2010 HAA President David Jones has built his career by seizing

Transcription

JANUARY 2010
The Houston Apartment Association Magazine
On
The
Move
2010 HAA President David Jones has built his career
by seizing opportunities and accepting challenges.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE: Pass this issue along to a colleague and help HAA Go Green!
CONTENTS
ON THE
COVER
Image by MARK HIEBERT, Hiebert Photography
January 2010
New Perspectives
34
48
Welcome to our 2010 HAA
President, David Jones,
On the Move – 2010 HAA President David Jones has
built his career by seizing opportunities and accepting
challenges.
president of Southhampton
40
Officers & New Board Members – Meet your 2010
executive committee and new board members.
starting on Page 34.
42
Product Service Council – Learn more about this
year’s PSC officers and members.
48
Treat ‘em Right – Thoughtful and thorough customer
service can turn a negative experience into a positive
one for both residents and property staff.
52
Look Closer – Statistical analysis of your property’s
utility billing data could yield important information
to improve your operations.
56
Locked Out – Those metal rings on your property’s
electrical meters might hinder necessary repairs if
you don’t have access to the right information.
60
Plan Ahead – Are you and your property prepared
to recover if a disaster strikes?
Features & Photos
30
Photo Album – Scenes from the fall golf tournament.
44
Photo Album – Scenes from the Annual Business
Meeting and dinner in November.
62
HAA @ 50 – Help HAA look back and celebrate a halfcentury of success.
70
Photo Album – Scenes from the November SOAPS
Luncheon featuring a discussion panel.
Management. Learn more
about Jones in the feature article
Departments
8
19
20
64
65
66
68
69
74
75
76
PATRON
EDUCATION
CALENDARS
GO-GETTERS
WELCOME MAT
AMBASSADORS
PROPERTY UPDATE
IN THE NEWS
ADVERTISERS INDEX
MARKET LINE
BACK PAGE
44
Column
7
President’s Corner – 2010 President David Jones looks forward to a year of celebration and achievement.
9
Legislative Update – The city’s inspections ordinance requires registration of your properties by January 31.
11
It’s The Law – Court intervention is more likely now that a new law governing habitability lawsuits is
in effect.
14
Resident Relations – A resident claims hurricane-victim status to delay paying rent and disputes eviction.
26
NAA Industry Update – Apartment firms remain cost-conscious when it comes to raises, says NMHC.
28
Media Roundup – Some tips for properties on using social media giant Facebook.
We welcome your
comments and letters.
Write to us at:
HAA Communications Dept.
4810 Westway Park Blvd.,
Houston, Texas 77041
or fax to: 281-582-1506.
Or send us an e-mail at:
[email protected].
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JANUARY 2010
3
OFFICERS AND ASSOCIATION LEADERSHIP
DAVID JONES
PRESIDENT
KIM SMALL
PRESIDENT-ELECT
JENIFER PANERAL
VICE PRESIDENT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRODUCT SERVICE COUNCIL
Beth Van Winkle,
Immediate Past President
Josh Allen
Brian Austin
Gene Blevins
Jeff Blevins
Kyle Brown
Kathy Clem
Ernest Etuk
John Fedorko
Kevin Fenn
Paula Forshee
Darlene Guidry
Alison Hall
David Hargrove
Larry Hill
Mike Kaplan
Barby Lake
Theresa Lamar
Ryan McGrath
Etan Mirwis
Michelle Bridges-Pahl
Velissa Parmer
Jackie Rhone
John Ridgway
Beth Rohani
Kelly Scott
Kurt Siedel
Trey Stone
Eileen Subinsky
Debbie Sulzer
Vicki Summitt
Sal Thomas
Suan Tinsley
Starla Turnbo
Vic Vacek Jr.
Debbie Webre
Tony Whitaker
Jerold Winograd
Michelle Ybarra
OFFICERS
Jeff Blevins, CAS, President
Camp Construction Services
Michelle Bridges-Pahl, CAS,
Vice President
Century A/C Supply
Kevin Fenn, CAS, Secretary
Pavecon
Beth Rohani, CAS, Treasurer
Ameritex Movers
Vicki Summitt, CAS
Direct Energy
1976
Mueller Water Conditioning
MEMBERS
Debbie Brueckner, CAS
Dixie Carpet Installations
Kenyon Carroll
Maintenance Supply Headquarters
Peggy Charles
Taylor Contracting & Roofing
Arrie Colca, CASE
Craven Carpet
Laura Collins, CAS
Classic Touch Painting
Mary Estrada
Certified Recovery Systems Inc.
M.J. Featherston
Access Electric
Kimberly Flores, CAS
For Rent Media Solutions
James Gregory
Redi Carpet Sales
Lisa Grimes
D&C Contracting
Christopher Hilton, CAS
Apartment Finder
Jimmie Hotz, CAS
HD Supply
Deona James, CAS
Resident Data
Alan Jones, CASE
ICI Paints
David Koenig
Stephanie Krop, CAS
Direct Energy
Susan Lee, CAS
Craven Carpet
Carol Marple, CAS
Robert McDaniel, CAS
FSI Construction
Nichole Oldfield
Hardman Signs
Dean O’Kelley, CAS
The Liberty Group
Mark Park, CAS
AAA Plumbers
Mindy Price
BG Personnel Services
Joe Slaughter, CAS
Rasa Floors
Nichole Williams, CAS
Apartment Guide
Andrea Winans
Bishop’s Office Needs
1982
Wallace Garcia Wilson Architects Inc.
DIRECTORS EMERITUS
MACK ARMSTRONG
SECRETARY
TREY STONE
TREASURER
Gary Blumberg
Al Bradley
Roger Camp
Jack Dinerstein
Billy Griffin
Jenard Gross
Hap Hunnicutt
Stacy Hunt
Mike Koch
Nora Krakower
Dick LaMarche
Cesar Lima
Tim Myers
John Moore
P. David Onanian
Stephen Sweet
Kirk Tate
H. J. Tollett Jr.
Patrick J. Tollett
GENERAL COUNSEL EMERITUS
Joe Bax
HONORARY LIFE MEMBERS
HOWARD BOOKSTAFF
GENERAL COUNSEL
JEFF HALL, CAE
EXECUTIVE VP
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JANUARY 2010
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Claude Arnold
Kenn Brown
Anita Harrison
Dwayne Henson
Mike Koch
Nora Krakower
Merry Mount
Monette Reynolds
Sherry Stevenson
Kirk Tate
Suan Tinsley
Del Walmsley
Nancé Wells
Jeanne Marie Zublin
PATRON MEMBERS
1980
Coinmach
Texas Apartment Locators
1982
BFI Waste Services of Texas/
Allied Waste
1983
Royal Plumbing Supply
1994
AAA Plumbers
Presto Maintenance Supply
Whirlpool Corp.
1996
Houston Planned Energy Systems
1997
Apartment Guide
2003
MAB Flooring Inc.
2009
SPONSOR MEMBERS
1977
M&M Lighting Inc.
1978
The Liberty Group
1980
Great American Business Products
Penco Construction Co.
Marvin Poer & Co.
1981
Hoover Slovacek LLP
1983
Webb Pest Control
Cort Furniture Rental
1984
Brady, Chapman, Holland & Assoc.
1985
Gemstar Construction &
Development Inc.
Golden Greek Carpets Inc.
1987
Houston Metro Electrical Corp.
Namco Manufacturing Co. Inc.
1988
AmRent
Big Z Lumber Company
HCI Building Group
Redi Carpet Sales
Sherwin Williams Company
1991
Apartment Data Services
Century A/C Supply
1992
Alexander-Rose Assoc. Inc.
1993
Comcast
1997
RENCON
1998
AAA Staffing Ltd.
2001
Pura Flo Corporation
Renovation Services Inc.
2002
Gexa Energy
Southwest Painting Contractors Inc.
Wilmar Industries Inc.
2003
Sign-Ups & Banners Corp.
Southern Wrecker
Utility Advantage of Texas
2004
Assessment Advisors
Embark – The Tree Specialists
Ygnition Networks
2005
First Advantage SafeRent Inc.
Lone Star Roofing of Texas
Regal General Contractors Inc.
United Protective Services
2006
Bell’s Laundries
N.D. Chandler Mechanical
CAD Restoration Services LLC
DoodyCalls
First Co.
Lopez Carpet Care & Painting
Masonry Solutions Inc.
Quantum Fitness Corp.
Roto-Rooter Services Co.
Texas Contract Floors Inc.
USA Decon
Valet Waste
2007
American Sports & Concrete LLC
Builders Granite & Tile Inc.
Choice Corporate Housing Inc.
D&C Contracting
Merit Parking Company
Premier Carpet Cleaning
SLM Construction Services
Site Reconstruction LLC
Suntrust Real Estate Corporation
2008
Accent Coat Refinishing
Accounting & Reporting Enterprises
Atlas 1031 Exchange LLC
Blue Bay Construction
Cotton of Houston
M.L. Deer Construction Co. LP
Elite Apartment Services Inc.
Fire Restoration Inc.
Flavor Finish Resurfacing
Harco Insurance Services
Holden Roofing
Hou-Tex Paving Company LLC
SEALS...Sales Experts &
Leasing Specialist
Texas Turf Management
USI Energy Inc.
Vincent’s Roofing Inc.
2009
ABM Security Services
ARS/Rescue Rooter
Admired Exteriors
American Concrete Flooring
Solutions
American Services
Arrow Towing
Asset Management & Billing
Services
Bio-Techs
Blackwell & Sons Construction LLC
Bulls Eye Storage
Carpet Giant
Contractors Inc.
Cornell & Pardue
DK Distributors dba dPi Energy
Delaney’s Roofing & Restoration
Energy Waterproofing &
Roofing Systems
FITT Telecommunications Inc.
Garner Environmental Services Inc.
Heavenly Works Construction LLC
Historic & Commercial PS LLC
ICO Uniforms
IES Residential
Stephen Kiser Public Adjuster
Kustom Ohio Inc.
Legato Construction Services
Manley Lawn & Landscape
Marcus & Millichap Real Estate
Investment Services
Merchandising Masters Interiors
Metro Mini Storage Inc.
Moen Inc.
Moon Shepherd Baker Insurance
Morrison & Morrison
Joe Ochoa Roofing Inc.
Orange Sun Builders &
Development
Rafail Insurance Group
Service Response Team Inc.
Southern American Insurance
Agency Inc.
Terrace Views
Triumph Parking Lot Maintenance Inc.
Western Restoration Services
AFFILIATES
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
VOLUME 33, ISSUE 1
Executive Vice President and Publisher JEFF HALL, CAE [email protected]
EDITORIAL STAFF
Director of Publications and Design DEBORAH NIX [email protected]
Managing Editor RACHEL ZOCH [email protected]
ADVERTISING
Director of Supplier Services AMANDA SHERBONDY [email protected]
CONTRIBUTING STAFF
Vice President and General Manager SUSAN HINKLEY, CAE [email protected]
Vice President of Events and Meetings CARA JOHNSON, CMP [email protected]
Vice President of Professional Development EMILY HILTON, CPP [email protected]
Vice President of Public Affairs ANDY TEAS, CAE [email protected]
Controller NANCY LI LO, CPA [email protected]
Director of Facility Services LANA SHILLER [email protected]
Director of Form Sales FRANCES TORRES [email protected]
Director of Information Technology MARY PARKHOUSE, CAE [email protected]
Director of Member Services LISA BUTLER [email protected]
Director of Resident Relations MATILDE LUNA [email protected]
Education and Meetings Manager KIRSTEN DEAGEN [email protected]
Public Affairs Specialist AIMEE BERTRAND ARRINGTON [email protected]
Resident Credit Reporting Manager LUISA AREVALO [email protected]
Webmaster and IT Specialist WILL ALFARO [email protected]
PRINTER
TGI PRINTED www.tgiprinted.com
HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES
COMMITTEE
Program & Budget Committee
Nominating Committee
Ethics Committee
Investment Committee
Leadership Lyceum
Fair Housing Committee
By-Laws Committee
PAC Fundraising Committee
Legislative Committee
HAA Better Government Fund
Century Club
Developers Committee
Multifamily Fire Safety Alliance
Product Service Council
Community Outreach Committee
Media Relations Committee
Resident Relations Appeals
Resident Relations Committee A
Resident Relations Committee B
Membership Committee
Ambassador Club
IROC Committee
Education Advisory Council
Career and Community Development
ACES Committee
Golf Tournament Committee
RCR Advisory Task Force
HAF Fund-raiser
2010 Expo Committee
Technology Committee
CHAIR
KIM SMALL
BETH VAN WINKLE
EILEEN SUBINSKY
TREY STONE
BETH VAN WINKLE
PAT TOLLETT
JOHN RIDGWAY
TBA
KIM SMALL
STACY HUNT
BETH ROHANI
TBA
LARRY HILL
JEFF BLEVINS
KATHY CLEM
TREY STONE
DARLENE GUIDRY
GEORGEANNE LONGORIA
STACI MCMILLAN
JENIFER PANERAL
M.J. FEATHERSTON/LISA GRIMES
RON AST
MACK ARMSTRONG
KAREN NELSEN
MICHELLE GATES
ROGER CAMP
JENIFER PANERAL
DEBBIE SULZER/MINDY PRICE
MICHELLE BRIDGES-PAHL
JULIE MARIE IRVIN
STAFF ADVISOR
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
JEFF HALL
ANDY TEAS
ANDY TEAS
ANDY TEAS
ANDY TEAS
ANDY TEAS
ANDY TEAS
SUSAN HINKLEY
AIMEE ARRINGTON
AIMEE ARRINGTON
MATILDE LUNA
MATILDE LUNA
MATILDE LUNA
LISA BUTLER
LISA BUTLER
EMILY HILTON
EMILY HILTON
EMILY HILTON
KIRSTEN DEAGEN
CARA JOHNSON
CARA JOHNSON
CARA JOHNSON
AMANDA SHERBONDY
WILL ALFARO
HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION MISSION AND VISION
HAA is the leading advocate, resource and community partner for quality rental housing providers
in the Houston and surrounding area. HAA is a highly visible and proactive organization which:
• Offers on-demand resources using cutting edge technology • Cultivates active, diverse membership
and community partnerships • Provides wide-ranging legislative and media advocacy
• Promotes career and workforce development through innovative education
Visit HAA Online at www.haaonline.org
ABODE IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE HOUSTON APARTMENT ASSOCIATION.
Serving the multihousing industry in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Harris,
Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Waller and Wharton counties.
ABODE, JANUARY 2010, VOLUME 33, ISSUE 1
ABODE (USPS 024-962) is published monthly by the Houston Multi Housing Corporation. Publishing,
editorial and advertising offices are located at 4810 Westway Park Blvd., Houston, Texas 77041. Telephone
713-595-0300. The $50 annual ABODE subscription rate is included in all member dues and additional
subscriptions are available. The annual subscription rate is $50 for members, $65 for non-members.
Advertising rates are available upon request. Contributed material does not necessarily reflect the views and
opinions of the Houston Apartment Association. Copyright © 2010 by HAA.
Periodicals Postage Paid at Houston, Texas.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ABODE, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., Houston, Texas 77041.
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
5
The
The Houston
Houston Apartment
Apartment Association
Association cordially
cordially invites
invites you
you to
to witness
witness and
and celebrate
celebrate the
the installation
installation
of the
2010
President,
Officers,
Board
of Directors
andand
Product
Service
Council
Officers
and to
of the
2009
President,
Officers,
Board
of Directors
Product
Service
Council
Officers
toast the first celebration of HAA’s 50th Anniversary year
Installation
NewYear
&Gala2010
2009
Event Sponsors:
Friday, January 22
Hilton Americas - Houston
1600 Lamar, George Bush Ballroom
Cocktail Reception at 7 p.m.
Dinner at 8 p.m.
Dancing from 9 p.m. to Midnight
Music by Password
$75/person, $750/table of ten with company name by January 11
$95/person, $950/table of ten with company name after January 11
Black Tie Optional
American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted in person, over the
phone and by fax. Notice of cancellation is required two days prior to the event for a
refund, less a $10 administrative fee. All no-shows will be billed. For reservations and
information, contact the Education & Meetings Department at 713-595-0300,
[email protected] or online at www.haaonline.org.
AAA Plumbers
Apartments.com
Apartment Data Services
Apartment Finder
Apartment Guide
Century A/C Supply
CORT Furniture Rental
Craven Carpet
FSI Construction
Hardman Signs
Hire Priority Staffing/Executive Search
Houston Pest
J&L Distributors
MAB Flooring
Prevenient Cleaning Solutions
Resident Data
TPI Inc.
TXU Energy
Tenify
Ygnition Networks
Keepsake Photo Sponsors:
Ameristar Screen & Glass
Crestmark Construction
Champagne Toast Sponsors:
Direct Energy
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
By
DAVID JONES, CPM, 2010 HAA President
Happy 50th!
2010 President David Jones looks forward to a year of celebration
and achievement.
We have met
and mastered
a number of
challenges over
the years, and
I have many
great examples
to follow as I
accept this leadership role.
