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Week of December 15, 2003

Front Page

President's Message

* 2003 – A Year to Remember

Housing Politics

* ‘American Dream Downpayment Act’ to Increase Housing Opportunities
* HUD Secretary Martinez Resigns to Run for Senate
* Jackson Nominated as Housing and Urban Development Secretary

Multifamily

* FHA Multifamily Mortgage Insurance Receives Another Reprieve in Congress
* NAHB Hits the Target on All of Its FHA Multifamily Legislative Goals
* Managing Property Like a Pro

Business Management

* Protecting Yourself From Fraud: An Introduction

Seniors Housing

* Rental Apartments for All Ages Are Competition to Seniors Housing

Sales and Marketing

* Model Merchandising and the Sales Manager: Character Counts

Building Green

* National Green Building Awards Applications Due by Dec. 31

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Market Index Finds Home Remodeling Strong in Third Quarter

Housing Finance

* Senate Confirmation of Federal Housing Finance Board Director Applauded

Labor

* HBI Construction Academy Sees Spectacular Rise

Builders' Show

* Final Registration and Housing Deadline for IBS Is Dec. 17
* Learn About the Growing 50+ Market
* Alternative Construction Methods Take Center Stage
* Interactive Convention Session Focuses on Frost-Protected Shallow Foundations
* Show Activities Focus on Access Mexico and International Housing Opportunities
* Breakfast Honors the NAHB Associate of the Year
* Housing Industry Champions to Be Honored at Awards Breakfast
* Education Programs Geared to Small Builders and Remodelers
* OnSite Area the Place to Find How NAHB Membership Works For You
* Look for the Big Store at the Big Show
* Education Sessions and Exhibits Geared to Multifamily Builders
* Education Session to Highlight Advance of Zero Energy Home
* Walt Disney Imagineering Executive to Keynote EnergyValue Housing Award

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* One Home at a Time, Mississippi Builder Putting Working Families on the Road to the American Dream
* Research Center Co-Founder Ralph Johnson Dies
* Find the Right NAHB Staff Faster Than Ever Online
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

Managing Property Like a Pro

"It was collecting the rent, supervising maintenance and repairs — and sometimes even mopping the floors." That’s what multifamily management used to be, according to David Kuperberg and N. Mike Patellis, authors of "Residential Property Management," a new publication from BuilderBooks. These days, though, say the authors, "each residential property is like a branch office, an independent business center with...goals to meet."

That sort of enterprise needs a professional manager, one who’s trained to prepare a budget and understand legal requirements and responsibilities. Beyond that, "the manager needs communication skills, marketing expertise and more," says Kuperberg, himself a RAM (Registered in Apartment Management) and a CPM (Certified Property Manager).

This new book will be the textbook for the revised and updated RAM course being piloted this year, according to Patellis, also a RAM and CPM. With the information the two have compiled, students will be able to understand issues and develop the strategies to deal with them in a professional manner.


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But the book also was designed to serve as a reference for people involved in property management at every level, from the site itself to the corporate office. "There really aren’t any comprehensive property management guides out there that focus only on residential management," says Patellis. "This is a reference you can consult whenever a question arises. It’s indexed, it has a glossary and it’s as complete as we could make it."

Residential Property Management includes updated approaches to record-keeping and reporting used by firms that must be accountable not merely to syndicates or shareholders, but to large corporate investors. It includes information on managing condominium communities and co-ops, as well as now-privatized military base housing. It talks about higher-tech methods of communication and when to use them.

The authors note that in the RAM textbook they helped write in 1987, they talked about "this new thing — computers — that might transform the workplace." In this edition, computer use by professional managers is a given. "If you’re not using computers, you’re not in this business."

The book also addresses the top problem areas — the issues that, if handled badly, can land a company in court or worse. Those include:

  • Fair Housing Accessibility rules
  • Americans with Disabilities Act rules
  • Responding to Lead Paint
  • Responding to Mold
  • Responding to Asbestos
  • Hiring practices — what you can and can’t ask legally

Patellis and Kuperberg will be at NAHB’s International Builders' Show to answer questions and to sign their new book. Look for them at the Multifamily Reception on Saturday, Jan. 17; and at the On-Site area Monday, Jan. 19, from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Jan. 20, from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

To view or purchase "Residential Property Management" online from BuilderBooks.com, click here or call 800-223-2665 to order.


Multifamily Leadership Board Conference Call — Jan. 8, 2004

Industry expert Ron Witten, president of Witten Advisors, Dallas, will brief the members and invited guests of the Multifamily Leadership Board on what to expect in the coming months in terms of trends and hot markets. For information on participation, contact Laura Zaner, 800-368-5242 x8563.

2004 NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference & Awards Gala

Don’t miss the Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference and Awards Gala, the premier educational and networking event of the year for the multifamily industry, in Palm Springs, CA, March 28-30. Explore both the current and future state of the multifamily industry. Click here for more information.
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