Website at www.TriangleAptAssn.org for a complete list of Courses, Events & Committee Meeting dates and times.
Advertiser’s Index
Thursday, Octob er 18 PNC Arena
PAGE
PAGE
Apartment Association of North Carolina ...................... 10
Maintenance Supply Headquarters ................................ 22
Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC ................................... 27
Ponce D. Moody ............................................................ 12
Epproach Communications ........................................... 28
Redi Carpet, Inc. ............................................................... 5
Kindberg Contract Services Inc. ..................................... 24
Rite Rug Flooring Company............................................ 18
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC ............................................. 2 Advertising space available! Contact Meg Palumbo for availability and pricing at mpalumbo@triangleaptassn.org or 919.782.1165 ext 1. the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 26
Brownlee Whitlow & Praet, PLLC is a property solutions law firm! We provide full-service legal and business solutions to managers and owners of rental property and communities in North and South Carolina. Our Firm sets itself apart by providing not only critical legal analysis, but also offering our clients the real-world implications leading to the most meaningful and economically efficient solutions. With offices in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Charleston we assist our clients in all aspects of landlord-tenant law including: PURCHASE AND SALE OF PROPERTY INCLUDING CONTRACT NEGOTIATION AND SEC COMPLIANCE LEASE AND LEASE ADDENDUM PREPARATION AND NEGOTIATION POLICY REVIEW & COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE DEFENSE OF PROPERTY RELATED CLAIMS COLLECTIONS EVICTION APPEALS FAIR HOUSING COMPLIANCE & DEFENSE MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION REPRESENTATION __________________________________________________________________________________ Please contact us at:
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WWW.BWPF-LAW.COM E-mail: NPRAET@BWPF-LAW.COM OR TWHITLOW@BWPF-LAW.COM This is an advertisement for legal services
the ApartMentor | July/August 2018 27
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