H
ow exciting to serve the Houston
Apartment Association and its members
this year as we celebrate 50 years of success! We have met and mastered a number of challenges over the years, and I
have many great examples to follow as I accept this
leadership role.
Congratulations and thanks are due to all our past
presidents and officers, especially Beth Van Winkle,
our 2009 president; the Executive Council, the Board
of Directors, the Product Service Council and all of our
committee chairs; as well as all of our members who
make this organization what it is. Thank you all for
your service to HAA and the industry.
Let’s make this a year of growth and good news for
the industry as our economy heals. Get involved with
a committee or attend a new event. Recruit a new
member or introduce yourself to someone who’s new
to HAA. Our relationships are what make us successful,
and there’s no better place to forge those ties than
HAA. There’s also no better source for the latest industry information, whether it be a new city ordinance or
an ingenious marketing strategy. See the calendars on
Pages 20 and 21 for upcoming opportunities.
I look forward to celebrating with everyone at the
Gala on the 22nd (see Page 6 at left), and I am eager to
begin work on another year of success and service with
HAA. Here’s to another fantastic 50 years!
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
7
PATRON OF THE MONTH
JANUARY’S PATRON
These companies have
generously supported the
Houston Apartment
Association with their
patron membership.
Please give them careful
consideration, whenever
possible, in your business.
8
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Houston Planned Energy Systems
Royal Plumbing Supply
HAA Member since 1978
Republic Services
MAB Flooring Inc.
Presto Maintenance Supply
AAA Plumbers
Coinmach
Whirlpool Corporation
Texas Apartment Locators
Apartment Guide
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
By
KIM SMALL, CPM, HAA Legislative Committee Chair
ANDY TEAS, CAE, Vice President of Public Affairs
with
Register Now
The city’s new inspections ordinance requires registration of apartment
properties by January 31.
Make sure you’ve
entered this
information
online by the
end of January,
and make sure
you print and
post a copy of
your registration
in the property’s
leasing office.
H
ouston’s new property inspection ordinance requires all Houston properties
with three or more units to register with
the City of Houston by January 31. The
good news? It’s free of charge, it’s all
online and it’s not that difficult once you have the
information that’s required. Here’s what you need
before you start:
Certificates of Occupancy – You need ALL the certificates of occupancy for each property. Every building has one, and it’s supposed to be posted in the
management office. If your property has eight buildings, you’ll need eight COs so you can enter the numbers when you register. If your property has current
COs (life safety inspections were completed back in
the 1990s, etc.), but they’re missing, you can purchase
replacements by calling the Occupancy Inspection
Section at 713-535-7730.
HCAD Account Number – Each property has an
account number with the Harris County Appraisal
District. Get it by going to www.hcad.org and searching
for your property by street address in the “Real Property
Search” section under “Record Search.”
Unit Mix – You need to know the number of units of
each bedroom type in each building.
Fire Hydrants – You need to know the total number
of fire hydrants on your property.
Swimming Pools – Know the number of pools, if any.
Occupancy – Know the current occupancy percentage of the property.
Date Opened – Know the date, or at least the year,
the property opened for business.
Pay Phones – Know the number of pay telephones,
if any, on the property.
Contact Information – For the owner, management
company and manager. You do NOT need to enter
home addresses or telephone numbers.
Make sure you’ve entered this information online by
the end of January, and make sure you print and post a
copy of your registration in the property’s leasing office.
ATTENTION-GETTING DEVICES
This is old news to most ABODE readers, but a new
attention-getting devices ordinance takes effect this
month. “Attention-getting devices” include many of
the banners, streamers and balloons used by some
apartment properties. Here are some things to know
about the new requirement:
• “Bandit signs” and other advertising in the public
right-of-way remain a violation of the law, as they have
always been.
• The ordinance bans “attention-getting devices,”
which are defined as “devices erected, placed or maintained outdoors so as to attract attention to any commercial business … including, but not limited to … banners; cut-out figures; discs; festooning, including tinsel,
strings of ribbons and pinwheels; inflatable objects,
including balloons; non-governmental flags; pennants;
propellers; steam- or smoke-producing devices; streamers; whirligigs; wind devices; blinking, rotating, moving,
chasing, flashing, glaring, strobe, scintillating, search,
flood or spot lights; or similar devices.”
• If it’s permitted as a sign, it’s not an attentiongetting device. In other words, if you mount a banner
on plywood, you can get a city permit for it as a “wall
sign” and change the banner as often as you like.
• “Governmental flags” are exempt as a matter of
free speech. If you want to fly twenty flags of our state,
our nation or any other state or nation (Seychelles has
an eye-catcher, and Libya’s is just a solid green rectangle), the city can have nothing to say about it. Get a
permit to put up the flagpoles.
• The fine is $300-$500 per violation, per day, and
the city is going to want to make an example out of
somebody early on. Let it be somebody else.
• Lawsuits from used car dealers and giant inflatable
gorilla-rental companies are likely. We’ll keep you posted.
NEW STATE LAWS
Last year, the Texas Legislature made several
statewide changes that take effect this month. Here are
four to keep in mind:
Utility Disconnections – Starting this month, utilities can only be disconnected for “bona fide repairs,
construction or emergencies.” This has long been the
case for water, but it will now apply to electricity as
well, so disconnecting electricity for non-payment in a
master-metered property will no longer be allowed.
Visual Smoke Detectors – Under another new law,
See LEGISLATIVE, Page 16
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
9
IT’S THE LAW
By
HOWARD BOOKSTAFF, Hoover Slovacek LLP , HAA General Counsel
Beware of Repairs
Court intervention is more likely now that a new law governing
habitability lawsuits is in effect.
A new law that
took effect
January 1 allows
residents to seek
an expedited
court order
when an owner
fails to meet its
statutory obligations to repair or
remedy conditions in a unit.
I
n the last legislative session, much focus was
given to addressing substandard housing. Last
month, we outlined a new City of Houston
inspection ordinance that was necessitated by
a state law requiring the city to establish a
program of inspections. We have previously discussed new laws that prohibit electricity cut-offs and
another law that sets up a procedure whereby a city
can appoint a receiver for hazardous properties.
Another law that took effect January 1 allows residents to seek an expedited court order when an
owner fails to meet its statutory obligations to repair
or remedy conditions in a unit. Let’s take a look at
how the new law may affect you.
WHEN DOES AN OWNER HAVE A DUTY
TO REPAIR?
The statutory obligation of an owner is in
Subchapter B of Chapter 92 of the Texas Property
Code, which is known as the “habitability subchapter.” Pursuant to Section 92.052 of the habitability
subchapter, an owner is required to make a diligent
effort to repair or remedy a condition if:
(i) the resident specifies the condition in a notice;
(ii) the resident is not delinquent in the payment
of rent; and
(iii) the condition materially affects the physical
health or safety of an ordinary resident or arises
from the owner’s failure to provide and maintain in
good operating condition a device to supply hot
water of a minimum temperature of 120 degrees
Fahrenheit.
When does an owner become liable for failing to
repair or remedy conditions in a unit?
Pursuant to Section 92.056 of the habitability subchapter, an owner is liable to a resident if:
(i) the resident has given the owner notice to
repair or remedy a condition;
(ii) the condition materially affects the physical
health or safety of an ordinary resident;
(iii) the resident has given the owner a subsequent
written notice to repair or remedy the condition
after a reasonable time to repair or remedy the condition has expired (this second notice is not required
if the first notice was sent via certified mail);
(iv) the owner has not made a diligent effort to
repair or remedy the condition after the owner
received the resident’s notices; and
(v) the resident was not delinquent in the payment of rent at the time the notices were given.
Can an owner be held responsible for failing to
repair if the owner is not liable under the statute?
Yes. The habitability statute does not restrict a resident’s right to pursue an action in the event that
the owner was negligent with respect to its failure to
repair. However, the statutory remedies afforded a
resident under the habitability subchapter would
only be available in the event that the owner is
liable for failing to repair under the statute.
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENT’S REMEDIES
WHEN AN OWNER FAILS TO REPAIR?
Pursuant to Section 92.056 of the habitability subchapter, a resident to whom an owner is liable may:
(i) terminate the lease;
(ii) repair the condition and deduct the cost of the
repair from the resident’s rent; and
(iii) obtain certain judicial remedies. The procedure
SEMINAR
Choose your day.
Choose your program.
Thursday, February 18 or Thursday, February 25. Full day or afternoon executive sessions. See Page 25 for details.
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JANUARY 2010
11
IT’S THE LAW
under which the resident is entitled to pursue judicial
remedies is the subject of the new law that took
effect January 1.
You should be
taking the same
steps that you
should have
always been taking: Document
repair requests
and responses to
those requests.
WHAT ARE THE RESIDENT’S JUDICIAL REMEDIES?
Pursuant to Section 92.0563 of the habitability
subchapter, a resident’s judicial remedies include:
(i) an order directing the owner to take reasonable
action to repair or remedy conditions;
(ii) an owner reducing the resident’s rent in proportion to the reduced value of the unit;
(iii) a judgment against the owner for a civil
penalty of one month’s rent plus $500;
(iv) a judgment against the owner for the amount
of the resident’s actual damages; and
(v) court costs and attorneys’ fees.
WHAT IS THE NEW PROCESS FOR A RESIDENT
TO RECOVER JUDICIAL REMEDIES?
Under the old law, a justice court did not have
jurisdiction to issue an order directing the owner to
take action to repair or remedy the condition. Under
the new law, the justice court is given this authority.
Additionally, under the new law, if a suit is filed in a
justice court requesting relief for any of the statutory
judicial remedies of the resident, the justice court is
required to conduct a hearing not earlier than the
sixth day after the date of service of citation and not
later than the 10th day after that date. A justice
12
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
court’s authority to issue an order of repair is limited
to a repair that costs $10,000 or less.
The Texas Supreme Court has adopted rules of
procedure to facilitate the proper filing of a suit
brought under the new law. The rules set forth a
procedure whereby a resident has the right to an
expedited hearing within the time frame required by
the new law. It should be also noted that, if an
owner is not happy with a ruling from the justice
court, the owner has the right to appeal the justice
court judgment to the county court without the
necessity of posting an appeal bond. If an appeal is
perfected, the judgment of the justice court will not
be enforceable until the appeal is resolved.
Additionally, pursuant to the new rules, if a
judgment for the owner for possession becomes
final, any order to repair a condition is vacated
and unenforceable.
WHAT CAN I DO TO MINIMIZE PROBLEMS?
You should be taking the same steps that you
should have always been taking: Document repair
requests and responses to those requests. Hopefully,
your documentation shows how residents have
asked for issues to be addressed and how you have
resolved those issues. Make sure that work orders are
legible and signed so that if you are ever accused of
See LAW, Page 16
RESIDENT RELATIONS
From the
RESIDENT RELATIONS COMMITTEES
Ike Who?
A resident claims hurricane-victim status to delay paying rent and disputes her eviction.
A
resident filed a complaint with HAA
to dispute charges, stating that she
was a victim of Hurricane Ike and
not able to pay her November rent.
The resident assumed the property was working with her because of her communication
with them. She had applied for and was waiting to hear about FEMA assistance.
MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSE
The manager stated that she came to the
property in December 2008 and that the resident had resided there since April 1992. The
last lease she had signed expired on July 30,
2000, and she had continued her occupancy
on a month-to-month basis.
The resident’s November rent became delinquent, and an eviction was filed. The resident
told management she was waiting on FEMA
paperwork to pay her rent. She was informed
that the program for assistance was ending
and that she needed to register with DHAP.
14
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
The manager stated that she then realized that
the resident’s apartment had not been damaged by Ike; it was her place of business.
On November 14,, the eviction was granted.
On January 12, a writ of possession was filed.
The resident did not make any attempt to
make payment arrangements with the property to pay monies owed. The property was
granted the writ of possession on January 26.
Management stated that the resident’s furniture was removed by the constable from the
court where the eviction was filed and that a
week later, the apartment was trashed.
On February 11, 2009, the property manager received a phone call from the Dispute
Resolution Center advising her of a hearing in
reference to the resident. The manager told
the DRC that the resident was a former tenant
and that an eviction and writ of possession
had been granted. Both parties agreed that the
resident would have to pursue the dispute in
court and that there would be no hearing.
Management believed the resident was
charged accordingly. Enclosed were copies of
the lease, move-in condition form, application
and deposit disposition.
THE COMMITTEE’S DECISION
The committee decided in favor of management with adjustments made on the monies
owed. The resident had lived on the property
for 20 years, and management did not provide
pictures to support the charges. The move-out
cost schedule provided by management had
not been signed by the resident. The committee noted that the charges should be based on
the most recent valid lease provided by management. The committee’s adjusted charges
include rent for three months at $225, $5 for
unreturned keys and $115 for cleaning, minus
the resident’s $50 security deposit.
After adjustments, the resident owes the
property $745. The resident may wish to pursue this complaint in small claims court.
LEGISLATIVE, continued from Page 9
an apartment owner must provide a visual
smoke detector at the owner’s expense for a
hearing-impaired resident.
Lease Termination for Sexual Assault –
This law creates lease termination rights for
certain crime victims if an assault occurred
within the previous six months at the property and specific documentation is provided.
Lease Guarantors – The new TAA lease
will reflect this, but another new state law
prevents lease guarantors from being obligated beyond the initial lease term under certain circumstances.
Go to www.haaonline.org for more information about any of these new requirements.
Have a question? Call 713-595-0300 and
ask for Andy Teas or Aimee Arrington.
LAW, continued from Page 12
failing to repair you will be able show when
you responded, what you did and who performed the work.
Residents have a number of outlets to
report an owner who fails to do the right
thing. If a resident abuses the system by
making unfair or inappropriate claims that
the owner has failed to repair, the owner
wants to be in the best position to defend
itself by showing what was requested and
what was done.
Both the city and state have made it clear
how important it is to comply with your
obligations to repair conditions on an apartment property. Be sure that your policies
and procedures are in place to effectively
receive and respond to requests for repairs.
NEED FORMS
or CLICKS?
Call us today!
Contact our Form Sales
department at 713-595-0317
or send an e-mail to
[email protected].
16
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
t
’
n
o
D
.
.
.
a
t
s
e
Si
Fiesta!
Grab your sombrero and join us for a Sponsorship Fiesta!
You’ll have a chance to grab a HOT sponsorship and a cool margarita!
Spice up your company outreach by sponsoring the Industry Achievement Awards, Volleyball, Bowling,
2010 Expo, Dinerstein Golf Tournament, ACES Programs (formerly SOAPS) and numerous educational
seminars and events!
Sponsorship Auction
Wednesday, January 27
Registration at 3 p.m.
Live Auction begins 3:45 p.m.
You won’t have to go south of the border! Come to
the Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center
upstairs from the HAA office, 4810 Westway Park
Blvd. off Clay Road just east of Beltway 8.
New Suppliers: Come early
for Auction 101. An orientation for
new suppliers. Learn how the auction
process works and learn more about the
events for sale. Begins at 2:30 p.m.
The event is free for supplier members.
Please R.S.V.P. to Amanda Sherbondy.
Contact Amanda at 713-595-0316, e-mail
[email protected] or visit
www.haaonline.org online.
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
17
Go
d
l
o
G
e
h
t
for
with HAA events in 2010!
Mark your calendars for these great networking
opportunities in 2010, as HAA celebrates 50 years
of excellence!
January
12
2010 Market Outlook Seminar
19
Education Kick-off Event
22
Installation and New Year Gala
27
Sponsorship Auction
28
HAA Board Meeting
30
Membership Campaign Finale Meeting
Industry Achievement Awards
NAA Education Conference & Expo – New
Orleans
Sponsorship Auction
February
11-12 TAA Quarterly Board Meeting & Committee
Meetings – Dallas
16
Rescheduled Pink Ladies Golf Tournament
24
Membership Recruitment Boot Camp
July
9
22
28-30
March
7-10
19
24
25
29
August
TBA
HAA’s 50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
TBA
Business Exchange
April
6, 20
7
21-24
May
5, 26
6-7
7
19
19
18
June
3
17
24-26
JANUARY 2010
NAA Capital Conference – Washington, DC
Volleyball Tournament
Membership Campaign meetings
HAA Board Meeting
Bill Dinerstein Memorial Golf Tournament –
Sweetwater Country Club
4th Annual Maintenance Mania
TAA Education Conference & Lone Star Expo
– Houston
Maintenance Supply Headquarters HAA/
AAGD Challenge Cup Tournament
All-Star Sports Challenge
HAA Education Conference & Expo – Reliant
Center, Hall D
HAA Board Meeting & Executive Seminar
at the Education Conference & Expo
ABODE
Bowling Tournament
HAA Board Meeting
TAA Quarterly Board Meeting & Committee
Meetings – Corpus Christi
September
23
HAA Board Meeting
TBA
Fall Golf Tournament/PAC Fundraiser
October
20-22 TAA Quarterly Board Meeting & Committee
Meetings – San Antonio
30
20th Annual Chili Cook-off
November
11-13 NAA Assembly of Delegates – Indianapolis
17
Annual Business Meeting & Board Meeting
17
HAA Board Meeting
December
TBA
Volunteer Appreciation Party
Please note: Dates are subject to change.
See www.haaonline.org for the most up-to-date
calendars and registration information.
UPCOMING COURSES
S
chedule and fees are subject to change without prior notification.
Notice of cancellation is required two days in advance to receive
a refund, less a $10 administrative fee. Seats are guaranteed on a
first-come, first-served basis when payment and registration are
received in advance of the program. Unless otherwise indicated,
courses are held in either the Camden and Michael Stevens Interests
Room or the Direct Energy and Liberty Personnel & Executive Search
Room at the Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center, 4810 Westway
Park Blvd. on the second floor of the HAA Office Building. Seating is
January
Market Outlook Seminar
Tuesday, January 12
8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
$35 if paid by January 6;
$40 after January 6
Join HAA and a panel of leading
industry executives as we provide a
market outlook and consider local
and national trends for 2010.
CAPS: Legal Responsibilities
& Risk Management
Friday, January 15
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$249 per module
Sponsored by Ygnition Networks
The Legal Responsibilities & Risk
Management course is a
comprehensive survey of
employment, rental and contract
law affecting the multifamily
housing industry, as well as a review
of key environmental and safety
regulations and a brief section to
help students establish their own
risk management programs.
2010 Education Kick-Off:
50 Ways to Wow Your Residents
Tuesday, January 19
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$99 after January 8
Sponsored by Apartments.com
and For Rent Media Solutions
This session explores strategies to
cultivate an environment that gets
residents to stay and pay! See Page
22 for more details.
Microsoft Outlook Exchange
Time Management
Wednesday, January 20
8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
$75 per person; due by January 20
For many people, Microsoft
Outlook is one of their most
frequently used programs, yet they
understand only a fraction of its
features. Spend a couple hours of
hands-on instruction with Julie
Marie Irvin and learn property
management-specific applications
and hidden secrets, tools and tips
for Microsoft Outlook. This session
is perfect for anyone at any level.
Leasing 101
Tuesday, January 26
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
$75 after January 19
Sponsored by Hardman Signs
Learn more about the industry as a
career. Topics covered include
greeting and qualifying the
customer, presenting the lease, an
overview of Fair Housing and more.
IROC Breakfast
Friday, January 29
7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Free to members;
$25 non-members
Sponsored by FSI Construction
February
NALP I: Keys to Success
Tuesday, February 2
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Program fee: $325
Modules may be taken as standalone seminars at $65 each.
Students will hear about career
prospects, characteristics of an
effective leasing consultant, job
responsibilities, goal setting and
market and product knowledge.
From the
HAA EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
limited. You must pre-register. A registration form for all courses and
seminars listed here is on Page 25. For more information, contact the
Education & Meetings Department at 713-595-0319 or 713-595-0314
or register online at www.haaonline.org.
Notice to Attendees: All pre-registered no-shows will be billed. For
admittance into HAA/HAF events, payments will be required at the
door if not received prior to the event. Start times listed below include
a 30-minute registration period. Notice of cancellation is required two
days prior to the event for a refund, less a $10 administrative fee.
NALP II: Telephone Presentations
Tuesday, February 2
12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Program fee: $325
Learn to prepare for telephone
presentations with effective phone
skills, active listening, telephone
etiquette, objectives of the
telephone contact, initial leasing
questions and more.
APPLE Core Session I:
Telephone to Traffic –
Increase your Conversions
With Lisa Trosien
Thursday, February 4
8:30 a.m. to noon
$50 per person; annual series
subscriptions available
Sponsored by BG Personnel
What’s the key to successful leasing
phone calls? How do you start the
relationship sale, pre-qualify the
prospect and begin the assumptive
close all at the same time? Learn
the answers to these questions as
well as domino questions, address
selling and how to ask personal
needs questions.
NALP III: Leasing Interview
& Qualifying Residents
Tuesday, February 9
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Program fee: $325
Topics covered in this session
include first impressions, how to
greet a prospective resident,
conducting the leasing interview,
understanding the prospective
resident’s reason for moving, the
leasing notebook, Fair Housing
issues and more.
NALP IV: Leasing Demonstrations
& Overcoming Objections
Tuesday, February 9
12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Program fee: $325
Discover the key components of a
successful leasing tour that results
in closing a lease. Learn the
important skills in demonstrating
the feature-benefit-emotional
appeal approach, how to conduct a
successful tour, safety tips for the
leasing demonstration, Fair Housing
implications, when closing begins,
the dynamics of an effective leasing
presentation, resolving objections,
leasing signals, closing techniques
and the all-important follow-up.
Blue Star Program
7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Greenspoint Mall
“Eclipse” Entrance
12400 North Fwy. (I-45N)
$35 if paid by February 10;
$45 at the door
Sponsored by Flagship PDG
NOTE: A property must be located
within the City of Houston to be
Blue Star certified.
NALP V: Leasing & The Internet
Tuesday, February 16
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Program fee: $325
The role of the Internet in leasing
has become a necessary field of
study for today’s successful leasing
professional. Learn how to make
the most of this powerful tool.
See EDUCATION, Page 24
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
19
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JANUARY
S M T
W
T
3 4 5 6 7
10 11 12 13 14
17 18 19 20 21
24 25 26 27 28
31
F
1
8
15
22
29
S
2
9
16
23
30
January 2010
Events
Education
Meetings
1
12
6
21
Offices Closed – The HAA Offices
will be closed on Friday, January 1,
in observance of the New Year’s
holiday.
Market Outlook Seminar –
Tuesday, January 12, 8 a.m.
to 10 a.m.
Expo Committee – Wednesday,
January 6, 8:45 a.m.
Product Service Council –
Thursday, January 21 at noon.
Contact Susan for details at
[email protected] or
713-595-0313.
7
15
14
HAA Next Mixer – Thursday,
January 14, 5:30 p.m. at
Vintropolis Wine Bar, 10001
Westheimer (in the Carillon
Center). See www.haaonline.org
for details.
22
Installation and New Year
Gala – Friday, January 22,
7 p.m. at the Hilton Americas
downtown. See Page 6 for details.
CAPS: Legal Responsibilities
& Risk Management –
Friday, January 15, 8:30 a.m. to
5 p.m. Sponsored by Ygnition
Networks.
19
2010 Education Kick-Off: 50
Ways to Wow Your
Residents – Tuesday, January 19,
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. See Page 22
for details. Sponsored by
Apartments.com and For Rent
Media Solutions.
27
Sponsorship Auction –
Wednesday, January 27 at 3 p.m.
See Page 17 for details.
Log on to register!
Look for this icon and
register for the event
at www.haaonline.org
BGF Luncheon – Thursday,
Register at www.haaonline.org.
13
Ambassador Club – Wednesday,
January 13, orientation for new
members at 3:30 p.m., full meeting at 4 p.m. Contact Lisa for
details at [email protected]
or 713-595-0322.
26
Leadership Lyceum Session 1 –
Tuesday, January 26, 11:30 a.m.
to 1 p.m. Contact Susan for details
at 713-595-0313 or shinkley@
haaonline.org.
28
Legislative Committee –
Thursday, January 28, 3:30 p.m.
13, 27
Resident Relations Committees –
Wednesdays, January 13 and 27,
at 3 p.m.
Board of Directors – Thursday,
January 28, 4:30 p.m.
20
Microsoft Outlook
Exchange Time
Management – Wednesday,
January 20, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
18
BGF Luncheon – Monday,
Register at www.haaonline.org.
26
Leasing 101 – Tuesday,
January 26, 8:30 a.m. to
3 p.m. Sponsored by Hardman
Signs.
29
IROC Breakfast – Friday,
January 29, 7:30 a.m. to
10 a.m. Sponsored by FSI
Construction.
Unless otherwise noted, all events meet at our Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center, 4810 Westway Park Blvd., second floor,
in either the Direct Energy and Liberty Personnel & Executive Search Room or the Camden and Michael Stevens Interests Room.
20
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEBRUARY
S M T
1 2
7 8 9
14 15 16
21 22 23
28
W
3
10
17
24
T
4
11
18
25
F
5
12
19
26
S
6
13
20
27
February 2010
Events
Education
9
2
16
6
New Supplier Orientation –
Tuesday, February 9 at 3 p.m..
Contact Amanda for details at
[email protected] or
713-595-0316.
NALP I: Keys to Success –
Tuesday, February 2, 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. See Page 24
for details.
NALP V: Leasing & The
Internet – Tuesday, February
16, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Expo Committee – Wednesday,
February 3, 8:30 a.m.
16
Pink Ladies Golf Outing –
Tuesday, February 16 at Longwood
Golf Club, 13300 Longwood Trace
in Cypress. This event raises money
for the American Cancer Society
specifically for breast cancer
research. Contact Susan for
details at 713-595-0313 or
[email protected].
24
Membership Recruitment Boot
Camp – Wednesday, February 24,
9:30 a.m. For details, contact Lisa
Butler at 713-595-0322 or
[email protected].
NALP II: Telephone
Presentations – Tuesday,
February 2, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
See Page 24 for details.
4
APPLE Core Session I:
Telephone to Traffic –
Increase your Conversions with
Lisa Trosien – Thursday, February
4, 8:30 a.m. to noon. Series subscriptions available; see Page 22.
Sponsored by BG Personnel.
9
NALP III: Leasing Interview
& Qualifying Residents –
Tuesday, February 9, 8:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. See Page 24 for details.
NALP IV: Leasing Demo &
Overcoming Objections –
Tuesday, February 9, 12:30 p.m. to
4 p.m. See Page 24 for details.
11
Blue Star Program –
Thursday, February 11, 7:30
a.m. to 4 p.m. at Greenspoint Mall
(“Eclipse” Entrance), 12400 North
Fwy. Sponsored by Flagship PDG.
Meetings
9
NALP VI: Rental Policies &
Procedures – Tuesday,
February 16, 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Ambassador Club – Tuesday,
February 9 at 4 p.m. Contact Lisa
for details at [email protected]
or 713-595-0322.
18
TAA Redbook Seminar: Full
Day – Thursday, February 18,
for details. Sponsored by
Apartment Guide.
10, 24
Resident Relations Committees –
Wednesdays, February 10 and 24,
at 3 p.m.
10-12
TAA Redbook Seminar:
Executive Edition – Thursday,
February 18, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. See
Page 25 for details. Sponsored by
Apartment Guide.
TAA Quarterly Board Meeting –
Wednesday-Friday, February 1012, in Dallas. Visit www.taa.org
for details.
24
23
NALP VII: Legal Aspects –
Tuesday, February 23, 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. See Page 24.
25
Leadership Lyceum Session 2 –
Wednesday, February 24, 9:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. at Houston City
Hall, 901 Bagby. Contact Susan
for details at 713-595-0313 or
[email protected].
TAA Redbook Seminar: Full
Day – Thursday, February 25,
for details. Sponsored by The
Liberty Group.
TAA Redbook Seminar:
Executive Edition – Thursday,
February 25, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. See
Page 25 for details. Sponsored by
The Liberty Group.
26
Meetings located at the HAA Offices, 4810 Westway Park Blvd.,
first floor, will be held in the Redi Carpet and Winograd
Families/Judwin Properties Conference Room.
CAPS: Financial
Management – Friday,
February 26, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
21
2010 Education Kick-off
Tuesday, January 19
50 Ways to WOW
Your Residents
with Terry Jackson
HAF Dinerstein Reed Prokop Education Center
Registration and breakfast – 8:30 a.m.
Program – 9 a.m to noon
Program Fee: $79 if payment received by January 8;
$99 thereafter
Job loss. Better Incentives. Now more than ever, your
residents are looking to save money and cut costs even
if that means giving up their apartments. This session
explores tried-and-true techniques and strategies to
cultivate the environment that gets residents to stay …
and pay!
Get ready to take action and change the way you grow
and maintain your resident base. Managers, leasing
professionals and the service team are invited to come
kick off the year with an action plan to retain residents
and revenue. Don’t miss it!
Sponsored by
Apartments.com and
Be there to help HAA launch its 50th Anniversary Year with a
BANG!!
Get SMART in 2010
Pick an APPLE Workshop
APPLE features some of the best nationally acclaimed speakers
in the industry. Individual sessions are priced at only $50 each,
a real steal for quality education.
Annual Property Subscriptions with unlimited attendance to all
sessions are also available at discounted prices:
• Only $199 per year for properties with less than 200 units
• Only $399 per year for properties with more than 200 units
CORE
February 4
Telephone to Traffic: Increase
Your Conversions
with Lisa Trosien
Leadership
March 18
Leave it to Leadership
with Wendy Rae Walker
March 9
High Speed E-Leasing
with Rebecca Rosario
July 13
Going Global
with Rebecca Rosario
April 6
Spring Cleaning for Your
Leasing Techniques
with Leah Brewer
October 21
Delivering Constructive
Feedback
with Lori Snider
June 15
Deal or No Deal:
How to Close Every Sell
with Jason Loughridge
Marketing
May 6
Small Budget, Big Results
with Lisa Trosien
September 23
Small-Town Service
with Wendy Rae Walker
November 9
Show and Sell
with Leah Brewer
$50
$199
$399
$50
$199
$399
$50
$199
$399
$50
$199
$399
August 17
Mad, Mad, Marketing World
with Lori Snider
October 7
Resident Retention:
Drip Marketing Works!
with Susan Wells
Maintenance
April 13
Do it Yourself:
Start Saving Money Tomorrow!
with Mark Cukro
September 14
An Update on
Maintenance Codes and Laws
with Don Willard
November 11
Communication Performance
with Mark Cukro
Get a jump on 2010 and enroll today. Contact the HAA Education Department at
[email protected] or register online at www.haaonline.org.
APPLE is sponsored by
Register online at
EDUCATION, Cont’d from Page 19
NALP VI: Rental Policies
& Procedures
12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Program fee: $325
Topics covered in this section
include efficient handling of rental
policies and procedures, application
verification, rejecting an application,
the resident processing checklist,
the three basic elements of a
contract, elements of a lease
agreement, loophole-free leases, the
move-in process, resident relations
and Fair Housing implications.
TAA Redbook Seminar: Full Day
(includes Executive Edition)
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$149 after February 15
Sponsored by Apartment Guide
Get caught up on changes in the
law as noted in the updated TAA
Redbook. See Page 25 for details.
TAA Redbook Seminar: Executive
Edition (afternoon only)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by Apartment Guide
This half-day seminar will help
busy executives get caught up on
changes in the law. See Page 25
for further details.
NALP VII: Legal Aspects
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Program fee: $325
This detailed module covers crucial
elements such as basic Fair Housing
laws, filing a Fair Housing complaint,
discrimination, prohibited practices,
familial status, the Americans with
Disabilities Act, Fair Housing testers,
additional leasing procedures that
avoid discrimination, resources for
Fair Housing information, the Equal
Credit Opportunity Act, criminal
background checks, resident safety
practices and emergency contact
situations.
TAA Redbook Seminar: Full Day
(includes Executive Edition)
8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by The Liberty Group
Get caught up on changes in the
law as noted in the updated TAA
Redbook. See Page 25 for details.
WWW.HAAONLINE.ORG
TAA Redbook Seminar: Executive
Edition (afternoon only)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sponsored by The Liberty Group
This half-day seminar will help
busy executives get caught up on
changes in the law. See Page 25
for further details.
CAPS: Financial Management
Friday, February 26
8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Program fee: $249 per module
The Financial Management course
helps students become fluent in
the financial concepts, terminology,
formulas and ratios commonly
used in the multifamily housing
industry. The emphasis is on
showing students how to maximize
income and manage expenses for
their properties.
Register online at www.haaonline.org or call 713-595-0300 for more information.
Show your leasing professionals a
bright and promising future with
24
Program Objective: To enhance the skills of
the apartment leasing professional, resulting in
better informed, highly professional individuals
with increased lease activity and improved resident relations.
Course Schedule:
Morning Sessions:
8:30 a.m. – Check-in
and registration
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Program
Designation Requirements:
To qualify for the NALP program,
candidates must:
• Possess at least six months of leasing
experience;
• Complete all seven NALP modules;
• Receive a passing score of at least 70 percent
on the comprehensive online exam;
• Complete and pass a written and oral market
survey project.
Students who complete the requirements will
receive a national certificate and pin.
Candidates are allowed one year from the date
of application to meet all program requirements. If the requirements are not met in the
time allotted, an extension fee of $50 must be
paid to NAA to extend candidacy for one year.
For a more detailed synopsis of individual
course content, please visit the education page
of our Web site at www.haaonline.org.
Afternoon Session:
12:30 p.m. – Check-in
and registration
1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Program
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Total Program Cost:
$325 (includes admission and textbooks
for all seven modules)
Individual modules may be taken as standalone seminars at $65 per module.
NALP Course Calendar and Descriptions:
NALP I: Keys to Success
Morning Session
Tuesday, February 2
Tuesday, October 5
NALP II: Telephone Presentations
Afternoon Session
Tuesday, February 2
Tuesday, October 5
NALP III: Leasing Interview/
Qualifying Residents
Morning Session
Tuesday, February 9
Tuesday, October 12
NALP IV: Leasing Demonstration
Afternoon Session
Tuesday, February 9
Tuesday, October 12
NALP V: Leasing & The Internet
Morning Session
Tuesday, October 19
NALP VI: Rental Policies & Procedures
Afternoon Session
Tuesday, October 19
NALP VII: Legal Aspects
Morning Session
Tuesday, October 26
NALP VII: Market Survey Presentations
and Exam (no cost)
Afternoon Session
Tuesday, October 26
SEMINAR
Choose your day.
Choose your program.
Thursday, February 18 or Thursday, February 25
Full Program:
Registration – 8:30 a.m.
Program – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Program Fee – $149 (includes lunch)
$20 Early Bird Discount if payment is received by February 15
Executive Edition only:
Registration – 12:30 p.m.
Program – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Program fee – $99
$20 Early Bird Discount if payment is received by February 15
Morning session topics (9 a.m. to noon)
• Getting the most out of the Redbook
Discover hidden treasures in the new Redbook from experienced
attorneys. This section offers a quick review of basic leasing, eviction
and other elemental aspects of managing rental property.
• Forms review
In 2009, most of TAA’s leases and addenda were revised. Learn about
these changes and how they affect your day-to-day operations as
instructors review the most often used and important forms.
Executive Edition (1 p.m to 4 p.m.)
• Legislative and regulatory changes
Get an in-depth explanation of all federal and state statutory and regulatory changes since the last Redbook revision, particularly regarding
landlord/tenant issues like guarantor rights and disclosures, lease termination and habitability and appraisal reform. With ample opportunity
for questions and answers, this discussion will provide details about
what members need to know regarding law changes addressed in the
new Redbook.
Presented by
Howard Bookstaff,
HAA General Counsel
• Detailed review of legal issues
Learn about laws that experienced practitioners need to understand
and discuss laws that you probably have never heard of but can cause
problems if you don’t know about them.
• On the horizon
For more information, contact the HAA Education
Department at 713-595-0300, e-mail [email protected]
or visit www.haaonline.org online to register.
Discuss emerging issues that may affect your business, such as
inspection ordinances, the 2009 International Fire Code, electric meter
tampering and dealing with bed bugs.
Sponsored by Apartment Guide and The Liberty Group
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JANUARY 2010
25
INDUSTRY UPDATE
From the
NATIONAL APARTMENT ASSOCIATION
and the
NATIONAL MULTI HOUSING COUNCIL
Playing it Safe
Apartment operators remain cost-conscious when it comes to salary increases,
according to an NMHC survey.
A
partment companies continue to
be restrained in their plans to
increase salary budgets for 2010,
according to a “Pulse Check” survey of compensation budgets from NMHC.
NMHC’s up-to-the-minute “Pulse Check”
survey is a special supplement to the group’s
comprehensive annual compensation and
benefits survey. The follow-up survey examines salary increase projections since data was
collected in April 2009 for the comprehensive annual survey.
employee groups. Bonuses may also be
adjusted, and respondents are more likely to
reduce or eliminate them for exempt
employees. Only 8 percent are planning to
limit bonuses for non-exempt staff, compared to 19 percent for exempt non-executives and 22 percent for executives.
“The apartment industry, like most other
sectors, continues to tightly manage expenses
in the economic downturn, and this includes
employee compensation,” said Betsy Feigin
Befus, NMHC vice president of employment
policy. “Other cost-containment strategies
Notably, the extension was enacted despite
widespread agreement among economists on
both sides of the political spectrum and a
number of high-profile newspaper editorials
criticizing the credit as bad economic policy
that cost taxpayers up to $43,000 for each
additional house sale it stimulated.
HUD TARGETS LGBT DISCRIMINATION
HUD has announced a proposal to ensure
that people do not face discrimination in
HUD rental programs (public housing and
Section 8 vouchers) due to sexual orientation
KEY FINDINGS
Companies are slightly more likely to
grant salary increases in 2010 than they
were in 2009. The number of firms that do
not plan to raise executive salaries decreased
from 75 percent in 2009 to 63 percent in
2010. For managers and other non-executive
professionals, 42 percent of firms are not
planning salary increases in 2010, compared
to 46 percent in 2009. For non-exempt
employees (such as on-site and hourly corporate staff), 35 percent are not planning
raises in 2010, a slight improvement over
2009’s 38 percent.
Not all companies are planning to forgo
salary increases. For example, nearly 18 percent said they plan to give 3 percent increases to non-exempt employees in 2010.
Nineteen percent of companies expect to
give a 3 percent raise to exempt non-executives. Thirteen percent plan a 3 percent raise
for executives in 2010.
NMHC’s “Pulse Check” survey is based on
data provided by 107 apartment firms
between October 14 and 31, 2009. More than
90 percent of the companies that participated
in the online survey identified themselves as
privately held; about 9 percent said they are
publicly traded organizations. Survey results
are available at www.nmhc.org/goto/5493.
COST CONTROLS
Apartment firms are planning to implement a variety of cost-containment strategies
in 2010. Notably, about 20 percent of respondents plan to freeze salaries for at least some
26
JANUARY 2010
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The apartment industry, like most other sectors, continues
to tightly manage expenses in the economic downturn,
and this includes employee compensation.
reported by some firms include salary reductions, position eliminations and layoffs,
modifications to medical plan coverage and
conditioning bonuses on community performance or overall corporate profits.”
HOMEBUYER TAX CREDIT RENEWED
On November 6, President Obama signed
legislation extending the homebuyer tax
credit, which had been due to expire at the
end of November. Importantly, lawmakers
rejected calls to dramatically expand the
credit. Proponents of the credit originally
proposed increasing the credit to $15,000,
expanding it to all homebuyers and extending it until the end of 2010.
Instead, the final bill expands the credit
through April 30, 2010, retains the $8,000
limit for first-time buyers, creates a smaller
$6,500 credit for step-up buyers who have
been in their primary residence for five years
and increases the qualifying income cap to
taxpayers earning up to $125,000 ($250,000
for couples).
NAA and NMHC provided lawmakers with
analysis and other economic commentary
noting the flaws in the homebuyer tax credit
as they negotiated their compromise. This
helped slow the momentum to enact an
overly generous homeownership incentive.
or gender identity.The proposal would apply
only to HUD-subsidized apartments and
would not add sexual orientation or gender
identity as protected classes under the Fair
Housing Act.
HUD is also launching a nationwide study
to determine the extent to which lesbian,
gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals and couples experience discrimination in
their search for housing. More information is
available at http://tinyurl.com/yf6jm5k.
E-VERIFY PROGRAM EXTENDED
THREE YEARS, REMAINS VOLUNTARY
The FY 2010 homeland security appropriations bill signed into law (PL 111-83) in
October includes a provision extending the
federal government’s E-Verify employment
verification system for three years and retaining it as a voluntary program. NAA and
NMHC continue to oppose efforts to make
the flawed E-Verify system mandatory.
An earlier version of the measure would
have made E-Verify permanent and would
have allowed employers to use E-Verify to
check current employees, not just new hires
as is currently permitted. The legislation
seems to conflict with a Department of
Homeland Security regulation that went into
effect in October requiring federal contractors
to verify the legal status of some of their existing employees using E-Verify.
CHANGES PROPOSED TO EPA
RENOVATION, REPAIR & PAINTING RULE
The EPA has issued a proposed rule that
would amend its Lead-Based Paint Renovation,
Repair and Painting rule in order to comply
with a legal settlement of a lawsuit filed
against the agency by the Sierra Club and
other advocacy groups. The regulations, which
are set to go into effect in April 2010, create
new compliance obligations for market-rate
and affordable pre-1978 properties not certified as lead-free.
The proposed rule would require third-party
renovators to provide apartment residents and
the building owner with records demonstrating
compliance with the rule’s training and work
practice requirements. It would also weaken the
requirements for becoming a certified trainer.
In a second matter related to the settlement,
the EPA has been petitioned by a coalition of
organizations to lower the trigger for complying with lead-based paint regulations by
changing the definition of lead-based paint to
be paint that has 600 parts per million of lead
instead of the 5,000 ppm standard used now.
NAA and NMHC filed comments objecting to
the revised definition, noting that it would
result in significant expense to apartment
providers and would invalidate the hundreds
of millions of dollars’ worth of testing already
performed on multifamily properties based on
the current definition.
NMHC AND NAA ANNOUNCE
CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP
NMHC and NAA announced in November
that they have agreed to continue their joint
legislative program, working together to represent the apartment industry for at least the
next three years.The Joint Legislative
Program’s 2010 priorities will include:
• Ensuring the industry’s continued access
to capital.
• Securing workable and cost-effective building energy efficiency standards .
• Opposing proposals to triple the taxation
on a general partnership’s promote (or “carried
interest”).
• Opposing the Employee Free Choice Act
(“card check”).
For the latest news on these and other national
issues, visit www.naahq.org/governmentaffairs/
Pages/default.aspx and www.mnhc.org.
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JANUARY 2010
27
MEDIA ROUNDUP
with
By TREY STONE, Media Relations Committee Chair
AIMEE ARRINGTON, HAA Public Affairs Specialist
Facing Facebook
Here are some tips for properties on using this social media giant.
Since Facebook
seems to be one
of the most popular sites among
HAA member
properties, here
are a few things
to think about
when creating
your presence
on that site.
M
any companies are experimenting
with Facebook and other social
media platforms. For apartment
industry professionals, that means
making some decisions on how
your properties’ brands will be managed and by who.
Since Facebook seems to be one of the most popular sites among HAA member properties, here are a
few things to think about when creating your presence on that site.
• Consider creating a fan page for your site. Fan
pages should be safer for properties to use in terms of
heading off potential Fair Housing complaints,
because you don’t have the chance to exclude individuals from becoming fans.
• Take a look at the Facebook terms of use
before you get started. Recently, many businesses
have lost their profiles (and thus their hard-earned
“friends” database), due to violations of the terms of
use. These violations may include running contests
through the site (you must use a third-party application) or creating a “friend” profile for a business entity (you must create a fan or group page).
• Focus on content. Many properties make the
mistake of using sites like Facebook purely to try to
broadcast specials. When posting information, honestly ask yourself if it is something you would value
receiving from a friend. By focusing on community
activities and seeking to engage your residents in
online conversations, you will be more likely to have
many individuals touting your good works. If your
aim is solely to advertise your property, investing in
online ads may be more meaningful for your effort
than taking the time to engage through user profiles.
These ads are relatively inexpensive and can be targeted toward users in certain geographic areas, of
certain ages, etc.
• Check out the competition. Social media is all
about learning and communicating with others.
There are great examples of communities getting
engaged online already, so put your spin on what you
like best and avoid the things you don’t.
• Resources. Check out www.mashable.com for constantly updated information on how to use Facebook,
Twitter and other social media platforms. Talk with
your peers on Twitter on the weekly #aptchat live
tweet chat at 3 p.m. on Friday afternoons. Ask
questions or connect with other HAA members on
the Houston Apartment Association Facebook group
page and keep up with the latest news on the HAA
ABODE Magazine fan page. Call HAA if you have
questions at 713-595-0300. Ask for Aimee, Amanda,
Deborah, Emily or Lisa.
FIRE SAFETY UPDATE
Our annual fire safety press conference with the
Houston Fire Department was a phenomenal success.
Every English and Spanish language television station
attended the event. Many media outlets ran long stories featuring the demonstrations provided by firefighters on making apartments and homes safer during the holidays. HAA also had the opportunity to
spread the word about our 2009 fire safety magnets.
The magnets are generously sponsored by TXU
Energy and Maintenance Supply Headquarters, and
approximately 12,000 fire safety magnets have
already been distributed this fall. Thanks to these
sponsorships, the magnets are available for free to
HAA member properties. You can pick up magnets at
the HAA Office at 4810 Westway Park Blvd. Please call
ahead to reserve your fire safety magnets by contacting Aimee Arrington at [email protected].
Visit the new and improved
HAAOnline.org for calendars,
registration, news and more!
28
JANUARY 2010
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PHOTO ALBUM
Photos from the
FALL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Event: HAABGF Fall Golf Tournament
When: November 9
Where: BraeBurn Country Club
HAA members hit the links to raise
funds for the Houston Apartment
Association Better Government Fund.
Many thanks to our generous sponsors:
Lunch
Building EMTs
On the Spot
Dinner
Best Plumbing
Wilmar
Ygnition Networks
Awards
MAB Flooring
Maintenance Supply Headquarters
Beverage Stations
AAA Plumbers
Craven Carpet
Beverage Carts
Practice Range
Perfect Surface
Closest to the Pin
Crestmark Construction
Longest Drive
Perfect Surface
Putting Contest
FlagshipPDG
Hole Sponsors
Access Electric
Ameristar Screen & Glass
Blackmon Mooring
Certified Recovery Systems
Dixie Carpet
HD Supply
Hire Priority
J&L Distributors
The Liberty Group
Pavecon
Perfect Surface
Pittsburgh Paints
TPI Inc.
30
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Photos by
MARK HIEBERT
and
CHUCK WILSON, Hiebert Photography
Congrats to our tournament winners:
Closest to the Pin
Matt Smith
Longest Drive
Todd Smith
Putting Contest
Ryan Weiss
First Place Team
Michael Bright, Bobby Jones
and Doug Jones
Second Place Team
Dwain Capodice, Stacy Hunt,
Craig Lafollette and Ryan Terrell
Third Place Team
Dale Clifford, Scott Gilchrist,
John Hill and Steve Mclhenny
Fourth Place Team
Bill Brzozowski, Dick LaMarche,
Rick Pippin and Kevin Williams
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JANUARY 2010
31
PHOTO ALBUM
32
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Photos from the
FALL GOLF TOURNAMENT
Photos by
MARK HIEBERT
and
CHUCK WILSON, Hiebert Photography
Shed some
light
on bad debt
with RCR.
For more information on how to
boost your collection of bad debt,
contact RCR Manager Luisa
Arevalo, 713-595-0329 or
[email protected].
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JANUARY 2010
33
David, left, with his
twin brother Devin
34
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Photo by Mark Hiebert/Hiebert Photography
Jones in
his high
school
days
On
The
D
of Success
Beginning Another
Move
avid Jones is not the kind of
person to sit and wait for
change. He looks for opportunities to make things happen, whether leaving
the family farm, revitalizing a national cattle
breeders association or making the next smart
property deal.
FROM THE FARM TO THE CITY
Jones grew up in Iowa on a farm as one of
five siblings. He loved being with his family
but detested farm work and worked to find a
different future for himself.
“The Midwest was great and everything,
but I hated the farm. I hated farm work,” he
said. “I joined every extracurricular activity I
could so that there’d be functions after
school to get out of chores. I never intended
to stay on the farm. … As soon as I was out
of college, I was getting below the freeze line
and not going back.”
The town’s small high school offered several
strong business courses, so Jones focused on
those and found an opportunity to continue
his business studies at Arizona State
University, where he earned a marketing
degree in 1981.
His marketing coursework led him to the
property management industry through a
two-year research project on an outdoor
mall in Scottsdale, Ariz. As Jones approached
graduation and began interviewing for marketing jobs around the country, he found
out that JMB, the company managing the
mall property, was offering property management internships.
2010 HAA President
David Jones has built
his career by seizing
opportunities and
accepting challenges.
By
RACHEL ZOCH, HAA Staff
“It was just kind of a natural
Daytona Beach,
that I would interview with them,
1996
so I ended up being selected to go
to work for them in a management training program,” he said.
“There was a choice of four or five
cities. They were in Chicago, back
in the Midwest in the cold, and
Tennessee and scattered for a while, and I was
there was Denver and there was Atlanta and
just going primarily to Florida. I’d work in the
there was Houston, and you didn’t get to pick,
office here on Mondays and fly to Florida on
but there were a lot of cities available.”
Monday nights. … In ’94, my expense
GONE TO TEXAS
account for flying on Continental alone was
Houston was last on Jones’ list, and that’s
$40,000, and that’s when it was evident that it
exactly where he landed. He started on-site
was time to open an office in Florida.”
with JMB straight out of college and stayed
So he opened the Florida office for the
with the company 17 years, starting on the
company, by this time known as Heitman
leasing desk and working his way up
Financial. But things had changed. The
through the ranks, learning about every
company’s multifamily operations continaspect of the business along the way. He’s
ued to dwindle, and Jones had put down
also stayed in Houston ever since, even leavroots in the Houston area. He faced a
ing a position in Florida to return to his
choice: Texas or Florida.
adopted hometown.
“I had several houses that I’d bought
When Jones started, JMB was one of the
here during the ’80s, during the foreclosure
largest syndicated property management comboom, and I had my little acreage with my
panies in the country. Its 60,000-plus units
animals, and when I moved to Florida, my
represented a huge portfolio in those pre-REIT
brother moved into my house,” he said.
days, and eventually Jones supervised proper“So it was either time to get rid of that stuff
ties in multiple states. The company endured
or to come back full time, and I never really
a number of mergers and acquisitions during
wanted to be in Florida, although I loved it
his tenure, however, most of the multifamily
while I was there. You rode motorcycles
portfolio was sold by the late 1990s.
every single day of the week, year round.
“In the end, there was almost nothing left
It was fun, but it just wasn’t really my
in Houston,” Jones said. “We’d gone from
lifestyle. I decided I was not going to be
three or four supervisors here to one, and so I
the last one out of Florida, turning off
started commuting. I had properties in
the lights, so I started interviewing.”
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JANUARY 2010
35
NEW COMPANIES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Photos, clockwise from top left:
Jones’ first job at the Louisville Apartments
in 1981; At the 1997 HAA Volleyball
Tournament with Jean Hagstrom and
Deborah Holcombe; With his family in
1994; Fishing for giant grouper with his
brother Devin, Arrie Colca, Tamara
Fleckenstine and Cesar Lima in 2005; With
the Sueba/Southhampton team at the
grand opening of the Ventura Lofts.
36
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Several companies had openings in Texas, but Jones was looking for a
place specifically in Houston, and it took him a while to find one. He
found his way back with Winthrop Management, a company based in
Boston, where he was reunited with Deborah Holcombe (then Parker),
with whom he had previously done business. He also began his involvement with HAA.
“He had a very matter-of-fact and fair approach to dealing with people
and work, a quality I greatly admired,” Holcombe, now with GFI, said.
“He told me once that I had to learn to work smarter and not harder.
This one statement helped me change and improve my management
style and approach. I have carried this lesson with me to this day. ”
Jones enjoyed working with Winthrop, but the fun was short-lived, as
Winthrop also began selling off its multifamily assets shortly after Jones
joined the company.
“I was there probably about three months, maybe a little bit more, and
they announced they were selling their entire portfolio,” he said, laughing. “The good news was they had a very lucrative stay bonus, and so
everybody stayed through the end, which took about another three or
four months, so I ended up being there about eight months.”
He then interviewed with Sueba, a smaller, Houston-based company
that was still growing, building about one deal a year and working up to
two. It wasn’t a fit for Jones, who was looking for the fast-paced environment and challenges of a larger company, and he accepted a position
with Equity Residential.
“Finally I got to where I really was trying to get, which was with a
REIT,” he said. “Everything was great there. Kim Small was there –
I’d known Kim for years, so it was a great fit, very cutting-edge, totally
different from my background. … It was different, but it was exciting.
It was fun again.”
Small, now with The Morgan Group, praises Jones’ strong business
skills and engagement with property operations at all levels.
“He knows all aspects of property management, from rehabs to new
development,” she said. “… He is proactive, open to new ideas, strong at
relationship building and hard-working. He has spent his entire life running several businesses – not just real estate investment, but agriculture
as well. He juggles it all. I don’t think he ever sits still.”
Indeed, Jones would soon make another change when, after about
eight months with Equity, opportunity knocked once again.
“I got a phone call from Pam Hughes, who was the president at
Southhampton,” Jones said. “Her husband had accepted a position in
Dallas. They were transferring, and she wanted me to come back and
interview for her position at that time. Those positions as the head of a
management company don’t come along all that often. There’s not a lot
of turnover in there. If you look back at the Kirk Tates and the David
Hargroves, they’ve been in their positions for a long time, and there’s just
not turnover at that level.
“So even though it was still a smaller company, it was exciting, and
they were gearing up, trying to get to a point where they were doing two
deals per year. They had their strong European backing with the investors
that bought the properties. They were actually syndications again, which
the Europeans are still doing. … But it was something different. I had
never worked for anybody that was building, so it was exciting to do
them from the ground up.”
Jones joined Sueba in July 1998, just in time to open the leasing office
at San Montego on Eldridge – his first-ever lease-up after nearly two
decades in the business – and he relished the opportunity to handle a different facet of the business. He had also become active in HAA, recruiting
new members and serving as co-chair of the chili cook-off.
JOINING THE HAA FAMILY
“When I moved back from Florida is really when I started getting
involved,” he said. “… I started out with membership drives and chili.
Both of those were really my big events: membership drive and chili. I
chaired chili for what, three years at least? It’s just a great event, and it
kind of speaks for itself by the attendance we get.”
Before long he was asked by Darlene Guidry and Eileen Subinsky,
members of HAA’s nominating committee, if he would be interested in a
place on the executive ladder, and he was installed as treasurer in 2006.
“David was extremely involved with the association and had been for
a number of years. He had his company involved quite a bit and seemed
to be a very good leader,” said Darlene Guidry, Hettig Management, a
past president who helped recruit Jones as an officer. “… You have to
have people who love the association as much as the rest of us and put
effort and time into it, in my opinion, to be on the executive committee.
It’s not just the person or the management company. It has to be somebody that has a passion for HAA and volunteerism in our industry, which
of course, is what helps make us successful.”
Jones enjoys his job, and he enjoys his involvement with the association, which he calls a “huge family” with strong loyalties.
“I’ve always enjoyed the industry. It’s never been drudgery,” he said.
“… It seems crazy that you can have a half-million apartments and it
be a small industry, but people stay in it, whether they’re on the vendor side or the owner side. Everybody that we associate with on a daily
basis are people that we’ve been associating with for the past 10, 15, 20
years. So it really is just a huge family. I guess that’s why people stay. It
is easy to get to know everyone. It’s relationship-building, you know.
Your vendors that you use are people you’ve built a relationship with,
you trust them, you tend to follow them. If they leave and go to a new
employer, if it fits a need that you have, you tend to stay with them
because of those relationships.”
Arrie Colca, Craven Carpet, is one vendor who counts Jones as a close
friend, and she met him at an HAA membership drive event.
“I was brand-new to the industry, and David invited me to sit down at
their table to be part of their team,” she said. “He’s always been one of
those that reaches out to new members and tries to bring them in close
to the industry and help them get started. He invited me to be part of
their team, and from that point on, we’ve been friends ever since. … I
just remember how friendly and open he was and how he thought so
highly of what the association stood for and how he encouraged me to
get more involved. Then he became my mentor.”
Colca says working with Jones taught her the importance of acting
with integrity and understanding what management clients need, as well
as what the association does for its members and for the industry.
“You’ll never meet a more honest guy or somebody that has more
integrity than he does and who really cares about what happens to the
other guy,” she said. “He’s very encouraging to all the new members that
come in, and he’s always willing to try to use one of the new members.”
Colca believes her friend’s passion for a job well done will serve the
association and the industry well during his term.
“He truly respects the people he works for,” she said. “He truly respects
the people he works with. He’s totally dedicated to success and seeing
things get done in an honest and amicable way for everybody. … He really does care about the industry. He pays attention to everything that happens politically, financially, and always watches the bottom line.”
GOOD ADVICE: GET ACTIVE
Jones not only pays attention, he takes action, and he says that
engagement, whether with the association or simply in your day-to-day
work, is the secret to success in this business.
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JANUARY 2010
37
“It’s what we say over and over – there’s only a benefit if you get
involved,” he said. “That’s the key. Just being a member, having a plaque
on your front door or something, isn’t going to get you anything. It’s a
networking, relationship-building group, and that’s how you’re going to
prosper from it. We hear that over and over at these membership drives
and stuff, but it’s so true. The business isn’t going to come to you. …
They’ve got to get out there and network and be in front of people.
Get active on committees.”
Jones is known for making introductions and facilitating relationships
between established and new members. Indeed, he sees it as the duty of
those who recruit.
“I think the people who are active in recruiting and stuff do a pretty
good job of saying, ‘Hey, when you see me at an event, come up and I’ll
introduce you to the people that I’m with at that time,’” he said. “That’s
our job. … Then they have to reciprocate, and they have to show up,
and then they’ll grow, but I think we do a pretty good job of that. We’re
pretty easy to get to know.”
Colca, who considers Jones her HAA mentor, says he genuinely cares
about the success of the new members he recruits.
“He’s very encouraging to all the new members that come in,” she
said, “and he’s always willing to try to use one of the new members.”
Jones credits his peers in the association with providing strong examples for those just starting out in the business.
“Look at all the great people we have,” he said. “You can pick up the
phone and call any of them and network and share information, and
there’s no one that’s not going to take the time to do that. But then
you’ve got your peers, too … that are just great examples for people that
want to come up through the association and be active. They lead by
example as well. … I guess it’s obvious that those people that have been
here are fun to be around, they’re helpful, they’ll go out of their way to
do anything for you that they can, and I just think that’s inherent in the
type of person that’s successful in the industry.”
Jones lives by that spirit of giving above and beyond and believe that a
job half done is not worth the effort.
“If you’re not going to give 100 percent and do your absolute best at
any project, why do it?” he said. “And if you’re not giving 100 percent
over any length of time, you’re not going to be happy anyway.
Eventually you’re going to make a change, or somebody’s going to make
a change for you. You have to pull your weight and you have to participate and contribute.”
WHAT NOT TO DO
Photos, from top left: With Joe
Kaye on the farm with a llama
mother and baby; A typical
Dexter brood cow; Skydiving
with Devin, Dawn Rippley,
Arrie Colca and Jason Lavrack;
Flying through the sky; Jones
with Joe Kaye in Belize and
Buenos Aires.
Jones made his contribution to another association as a recent past
president of the American Dexter Cattle Association, a group he joined
to register the cattle he and his twin brother, Devin, raise. Jones never
intended to participate beyond simply registering the cows, but turmoil
in the association spurred him to take action.
“The association started having a lot of struggles in 2001, and so I
went to my first annual general meeting,” he said. “… In the middle of
the annual general business meeting, they stood up and dissolved the
association, and it split into two associations.”
The American Dexter Cattle Association quickly refiled in Delaware
and kept the name, and the group that split off became the Purebred
Dexter Cattle Association.
“I remember calling my brother on the cell phone from the meeting,
saying, ‘Get ready, because we may be selling all the cows next week,’
because if they’re not registered, there’s no value in them. Ultimately, we
joined both associations until we figured out which one was prominent.”
After the split, Jones became more active in the ADCA, attending
See DAVID JONES, Page 72
38
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
2010 HAA OFFICERS AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS
2010 OFFICERS
David Jones, CPM
President
David Jones has been president of Southampton
Management since 1998, overseeing approximately
2,800 multifamily units and three additional communities
currently under construction. Jones began his career in
property management in 1981, immediately after graduating
from Arizona State University with a degree in business.
For 17 years, Jones worked with JMB, which merged with
Heitman Financial and then Kennedy Wilson in the mid1990s, followed by positions with Boston-based Winthrop
Management and Equity Residential prior to joining
Southhampton.
Jones holds the Certified Property Management
designation from the Institute of Real Estate Management and
serves as treasurer and a board member for Avenue
Community Development Corp., a nonprofit organization
providing affordable housing in the Washington Avenue
corridor and the near Northside. The corporation’s most
acclaimed project has been the renovation of the old
Jeff Davis Hospital into low-income rental lofts, built in
collaboration with Art Space.
Jones’ hobbies include deep-sea fishing and raising
miniature horses, miniature donkeys and Irish Dexter Cattle
in partnership with his twin brother, Devin.
DAVID JONES
PRESIDENT
KIM SMALL
PRESIDENT-ELECT
JENIFER PANERAL
VICE PRESIDENT
MACK ARMSTRONG
SECRETARY
TREY STONE
TREASURER
40
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Kim Small, CAPS
President-elect
Kim Small is senior vice president/director of national operations for the Morgan Group. Prior to joining the Morgan
Group, Small was vice president of the central region of management operations for Alliance Communities. She was
responsible for approximately 13,000 fee and owned units.
For most of Small’s career, she was associated with Gables
Residential as regional vice president responsible for thirdparty operations in Texas, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Small
joined Gables in 1989 when it was a private company under
the name of Trammell Crow Residential and was heavily
involved in lease-ups and fee-managed properties. Her expertise in marketing and lease-up strategies helped to achieve
quick stabilization and position the assets for sale. Her ability
to deliver a high degree of service and successful financial
performance in the properties gave owners great satisfaction
in their increased value of their assets. Small also led the
customer service board for Gables, which helped the
company win national property awards in SatisFacts’ annual
resident surveys in 2005.
Small’s previous career highlights includes roles with Harry
Reed & Co., Hettig Management Corp. and Equity
Residential.
Small is a Certified Apartment Property Supervisor. She is
also a member of Commercial Real Estate for Women and
attended the University of Houston, where she studied
interior design.
Small enjoys spending time with her husband, Russ, and
children Kirbie, Heather and Jason. When she isn’t with her
children, you’ll find her and Russ trying to sneak in a round
of weekend golf before the kids wake up.
Jenifer Paneral, CPM
Vice President
Jenifer Paneral, CPM, is vice president of property
management at Concierge Asset Management. She
earned a degree in business administration, management
and home economics from Minnesota State University
in 1979. In addition, she is a Certified Property Manager
and holds a Texas Real Estate Broker’s License.
Paneral has more than 26 years of experience in the
multi-housing industry, including 11 years with Alliance
Residential Management as senior vice president and 10 as
a vice president with SCG Realty Services. She was named
Executive of the Year in 2001 by the Houston Apartment
Association. She serves as a board member and treasurer for
the association and works with the media relations and
budget committees. She also serves as a board member for
TAA. Paneral also has worked with HAA’s Resident Credit
Reporting service.
Originally from Iowa, Paneral came to Houston to
begin her real estate career with Lincoln Property Company.
She and her husband, Michael, have been married for 20
years and have three children: Zachary, 18; Tudor, 11; and
Dora, 10.
Mack Armstrong, CPM
Secretary
As a regional vice president of operations for Greystar,
Mack Armstrong has oversight of all facets of property operations for a business unit consisting of approximately 12,000
multifamily units within the central region. His responsibilities
include oversight of six regional property managers and a
marketing director. Armstrong has 15 years of multifamily
experience, working closely with clients in asset evaluation
during acquisitions, implementing value-added strategies and
Class A new construction projects.
He has been a Greystar team member for eight years in the
Houston market. Previously, Armstrong held the position of
vice president of operations with Greystone Asset
Management, where he gained operating experience in various markets, including Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte and Phoenix.
He also served as a financial management officer in the
United States Air Force, where he was responsible for the
administration of a $100 million operating budget.
Armstrong is a graduate of Texas A&M University and is an
IREM Certified Property Manager. He is the chairman of the
HAA Investment Committee.
Armstrong is married with three children, Alexa, Austin
and Aden, and he spends most of his time coaching and
attending baseball and basketball games, tennis tournaments
and choir concerts.
2010 HAA OFFICERS AND NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Trey Stone
Treasurer
Trey Stone, president and chief executive officer of Guardian
Equity Management, is the founder of the Guardian Equity
group of companies, having overseen the acquisition and
management of each property held in the company’s portfolio. His background includes real estate finance and acquisition
for independent real estate owners and operators. His contributions and achievements have received national and local
recognition with his selection as the 2008 Paragon Award
recipient by the National Apartment Association for the
Independent Rental Owner of the Year and the Houston
Apartment Association 2007 Independent Rental Owner of the
Year award. He actively serves on the Texas Apartment
Association Technology Task Force as its chair. Stone is also
chair of the HAA Investment Committee, 2009 member of the
TAA and NAA Independent Rental Owners Committees and
chair of NAA’s Independent Rental Owner Task Force.
Stone is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with
a BBA in finance.
McGrath was most recently recognized in the Journal of
Property Management’s “30 Under 30” in the September
2009 issue.
NEW 2010 BOARD MEMBERS
Debbie Sulzer, ARM
Debbie Sulzer is vice president of the Texas division for
Francis Property Management. Since coming to the Texas
market in 2004, Francis Property Management has grown by
nearly 3,000 units in the state.
Sulzer is a 26-year industry veteran and began her career
in the multifamily industry in 1983 while still in college.
She is an active HAA volunteer. She is co-chair of the 2009
and 2010 HAF Fundraiser Committee and is a member of
the Go-Getter Club. Sulzer is also an HAA Leadership Lyceum
graduate and is a member of the Society of Apartment
Property Supervisors and the HAABGF Steering Committee.
Sulzer is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and
holds her Texas Real Estate License and is an Accredited
Residential Manager with IREM.
She is also proud mom of two teenage boys: Tyler, who is
attending Sam Houston State, and Travis, a high school junior. Sulzer is a Christian and loves spending time outdoors.
Mike Kaplan
Mike Kaplan, Kaplan Management Company, has 32 years
of experience in multifamily acquisition, development, management and construction.
Kaplan began his career in a supervisory role with the
Finger Companies, where he was responsible for managing
6,000 multifamily units. As an owner and operator during
the past 23 years, Kaplan has overseen all activities including
acquisition, market analysis, site selection, financing, construction, disposition, advertising, public relations and coordination of property management.
Kaplan is a member of HAA, NAA, NMAA and IREM
and has served as chairman of the Westchase Advisory
Committee and is a director of Champions Bank in Houston.
Ryan McGrath, CPM, CCIM
Ryan McGrath, vice president of Asset Plus Companies,
works in the acquisitions/dispositions and business development divisions of Asset Plus. Since being at Asset Plus, he has
earned his Texas Real Estate Broker’s License, CCIM designation and CPM designation, and he has become an active
member of the Urban Land Institute.
Prior to his work at Asset Plus, McGrath worked in the
investment banking division of Goldman Sachs, where he
earned his Series 7 license. He graduated with honors from
Vanderbilt University in three years, while competing on the
varsity soccer team. He earned a bachelor’s degree in
Economics with minors in financial economics and corporate
strategy. During the completion of his degree, McGrath
studied international finance and international trade at the
London School of Economics. He continued his education in
Spanish and cultural studies while participating in intensive
immersion programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina and
Montevideo, Uruguay.
Kurt Siedel, CPM
As a vice president for Lincoln Property Company, Kurt
Seidel currently supervises approximately 6,000 units in
Houston. Prior to joining Lincoln Property Company, he served
as a regional vice president assigned to United Apartment
Group’s multifamily portfolio. He also has served as an investment manager for Pinnacle in San Antonio.
Seidel has more than 15 years of experience in property
management, having supervised a variety of multifamily
owned and fee-managed assets throughout Texas, Arizona
and California.
Seidel earned his bachelor of science in management from
the University of Houston and earned the Certified Property
Manager designation from IREM and is a licensed sales associate with the California and Texas departments of real estate.
He has served as the president of the San Antonio Apartment
Association and served on the boards of TAA and NAA as well.
MIKE KAPLAN
NEW BOARD MEMBER
RYAN MCGRATH
NEW BOARD MEMBER
KURT SIEDEL
NEW BOARD MEMBER
DEBBIE SULZER
NEW BOARD MEMBER
2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Beth Van Winkle,
Immediate Past
President
Josh Allen
Brian Austin
Gene Blevins
Jeff Blevins
Kyle Brown
Kathy Clem
Ernest Etuk
John Fedorko
Kevin Fenn
Paula Forshee
Darlene Guidry
Alison Hall
David Hargrove
Larry Hill
Mike Kaplan
Barby Lake
Theresa Lamar
Ryan McGrath
Etan Mirwis
Michelle BridgesPahl
Velissa Parmer
Jackie Rhone
John Ridgway
Beth Rohani
Kelly Scott
Kurt Siedel
Trey Stone
Eileen Subinsky
Debbie Sulzer
Vicki Summitt
Sal Thomas
Suan Tinsley
Starla Turnbo
Vic Vacek Jr.
Debbie Webre
Tony Whitaker
Jerold Winograd
Michelle Ybarra
DIRECTORS
EMERITUS
Gary Blumberg
Al Bradley
Roger Camp
ABODE
Jack Dinerstein
Billy Griffin
Jenard Gross
Hap Hunnicutt
Stacy Hunt
Mike Koch
Nora Krakower
Dick LaMarche
Cesar Lima
Tim Myers
John Moore
P. David Onanian
Stephen Sweet
Kirk Tate
H. J. Tollett Jr.
Patrick J. Tollett
JANUARY 2010
41
2010 PRODUCT SERVICE COUNCIL OFFICERS
Jeff Blevins, CAS
President
Jeff Blevins is
president of Camp
Construction Services.
A native Texan, Blevins
was born in Houston
and is a graduate of
Deer Park High School.
Blevins attended the University of Houston,
where he majored in education and minored in
economics. After graduating, he accepted a job
with the Katy Independent School District as an
economics teacher and football coach.
Though Blevins enjoyed working with student
athletes, after several years of teaching he was
ready for a new challenge and accepted a sales
job with MAB Flooring. He also worked for Rasa
Floors before moving to his current position at
Camp Construction Services.
Blevins has been a member of HAA since he
entered the apartment industry eight years
ago. From the beginning he has been an
active member, starting as a member of the
Ambassador Club and later joining the Expo
Committee, Community Relations Committee,
Better Government Fund and the Community
and Career Development Committee. He was
elected to the Product Service Council in 2003
and earned the Certified Apartment Supplier
designation in 2007.
Blevins; his wife, Dee; and their three children, Andrew, Cameron and Ty, live in Katy. In
his spare time, Jeff enjoys attending Andrew’s
and Cameron’s sporting events and playing
football, basketball and baseball with 4-yearold Ty.
Michelle BridgesPahl, CAS
Vice President
Michelle Bridges-Pahl
is multihousing sales
manager with Century
A/C Supply. She has
been in the multifamily
industry with Century
for more than 11 years, starting as a territory
representative in 1998 and moving up to sales
manager in 2001.
Bridges-Pahl is an active HAA volunteer, serving
on both the Century and Ambassador clubs for
more than 11 years. She has been co-captain of
Ambassadors for four years and its co-chairman
for two years. Bridges-Pahl also serves on the
Community Relations, Expo and Chili Cook-off
committees and was named to the PSC in 2006.
42
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Bridges-Pahl earned her CAS designation in
2001 and was named HAA Supplier of the Year
in 2007. She is also chairman of the Western
Art Committee for the Houston Livestock Show
and Rodeo.
Bridges-Pahl is a graduate of Texas A&M
University and she and her husband, Matt,
have two girls, Morgan and Megan.
Kevin Fenn, CAS
Secretary
Kevin Fenn is a
project manager with
Pavecon Ltd., where
he handles marketing,
estimating and daily
management of his
job sites.
In 1991, after serving eight years in the
Canadian Army and completing a degree in
environmental management, Fenn and his
wife, Charlene, moved to Houston from
Canada. He entered the apartment industry as
a leasing consultant in 1992, eventually
becoming a property manager and a rehab
coordinator. In 2003 Fenn moved to the vendor side in search of new challenges.
In the mid 1990s, Fenn became an active
recruiter and Go-Getter for HAA, recruiting
more than 55 new members. Over the years,
he has been co-chair of the Ambassadors Club
and been active on the Expo Committee,
Century Club, Membership Committee, Online
Advisory Committee, Better Government Fund
and many sponsorship events. He earned his
Certified Apartment Supplier designation in
2006, completed HAA’s first Leadership
Lyceum in 2008 and was named Go-Getter of
the Year in 2009.
When time is short, he and his wife take
weekend trips on their Harleys, biding time
until vacation rolls around and they can ride
off to somewhere like the Smokey Mountains,
Sturgis or Canada.
Beth Rohani, CAS
Treasurer
Beth Rohani is the
president of Ameritex
Movers Inc. Her mother,
Melody Khavari, founded Ameritex Apartment
Movers in Dallas/Ft.
Worth nearly a decade
ago. Rohani and her husband, Nima, began
their operation in Houston in 2001. Focused on
customer service and building relationships,
Ameritex Movers quickly gained the trust and
confidence of the multifamily industry.
Driven to understand the multifamily market, Ameritex Movers joined the Houston
Apartment Association in 2001. In 2006,
Rohani became active in HAA, becoming an
Ambassador and a Go-Getter, and soon she
joined the Expo, Community Relations and
Career Development committees. Her involvement has extended to supporting PAC through
the Better Government Fund, and in 2007 she
was elected to the Product Service Council. In
2008, Rohani earned the Certified Apartment
Supplier designation and completed the
Leadership Lyceum program.
Rohani was a communications/journalism
major at the University of Houston, and she
competed in the 1998 Miss Texas Pageant as
Miss Arlington and won the title of Miss
Congeniality.
During her time off, she enjoys spending
time with her husband and cuddling with her
three Yorkies, Ollie, Oaklie and Crunch-ee.
Vicki Summitt, CAS
Immediate Past
President
Vicki Summitt is the
multifamily sales manager for Direct Energy.
She brings two decades
of award-winning sales
experience to the PSC.
She has been in the apartment industry since
1990, winning regional and national sales
awards with Direct Energy and Apartment
Guide.
Summitt has been active in HAA for more
than a decade, serving with the Ambassadors;
Go-Getters; Greeters; Resident Relations,
Community Relations and Expo committees;
and the Better Government Fund in addition
to her post on the PSC. She holds the Certified
Apartment Supplier designation and was
named Supplier of the Year in 2006.
She and her husband, Nick, have two children, Lindsay and Hunter, and enjoy spending
time at their lake house in the Hill Country.
OFFICERS
HAA Product
Service Council
Vice President
Michelle Bridges-Pahl,
CAS
Century A/C Supply
Cell: 713-516-1901
281-530-2859
[email protected]
Secretary
Kevin Fenn, CAS
Pavecon
Cell: 281-914-9592
281-571-8040
[email protected]
Treasurer
Beth Rohani, CAS
Ameritex Movers
Cell: 713-551-1393
713-484-8400
[email protected]
Vicki Summitt, CAS
Direct Energy
Cell: 281-686-3839
713-877-3500
vicki.summitt@direct
energy.com
MEMBERS
President
Jeff Blevins, CAS
Camp Construction
Services
Cell: 713-480-5081
713-413-2267
jblevins@campconstruction.
com
Debbie Brueckner, CAS
Cell: 832-277-0166
281-261-6334
Kenyon Carroll
Maintenance Supply
Headquarters
Cell: 832-588-7633
281-530-6300
Peggy Charles
Taylor Contracting
& Roofing
Cell: 713-417-2126
713-328-6870
kenyon.carroll@supply
hq.com
[email protected]
M.J. Featherston
Access Electric
Cell: 832-435-8971
281-489-7755
[email protected]
The Product/Service
Council is a group of 32
active supplier members
whose objective is to
promote the active
involvement and
participation of
supplier members, to
communicate information
and to encourage supplier
members to further their
education, to improve
the quality of their
products and services
and mentor and
assist all new and current
supplier members.
Arrie Colca, CASE
Craven Carpet
Cell: 281-725-0309
713-956-1395
Laura Collins, CAS
Cell: 832-250-2415
281-933-6060
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kimberly Flores, CAS
Cell: 832-878-3644
281-821-1800
James Gregory
Redi Carpet Sales
Cell: 281-685-8354
281-240-2500
Lisa Grimes
D&C Contracting
Cell: 281-780-0160
713-460-9394
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Christopher Hilton
Apartment Finder
Cell: 713-392-0808
713-460-0300
Jimmie Hotz, CAS
HD Supply
Cell: 713-822-0426
281-531-5301
Julie Marie Irvin
Keystone Resources
Cell: 832-541-5557
713-874-0162
Deona James, CAS
Resident Data
Cell: 281-703-9136
281-357-0405
Alan Jones, CASE
ICI Paints
Cell: 713-305-0217
713-680-3392
David Koenig
Cell: 713-320-6650
713-413-2267
chilton@apartment
finder.com
jimmie.hotz@
hdsupply.com
[email protected]
deona.james@lexisnexis.
com
[email protected]
[email protected]
Stephanie Krop, CAS
Direct Energy
Cell: 281-924-2011
713-877-3592
Susan Lee, CAS
Craven Carpet
Cell: 713-823-1155
713-956-1395
Carol Marple, CAS
Cell: 281-610-3455
281-821-1800
Robert McDaniel, CAS
FSI Construction
Cell: 713-208-4440
713-690-5330
Nichole Oldfield
Hardman Signs
Cell: 713-817-4192
713-957-2324 ext.112
Dean O’Kelley, CAS
The Liberty Group
Cell: 832-606-2854
713-961-7666
stephanie.krop@direct
energy.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Mark Park, CAS
AAA Plumbers
Cell: 832-434-3218
713-462-4753
Mindy Price
BG Personnel Services
Cell: 713-201-7349
713-781-8367
Joe Slaughter
Rasa Floors
Cell: 832-651-8988
713-660-7777
Nichole Williams, CAS
Apartment Guide
Cell: 713-304-3285
713-856-9286
Andrea Winans
Bishop’s Office Needs
Cell: 832-275-9694
281-578-9177
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
nwilliams@apartment
guide.com
[email protected]
[email protected]
Mary Estrada
Certified Recovery
Systems
Cell: 832-978-7356
713-341-5540
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
43
PHOTO ALBUM
Photos from the 2009
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Event: 2009 Annual Business Meeting
When: November 17
Where: Hilton Post Oak
Sponsors: The Liberty Group and
TXU Energy
More than 300 members attended this
year’s annual business meeting. The
event honored 2009 President Beth Van
Winkle, recognized the committee,
chairs, club chairs and education designates for the year, and elected the 2010
HAA officers and board.
Thank you to event co-sponsor TXU Energy
The Milestone Management table
Thank you to event co-sponsor The Liberty Group
The Trinity table
The 2009 HAA Officers are presented gifts from 2009 President Beth Van Winkle.
The Southhampton Management table
The 2009 HAA/HAF committee and club chairs
44
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
The Martin Fein table
Photos by
Product Service Council President
Vicki Summitt presents 2009 HAA
President Beth Van Winkle with the
PSC Recognition Award.
HAA Executive Vice President Jeff
Hall is congratulated on his 25th
year with the association.
John Ridgway is awarded one of
two President’s awards. The other
was given to Kathy Clem, who
was not present.
CAM
MARK HIEBERT, Hiebert Photography
HAA Vice President/General Manager Susan
Hinkley is crowned for her 50th birthday.
Guest speaker Robery M. Eury
Congratulations to our new designates!
CAPS
NALP
CAMT
CAS
Certified Apartment
Portfolio Supervsior
Ralph Anderson
Troy Arnold
Rebecca Carpentier
Stephanie Clark
Nichole Curl
Carrie Green
Renée Renobato
Shelley Russell
Karri Seeds
Nina Wisniewski
Maria Sanchez
Mary Sanchez
Christie Sandlin
Natalie Spratt
Jennifer Stinson
Michele Swilley
Michael Taylor
National Apartment
Leasing Professional
Stephanie Burriss
Carla Campbell
Kristen Cusick
Earl Mallett
Anita Mitchener
Christopher Palacios
Jordan Sneed
Certified Apartment Manager
Anita Alvarado
Naomi Alvarez
Brandie Banks
Jennifer Barletta
John Boriack
Certified Apartment Supplier
Courtney Darton
Laura Lestus
Enrique Ferreryos
Mariela Garcia
Certified Apartment
Staci Garza
Maintenance Technicial
Courtney Grosklags
Jose A. Castro
Crystal Jackson
Andres Figueroa
Morgyn Keneson
Jose Escobar
Leanna Laster
Manuel Garcia-Medrano
Robert Lopes
Martin Lara
Amber McCoy
Francisco Martinez
Jessica Medrano
Ronald Perry
Heather Monts
Dixie Moreau
Designates represent the industry’s best and brightest.
Rebecca Ornelas
To learn how you can earn your designation, contact the
Renée Renobato
Education & Meetings Department at 713-595-0314,
Dora Renteria
713-595-0319 or [email protected].
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
45
PHOTO ALBUM
Photos from the 2009
Asset Plus
The For Rent Media Solutions table
TVO Groupe
The Henry S. Miller table
Riverstone Residential
At the Direct Energy table
Tarantino Properties
The Apartment Guide table
Judwin Properties
Rockwell Management
46
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING
Photos by
MARK HIEBERT, Hiebert Photography
The Guardian Equity table
At the Camp Construction Services table
The Kaplan Management table
CWS Apartment Homes
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
47
48
Illustration By Haizul/dreamstime.com
Treat ’em
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Right
of Success
Beginning Another
Thoughtful and thorough
customer service can turn
a negative experience
into a positive one for
both residents and
property staff.
By SHELLEY RUSSELL,
CAM, CAPS, Rockwell Management
BRIDGING THE GAP
C
ustomer service. We hear this term all of the time. Many
folks even say they “work in customer service” or “have
lots of customer service experience.” But do they really?
Let’s define what we really mean when we talk about
“customer service.”
Quite simply, customer service is how we treat our customer.
In other words, if we treat our customers in a way that makes
them feel good, we have provided good customer service. If we
treat our customers in a way that makes them feel bad, we have
provided bad customer service.
GOOD CUSTOMER, BAD CUSTOMER
But let’s be honest. It is much easier to provide good customer service to those customers whom we like, who do what
we expect them to do and who make us feel good. It is not as
easy to provide good customer service to a customer who does
something “wrong.”
Not sure what I mean? Well, think of the guy that knowingly
parks his car in a fire lane and gets towed, and then comes into
your office screaming. Or the resident whose downstairs neighbor claims is “always making a lot of noise.” Or a resident who
moves out owing a balance. In each of these cases, the customer was wrong. However, in these situations we often justify
providing these customers with poor customer service because
they did something we did not want them to do or that goes
against our agreement with them.
In other words, we treat them in such a way that makes them
feel that they are wrong and we are right. This does not support
the above definition of good customer service. Put yourself in
their shoes. Does it feel good to you when someone points out
that you messed up, even when you already know you did?
Probably not. Making a customer feel bad only puts up a barrier
between the two of you, which can make resolving the issue
amicably very difficult.
Believe it or not, you can actually still provide good customer
service when addressing something that a resident has done
wrong. It is all in how you handle it.
• First, keep in mind that any time you interact with a customer, your ultimate goal should always be that the customer
leave the conversation feeling as good as if not better then
when he or she entered it.
• Second, do not give in to the easy temptation to point out
that the customer is wrong. In most cases, the customer realizes
the mistake even if he or she doesn’t admit it to you.
• Third, do not “hit them over the head” with your lease
contract and community policies. Again, in most cases a resident already realizes deep down when he or she is wrong, and
it only widens the gap between you both to remind the resident of it. Many times when we provide bad customer service,
it is because we rely solely on what the contract and community policies state and we do not bother to take a few extra steps
to assist the customer in a way that not only can resolve the situation favorably for all but is of true service to the customer.
TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE
Let’s review each of our “bad customer” situations and how
these customers could be provided good customer service.
Resident parks in a fire lane. Yes, you may have the right to
immediately tow without notice. Let me ask you this: How
many times have you towed a customer and that person was
not furious with you? Probably not very often, even if you were
completely within your rights to do so.
If you keep records of resident license tags or subscribe to
PublicData.com (which allows you to identify vehicle owners
by license plate), you may be able to identify and contact the
vehicle owner in person and give them a friendly call saying,
“I really do not want to tow your car. Can you please move it
in the next 10 minutes so that I can avoid doing this?”
You are not required to take this step, but you do so to help
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49
the customer avoid an undesirable consequence. That’s good
customer service.
Resident receives a noise complaint. Especially if the resident
has no history of noise complaints, your remonstration may be
better received if you personalize the first contact by speaking
directly to the customer rather than sending your standard lease
violation/noise notice. Many times, the person making the noise
may be completely unaware that he or she is doing so. These types
are particularly sensitive to a sternly written notice because they
truly did not know they were doing anything that was bothering
anyone else and suddenly feel that they are being scolded like a
child, and they don’t feel they have done anything wrong.
When you first speak to this resident,
you may start by saying something like,
“I am sure you may be completely
unaware, but your neighbor has
brought to our attention that they are
hearing a lot of (noise) during (time).”
It is important to provide specific information about what type of noise is
being heard and when.
Do not speak in absolutes. In other words, you don’t want to say
something like, “According to your neighbor, you are always making
a lot of noise.” These types of statements will put a resident on the
defensive because the statement is ambiguous and likely an exaggeration. Let both residents know that your goal in getting involved is
to help allow both residents to enjoy their homes.
Resident moves out owing a balance. Your company likely has
a policy about when files get turned over to collections. If you are
going to provide good customer service to a customer who has
moved out owing you a balance, you need to go beyond simply
mailing the final account statement. Your goal should be to make
every effort to avoid having a customer’s account being turned
over to collections for many reasons:
1. If you turn an account over for collection, you may turn a
normal customer into an irate customer, which you will have to
deal with.
2. It is not in our customer’s best interest.
3. Collection agents typically retain about half the money
they collect on the property’s behalf – in essence, costing your
owner money.
It is often in your own best interest as well as that of your
owner, your property and your customer to attempt to collect and
resolve the outstanding balance before turning an account over to
collections. By doing so, you will likely have a more appreciative
customer (conversely, you won’t have to deal with an irate customer), you will likely have higher customer loyalty (which leads
to better word-of-mouth, repeat business and referrals) and you
will make your owner more money. Everyone wins!
The next time a resident does something “wrong,” think
about how you will handle the situation and remember: The
customer is not always right, but you should never make a
customer feel wrong.
Shelley Russell, CAM, CAPS, is a district supervisor with Rockwell
Management. For more information, contact her at [email protected].
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Illustration by crreativeapril/dreamstime.com
Look
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Closer
of Success
Beginning Another
D
o you get excited about applying new perspectives to old
ideas? How about saving money and increasing efficiency?
New technologies are being adapted to make better use of
utility consumption data that can help apartment properties
keep tabs on maintenance issues and implement other costsaving measures.
Imagine for a moment that you have the capability to review
the electric, gas or water consumption data for your multifamily property and analyze it to determine:
• Undetected maintenance issues like leaks and malfunctioning heating systems
• Problems with metering equipment
• Which readings are accurate and which need further review
• How your property compares to similarly configured properties from a utility consumption standpoint
• Which residents use the most energy and why.
Wouldn’t you be able to save a lot of money and have more
confidence that your residents were receiving accurate bills?
Wouldn’t it reduce resident complaints?
You can mine a wealth of actionable information from
monthly utility data if you know how and where to look. The
better you are at finding this information, the more efficient
your monthly billing program will be and the fewer problems
you’ll have to deal with.
Software applications that conduct sophisticated data mining
and statistical analysis are commonplace in many other industries such as manufacturing and biotechnology. In the utility
billing industry, however, these tools are rarely used. One of the
reasons is that many companies use older software systems to
collect and process consumption data. These systems don’t support rules-driven statistical analysis that can be automated.
MANUAL REVIEW CAN LEAD TO COSTLY ERRORS
Many billing companies leave the task of reviewing billing
data to analysts. Analysts pore over reams and reams of printed
consumption data reports trying to identify problems, anom-
Statistical analysis of your
property’s utility billing
data could yield important
information to improve
your operations.
By TODD A. BREHE, American
Conservation & Billing Solutions Inc.
alies and patterns that require further review. The trouble with
this approach is that not only is it mind-numbing, it’s time
intensive and prone to error.
Analysts either miss important information or are forced to
review information that is not problematic, wasting valuable
time in the process. Some companies simply assume the data is
correct, bill residents and handle problems via the customer
support function. Disgruntled residents are considered a natural
part of the monthly billing equation.
Many experienced owners and property managers have come
to see inaccurate utility bills as the norm. This shouldn’t be the
case. Statistical data analysis increases the accuracy of utility
consumption data and substantially improves the overall
billing process. Since fixing errors is always more expensive
than preventing them, these technologies can actually reduce
operating costs.
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE
Consider a 200-unit apartment property that is individually
submetered for water. Each month, an analyst reviews consumption data prior to calculating and sending resident bills. In
general, most analysts don’t have historical data that is readily
accessible for comparison.
Unit 101 uses 1,875 gallons of water in May. Should the resident be billed? It depends. The first thing to ask is whether or
not this is a normal read. To answer that, start by looking at the
last 12 months of consumption data to determine if the value
falls in the range of “reasonable.” If average consumption for
this person is 1,400 gallons of water, you’d probably flag this
data because it’s more than 30 percent higher than the average.
Next, you’d look at the maximum value over a longer period
of time (say two years) to see if this reading is truly high or if
it’s in line with previous readings. You’d notice that two years
ago in May, this same unit used 2,050 gallons of water. A
review of the notes would show that this resident has a small
studio apartment, but she grows an extensive patio garden that
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53
requires frequent watering. She usually gets
it going in May.
USE TECHNOLOGY TO OPTIMIZE
BILLING OPERATIONS
By performing statistical analysis on consumption data, you can be more certain that
the data is accurate and that billing should
proceed. With a manual review process,
however, you have to invest time to look at
the data closely. Even though the manual
process may arrive at the same conclusion, it
requires much greater effort.
Now consider that many billing companies are processing large volumes of data
and applying multiple rules to determine if
usage data is correct. Without the benefit of
analytical software tools, this is a slow,
labor-intensive and error-prone process.
Moreover, there’s a limit to the number of
properties an individual analyst can realistically manage.
Software tools are much better at managing large volumes of data, analyzing that
data and calculating results. They operate
quickly, the amount of data they can process
is virtually unlimited, and they function
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with a high degree of accuracy. They effectively extend the processing capabilities of
analysts and improve operational efficiency.
Statistical analysis enables a company to
take large volumes of data, filter that data
according to various business rules and identify potential issues. The tools that perform
this kind of analysis are fast, accurate and
repeatable. Moreover, they can evolve and
improve over time as new rules are identified and added to the knowledge base.
With utility consumption data, it’s not
always enough to know how one resident
compares to himself or to another resident
in a single property. It’s also beneficial to
know how properties of equal size compare
with each other. Wouldn’t you like to
know if your apartment property uses 20
percent more electricity than other similarlysized properties? You’d probably want to
know why.
5,600 gallons. An analysis shows that this
value exceeds the average by more than 30
percent, and no historical high value even
comes close.
What information does this data tell you?
One possibility is that the McBrides allowed
their son’s family of four to move in. Even
though they pay for the excess water usage,
the increased occupancy may violate the
lease agreement. Another option is that they
have an undetected leak within the unit,
such as a running toilet or leaky faucet.
This case actually revealed a different situation. While there were no broken toilets or
leaky pipes inside the unit, there was a leak
between the interior and exterior walls of
the apartment near a water spigot. Because
consumption could be measured directly
and the analysis was timely, the maintenance team was notified and an otherwise
costly problem – for the resident as well as
the property owner – was averted.
A SECOND EXAMPLE
The McBrides live in a two-bedroom apartment and for the past three years have used
an average of 2,500 gallons of water every
month. One month, their usage spikes to
HOW GOOGLE CAN HELP
In regards to utility billing, Google doesn’t
do much. In terms of data analysis, they are
experts. Google is a $145 billion company
that specializes in search technology and
Internet advertising. They recently launched
an experimental project called Google
PowerMeter. Essentially, this integrate
Google’s Web platform with smart utility
meters to show residents, in real time, how
much energy they are using throughout the
day. The premise is that by giving people
information about how they are using utilities (in this case electricity), you can help
them make smarter decisions and use energy
more wisely.
Google is also aware of the benefits of
comparative data analysis. Google notes on
the PowerMeter website that another purpose of this technology is to “strike up a little friendly competition to see how your
energy consumption compares to your
friends and neighbors.”
Comparing utility billing data within a
multifamily property could also be used for
energy savings contests. An owner might
offer a prize to the resident who can reduce
his or her gas costs by the largest percentage
in a month. Or the property manager might
offer an award to all residents who can
reduce electric usage by 10 percent in a
month. Comparative data gives owners,
managers and residents more insight into
how they are consuming energy so that they
can make improvements.
CONCLUSION
Using statistical analysis technologies to
mine utility usage data can offer valuable
rewards. More accurate resident billing,
improved ability to detect maintenance
issues and more satisfied residents are just a
few. These technologies also can save time
and money and help preserve our nation’s
precious resources.
You’ve probably heard the Peter Drucker
saying, “What gets measured gets managed.”
That is especially true in the world of utility
consumption data. To effectively manage
data, you have to extract useful information
and take action.
Todd A. Brehe is a director at American
Conservation & Billing Solutions Inc. AmCoBi
offers utility billing, submetering and conservation consulting services to the multifamily marketplace. AmCoBi’s UtilityHawk Technology™
provides a means to analyze utility consumption
data for the purpose of improving utility bill
accuracy and extracting actionable business
information.
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55
Locked
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Photo by James Steidl/dreamstime.com
Out
Those metal rings on your property’s electrical
meters might hinder necessary repairs if you
don’t have access to the right information.
By
of Success
Beginning Another
M.J. FEATHERSTON and PHILIP JONES, Access Electric
H
as your electrician ever told you, “I’m sorry, we can’t do the
repairs to your meter until you have the lock band
removed”? If so, your first thought may have been, “What is
a lock band?” followed by, “Why doesn’t the electrician have it
removed for me?”
In answer to the first question, the lock band is a gold or silver
steel band that goes around the glass meter and is locked onto it
by the local electrical utility, CenterPoint Energy. Their personnel
have the only keys to it, and it is illegal for anyone else to remove
it. This band is intended to keep someone from tampering with
the meter or stealing electricity as well as preventing unqualified
people from getting injured.
WHY DOESN’T THE ELECTRICIAN HAVE IT
REMOVED FOR ME?
As for the second question, this is something that perplexes residents, managers and electricians alike. It is important to note
that CenterPoint is responsible for delivery of the power, but it
must be purchased through a third party known as an electrical
service provider. Since deregulation of the electrical power industry began in 2002, and perhaps due in part to concerns over customers’ privacy, CenterPoint Energy stopped allowing electrical
contractors to call for lock band removal unless they had the customer’s electrical provider name, account number and in some
cases the customer’s Social Security number. While in theory this
may seem like a good idea, in practice it has caused headaches for
residents and added expenses for management. As electricians, it
has also created a situation where we are prevented from giving
our customers the level of service they deserve.
Many multifamily properties have meters called “gangable
meters” and two, three or more are joined together, sometimes
with interlocking
covers. The meters
can be in a row horizontally or vertically,
and the feeder wires
from the power company in the back of
the meters are run
together to feed that
group of meters.
There are several reasons that electricians
need locks removed
from these to safely repair a resident’s electrical service. On some
meters, the socket or “jaws” may become loose over time and arcing will occur. On others, the lugs or wire may be damaged and
must be replaced. The only way to access and repair these items is
to remove the band and pull the meter out.
WHAT DOES DEREGULATION HAVE TO DO WITH ME?
Prior to deregulation, an electrician could call CenterPoint
Energy’s dispatch line directly with a meter serial number (printed
in bold on the face of the meter) and request that they remove
the lock band. Unless it was during a storm or they were too busy
with emergencies, CenterPoint promised to be out within four
hours from the time they were called to remove the lock band.
Since that time, although some apartment managers have had
good luck getting the lock bands removed by simply providing
the meter serial number, for others it has not worked out as well.
If CenterPoint refuses to remove a lock band without the proper
information, the property manager has to try to get the informa-
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57
tion from the resident. In many cases the
resident cannot be reached, delaying the
repairs. In a few cases it may be one or more
adjacent meters that need unlocking; this is
where it gets really messy. We have had cases
where the resident who still has power refuses to give out their service provider information so that their neighbor can get repairs
done. This leaves the resident who has a
power outage getting more and more frustrated as their issues aren’t being repaired.
It can sometimes be hard to explain to a
resident just why the lock band needs to be
removed when that resident is not even
being affected by electrical issues. The current lease form states that management can
do any repairs to electrical lines; however, as
it is currently written, it doesn’t require that
residents give managers the information
needed to have the lock band removed.
SO WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?
It may be a good idea to have a form for
new and renewing residents to give management permission to have lock bands
removed and provide their service provider
information. This form could also require
residents to update their service providers
and account numbers in the event they
make changes. This, along with a signature
stating that management has permission to
contact CenterPoint on their behalf could
solve the issue proactively.
WHAT CHANGES DOES
THE FUTURE HOLD?
Within a few years, most electrical meters
are slated to be digitally controlled over the
power lines. These “smart meters” will be
read from a central location as well as switching off and on service to residents as needed.
Although they will reduce labor costs to the
utility, they will not change the issues stated
above as they are currently designed.
Electricians will still be called upon to make
repairs that require their removal, and no
doubt lock bands of some type will be
employed. During this upgrade, perhaps it is
time that CenterPoint devises a method for
licensed and insured electrical contractors to
legally remove the meter lock bands so that
all of our customers get better service.
Access Electric is a family-owned full-service
electrical contractor established in 1997 by
master electrician Philip Jones (TDLR 18183).
Our electricians are all licensed by the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulations. For
more information, call 281-489-7755 or visit
www.access-electric.com.
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of Success
Beginning Another
Plan
M
Ahead
any of us go about our lives without being prepared in case
a disaster were to strike. We buy insurance for our cars,
houses, businesses and health, but most of us don’t have a
plan if something were to happen.
The single most important factor for getting a claim processed
expediently and thoroughly is to have a plan in place prior to a disaster happening. Our federal, state and county facilities all have
emergency plans in place in case of a large-scale disaster. It not only
helps facilitate the process faster but keeps everyone more calm
because they know who is doing what in the event of a disaster.
For example, what if a fire destroys one or more of your apartment buildings? What is your first step, other than calling the fire
department to come put out the fire? Do you have a team in place
that can assist you in your claim process from beginning to end
that knows construction and the insurance estimating software?
Who is your main contact, and what role does that person play
on the team? If you answered “no” or “I don’t know” to any of
these questions, then you need to begin putting together a disaster plan.
CHOOSE A KNOWLEDGEABLE TEAM
When choosing your response team, make sure that the people
you choose are knowledgeable in construction and in the claims
process. Knowledge of both can be a vital factor when processing
a claim. Many times a claim is processed for the minimal amount
because the adjuster leaves off items that are necessary to get the
building back to pre-disaster condition because he or she just does
not know the details that a general contractor would know.
Pick a team member to be the primary contact person in the
event of a disaster. This way, you have one person who is in contact with your team to help facilitate the process. Also, this person’s focus should be disaster recovery. If you don’t have a team
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JANUARY 2010
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Are you and your property
prepared to recover if a
disaster strikes?
By
APRIL WILKIN, Building EMTs
member who can do this, hire a professional responder. You want
a project management team to manage the disaster from beginning to end.
The first priority of your team should be to document the property with pictures and video. This is a vital part in processing a
claim. The more information an adjuster has, the quicker the
claim can be processed. Be sure to keep the documentation updated if any major changes are made so that you have a record of
them. Make sure your team knows what the building is made of,
such as brick, stucco, siding, shingles, etc., and any specific information, such as paint color, that you may need. The more you
know about the property the better prepared you are.
MOVE QUICKLY TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE
Once you have your team in place, whether it is one you have
assembled yourself or a project management team that can assist
you during your time of need, you can begin forming your disaster response plan. When a disaster strikes, call the lead contact
person on your team to get the ball rolling. This leaders should
get to the site as quickly as possible in order to minimize any further damage that could occur. At the same time, your insurance
company should be contacted to set up a time to walk the property to start the claim process. Once the claim is written and a number settled upon with you and your team for the money needed
to do the reconstruction, then you and your team can begin the
rebuilding process. Having your team and plan in place is the key
to bringing your building back to life.
Building EMTs provides preplanned disaster management for catastrophic damage from fire, wind, water, etc. For more information, call
800-854-7663, visit www.buildingEMTs.com or e-mail
[email protected].
The Original Face Book!
Just For HAA Fans
A message that lasts forever.
The HAA 50 Year Book
HAA turns 50 years old in 2010!
HAA members, you can share your story! To commemorate our 50 year anniversary,
we are producing a year book dedicated to the members of HAA filled with stories,
pictures and editorial about the association’s history. You can be a part of this milestone by
purchasing tribute space and posting a special message of your very own to last forever.
Honor your:
Company
One FREE copy will be mailed to all HAA member companies. Personal copies may be
purchased as well. This book will be an excellent coffee table book or waiting area book
for your office.
HAA will have an anniversary celebration in August 2010 where we will have time set
aside for “Year Book Signing” to personalize your book even more! We will have tribute
spaces available in a variety of sizes: full page, half page, quarter page and business-card
size. See Page 49 for options and pricing.
Colleagues
and
Inquire now to reserve your spot. Space is very limited. Deadline for reservations is
March 31 or until the spaces are full, whichever happens first. Sign up today!
Friends
Call Amanda Sherbondy at 713-595-0316 or e-mail [email protected]
to reserve your space today.
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JANUARY 2010
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Ad Sizes and Pricing
Full Page:
$999
3.75” wide x 10” deep
*$1,199 for Pages 3, 5 or 7
1/2 Vertical Page:
$699
1/2 Vertical
$699
1/2 Horizontal Page:
$699
Full Page
$999
1/4 Vertical Page:
$349
Special “Props Page”
1/8 Horizontal:
$149
3.75” wide x 2.5” deep
Ad Colors
All prices are for four-color
advertising.
CMYK process
300 dpi high-resolution
1/8 Horizontal
$149
1/4 Vertical
$349
Ad locations
All ads 1/4 page and larger
will run in random spaces
throughout the Yearbook.
The special 1/8 page
“Props” ads will run
in a special section at
the back of the Yearbook.
Mechanical Requirements
1/2 Horizontal
$699
The HAA 50 Year Book will be a
208-page hard-cover bound book
printed in CMYK using 70 lb.
coated paper. Final finished page
size is 8 1/2 x 11 inches.
• Please submit artwork as a
flattened high-resolution PDF,
TIFF or JPEG file that
opens/expands to a 300 ppi
CMYK file in Adobe Photoshop
at 100 percent size.
• Artwork not submitted as
above must be built in one of the
following programs, transferable
to Mac-based systems:
QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator
or Photoshop.
• All fonts and import art must
be included and layers flattened.
•Files must be CMYK, 300 ppi.
•100 percent size.
•Do not supply Web images –
they are not printable quality.
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63
GO-GETTERS
50 Years
The Go-Getters celebrate 50 years of membership.
T
he Go-Getter Club is a year-round membership recruitment group
made up of individuals who work for both types of member companies, owner/management and supplier companies.
Why recruit for HAA? The reason is simple. Joining the Go-Getters will
give you additional exposure with the HAA membership through the special recognition of the lapel pin, blue jackets and patches that are awarded to recruiters. Second, you are helping to strengthen your association
with the addition of new members and new involvement. And finally, the
meetings are an opportunity to talk with your peers and develop lasting
personal and business relationships.
Want to recruit members for HAA? Join us for our Membership
Recruitment Boot Camp on Wednesday, February 24.
For additional details contact Lisa Butler at 713-595-0322 or
[email protected].
Celebrating 50 Years
of Membership
Help HAA continue for 50 more.
Become a Go-Getter and recruit new members
for the association and you could win $50
and more in 2010!
Contact Lisa for more information at [email protected].
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JANUARY 2010
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WELCOME MAT
Introducing
OWNER MEMBERS
SUPPLIER MEMBERS
306 Stratford Apartments LLC
Tri Vu
P.O. Box 41828
Houston, TX 77241-1828
714-616-9674
306 Stratford Apartments
Olympus Property
Anthony Wonderly
2918 W. Park Row Drive
Pantego, TX 76013-2041
817-795-4900
Westchase Forest Apartments
Dean Capital Corporation
Hal McWhorter
32 Pinedale Ave.
713-526-1102
Sul Ross Apartments
PI Properties
Jim Raney
19 Pebble Hollow Court
The Woodlands, TX 77381-4803
281-364-7802
Referred by Del Walmsley
Felts Commercial
Rolf D. Felts
23602 Whispering Wind
Katy, TX 77494-0211
832-623-1383
Temenos Community
Development Corporation
Dana Hogan
2019 Crawford
713-659-3237
Knowles-Temenos Place
Apartments
In the Loop Management
Jeff Gould
2106 Waugh Drive
713-529-2255
3414 Garrott Apartments
JABill Enterprises LLC
Janice Guzak
1704 Ave. D
Katy, TX 77493-1655
713-686-5550
The Park at Live Oak Apartments
Jennische Enterprises LLC
Marion Jennische
2062 Shadow Rock
Humble, TX 77339-2232
713-679-3064
Referred by Del Walmsley
K&S Investments
Barb Kelley
15226 Chimney Hill Circle
281-300-8685
NOVEMBER new members
Triton Interests Ltd.
Terry Brooks
5906 Grand Colony Drive
Katy, TX 77449-4851
281-859-8161
Greenhouse Villas
Virtu Autumn Creek
Associates LP
Jennifer McFadden
3102 W. Bay Area Blvd.
Friendswood, TX 77546-5083
281-557-3976
Reserve at Autumn Creek
Apartments
Jason Whiles
12311 Meadowhollow
Stafford, TX 77477-1428
281-879-9876
All Houston Services
Ron Edwards
1302 Waugh #977
281-351-4411
General Contractors
Roofing Contractors
Dickson Furniture
Industries
Dustin Cornelius
7015 Grand Blvd.
713-747-0341
Furniture Renting & Leasing
ARS/Rescue Rooter
John Singletary
10515 Okanella #100
713-856-1364
Plumbing Contractors
A/C Contractors
Referred by Maika Amador
Frontier Utilities
Theresa Martinez
5120 Woodway #10004
866-926-8192
Utility Companies
Boone’s Landscaping LLC
Boone McDonald
2203 Nicholas Crossing
Conroe, TX 77304-4982
281-684-7037
Tree Services
Trees
Roofing Cleaning
Landscape Designer
Landscape Contractors
Lawn Maintenance
Referred by Kelly Treichel
Brook Furniture Rental Inc.
Rob Pruim
535 West 38th St.
Houston, TX 77018
713-692-0945
Furniture Renting & Leasing
C&M Remodeling Painting
Contactors
Max Caballero
4922 Upland Bell Court
Katy, TX 77449
713-468-5600
Paint Contractors
Remodeling & Repair
Referred by Kurt Gilpin
Houston Make Ready
and Home Services
Chris Ruiz
8715 Majesticbrook Drive
281-804-9720
Makeready
ICO Uniforms
Kristina Weiss
2216 Thornton Road #411
Austin, TX 78704-5179
214-718-3616
Career Apparel
Uniforms
Referred by Suan Tinsley
Lone Star Roofing Inc.
Ron Mertz
P.O. Box 204002
Austin, TX 78720-4002
512-257-8785
Roofing Contractors
Multifamily Insiders
Brent Williams
P.O. Box 183
Barker, TX 77413
832-978-3935
Education Consultants
Lecture/Speaker
One Source
Pro Contractors
Robert Duncan
4 Wind River Drive
Conroe, TX 77384-3172
713-589-5804
Building Contractors
Remodeling & Repair
Building Contractors
USA Curb Appeal LLC
Steve Graydon
P.O. Box 56623
713-355-9500
Lawn Maintenance
Landscaping Contractors
Fencing
Irrigation Systems/Equip.
Referred by Jackie Rhone
Underwood Painting
& Drywall
Robert Underwood
PMB 172
21436 FM 1960 W
Houston, TX 77065
713-253-7514
Painting Contractors
Drywall ContractorsEquipment/Supply
Welcome to HAA!
See Pages 20 & 21
for calendars listing
upcoming networking and educational
opportunities (also
available online at
www.haaonline.org).
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
65
AMBASSADORS
Join the Club
Ambassadors gear up to help HAA celebrate 50 years of serving our members.
The Ambassadors are the eyes and ears
of HAA, surveying our members about
their wants and needs and spreading the
word about the events and educational
opportunities the association has to offer.
Interested in joining the Ambassador
Club? Contact Lisa Butler at lbutler@
haaonline.org or 713-595-0322
Top Producers at the November meeting: Co-chair Laura Collins, Classic Touch Painting; Patrick Sheahan,
Sherwin Williams; Co-chair Peggy Charles, Taylor Contracting & Roofing; Denise McLarty, Kings III; and
Jacob Kunath, Century A/C Supply.
AMBASSADORS OF THE MONTH
New Ambassador Orientation
3:30 p.m., January 13
Ambassador Club Meeting
4 p.m., January 13
(both at the HAA Offices)
AMBASSADOR VIPS
This list reflects the number of monthly exchanges completed by each Ambassador.
Ambassadors listed in bold reached new achievement levels at press time.
HALL OF FAME
700
Patrick Sheahan
500
Julio Garcia
Laura Lestus
The Liberty Group
400
Peggy Charles
Rashann Fontenot
300
Barbara Brett
Patrick Brothers
David Hardwick
Jimmie Hotz
Alan Jones
Nancé Wells
Gilbert Torres
HD Supply
Jonathan Ultis
Site Reconstruction
66
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
250
Laura Collins
Michael Flores
Billy Griffin
Michelle Pahl
200
NORA KRAKOWER
LIFETIME AWARD
Lisa Grimes
Kathy Smith
Donald Sweitzer
Andrea Winans
150
Mary Estrada
Kevin Fenn
Amy Mauer
Tony Montemarano
Jimmy Renteria
Randy Rowles
100
CHRISTINE MOHEB
MEMORIAL AWARD
Debbie Andreozzi
M.J. Featherston
Fernando Gomez
John Hill
Billie Johnson
Nora Krakower
Brenda Nite
Sandra Parker
Pablo Paz
Karin ChurchfieldTyson
James Wagner
75
Karl Heinrich
Norma Ledbetter
Joe Slaughter
Roland Silas
Todd Smith
25
Stephen Abila
Jessica Baker
Jeff Blevins
Janet Dorsett
Darlene Dow
Andrea Dunlop
Kimberly Flores
Israel Garza
James Gregory
Erica Hallmark
Dallas Hardwick
Trisha Hunter
Dan James
Glenda Jeffcoat
Dean O’Kelley
Chuck Littlepage
Mark Park
Beth Rohani
Mike Romano
Shawn Royer
Preston Sams
Carlos Sanchez
Glenda Vargas
10
Greg Baughman
Ronnie Beavers
Kenyon Carroll
Josh Carter
Grant Crowell
Aimee Ferrini
Travis Fowler
Lisa Godwin
Andre Gonzales
Laura Hancock
Jason Henley
Philip Jones
Jacob Kunath
Laura Lestus
Chuck Littlepage
Erin McCary
Deana Miller
Nicole Oldfield
Krista Oliver
Michelle Opalewski
Wendy Pearson
Robert Pfunder
Jason Polishak
Mindy Price
Michael Reiland
Nancy Romano
Crystal Sanchez
Jodi Southwick
Jessica Tollett
Gilbert Torres
Wayne Trusty
Beth Varney
Marivel Villanueva
Kevin Wendt
Heather Wiesner
Angie Wilganowski
Brandy Williams
Ron Winans
Producers from the O’Kelley-Park-Winans Team:
Back row: Co-captain Dean O’Kelley, The Liberty Group; Beth Varney, RPM
Daily Services; Jason Lavrack, Maintenance Supply Headquarters; Barbara
Brett, TVMAX Houston; Dustin Dean, Crestmark Construction Services;
Patrick Sheahan, Sherwin Williams; Michelle Pahl, Century A/C Supply; Michael
Jensen, Modern Technology; Brenton Harmon, Ameritex Movers; and Clint
Cooper, Marathon Fitness. Middle row: Ryan Weis, Criterion Brock; Jason
Nave, Pittsburgh Paints; Arrie Colca, Craven Carpet; Co-captain Mark Park,
AAA Plumbers; Susan Martinez, Roofing Analytics; Nicole Oldfield, Hardman
Signs; Co-chair Peggy Charles, Taylor Contracting & Roofing; and Gilbert
Torres, HD Supply. Front row: Michele Mosher, FlagshipPDG; Co-captain
Andrea Winans, Bishop’s Office Needs; Joe Slaughter, Rasa Floors; and
Co-chair Laura Collins, Classic Touch Painting.
Producers from the Featherston-Grimes-Gomez Team:
Back Row: Izzy Garza, ICI Paints; Josh Carter, Kwal Paint; Co-captain M.J.
Featherston, Access Electric; Stewart Slate, THS Texas; April Wilkin, Building
EMTs; Co-captain Fernando Gomez, Century A/C Supply; and Laura Lestus,
The Liberty Group.
Front row: Co-chair Laura Collins, Classic Touch Painting; Maika Amador,
Emergency Services Restoration of Texas; Jacob Kunath, Century A/C Supply;
Karlena Navarro, Prevenient Cleaning Solutions; Co-captain Lisa Grimes, D&C
Contracting; and Co-chair Peggy Charles, Taylor Contracting & Roofing.
Producers from the Estrada-Hill-Parker Team:
Back Row: Clint Strahm, Corestone Paving Services;
Co-chair Laura Collins, Classic Touch Painting; Bill
Hubbell, Anchor Roofing; Co-captain Mary Estrada,
Certified Recovery Systems; Kristi Riddle, Hire Priority
Staffing; Jonathan Ultis, Site Reconstruction; Marivel
Villanueva, For Rent Media Solutions; and Lee
Council, The Greensheet.
Front row: Vernon Lesser, Lindberg Services Group;
Co-captain John Hill, HARCO Insurance; Jimmie Hotz,
HD Supply; Denise McLarty, Kings III; Janet Dorsett,
Phonoscope Cable; and Co-chair Peggy Charles,
Taylor Contracting & Roofing.
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JANUARY 2010
67
PROPERTY UPDATE
NEW CONSTRUCTION
Greystone is opening the Eaglebrook
Apartments, 152 units at 10855 Eagle Drive
in Mont Belvieu.
PROPERTY CHANGES
Mosaic Residential now manages
Cornerstone Ranch, 352 units at 2002 S. Mason
Road in Katy.
J Allen Management now owns and operates
the Oak Grove Apartments, 272 units at 10770
Bareley Lane.
The Pryzant Management porfolio now
includes the Brickhaven Apartments, 780 units at
8900 Fondren.
Kaplan Management now operates the
Royalton at River Oaks, 320 units at 3333 Allen
Parkway, and Sea Point Apartments, 231 units at
1700 Baywood Drive in Bay City.
Internacional Realty now manages the Calais
at Courtlandt Square Apartments, 356 units at
3210 Louisiana.
Parawest Management now operates the
Ashley Apartments, 76 units at 8330 Carvel Lane.
PMR now manages Ashley House, 276 units
at 3903 S. Mason Road in Katy.
Greystar now operates Cambury Place, 160
units at 13725 Cambury; Royal Place, 66 units at
3800 W. Baker Road in Baytown; and Plaza Del
Sol, 52 units at 13919 Texarkana.
Ascension Commercial Real Estate now
manages the Ashford Park Apartments, 180 units
at 2700 S. Dairy Ashford.
The Lynd Company portfolio now includes
The Metropole, 289 units at 4550 Post Oak Place.
Linebacker Residential Management now
operates the Glenview Apartments, 202 units at
8311 Winkler.
ADDRESS CHANGES
Building EMTs is now located at 10190 Katy
Fwy., Suite 505 in Houston, 77043.
The Lynd Company offices have relocated
to 10325 Cypresswood, Suite 612 in Houston,
77070.
Lakequest Enterprises/Exeter Capital
Management has a new address:
P.O Box 2013 #351, Austin, 78768.
NEED FORMS
or CLICKS?
Contact our Form Sales
department at 713-595-0317
or send an e-mail to
[email protected].
68
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
IN THE NEWS
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Chad Christian has joined Orion Real Estate
Services as a regional property manager.
Zachory Robinson has joined Kaplan
Management as the company’s southwest
regional vice president.
CONGRATULATIONS
Asset Plus has earned the
Accredited Management accreditation from the Institute of Real Estate
Management. The company’s Ryan
McGrath McGrath, CCIM, has earned IREM’s
Certified Property Manager designation.
Embark Tree & Landscape Services has been
recently re-accredited in accordance with tree
care company accreditation standards put forth
by the Tree Care Industry Association, America’s
oldest and most respected tree care trade association. Accredited tree care companies must reapply every three years so that their practices
can be reviewed and the continuation of best
business practices can be verified.
The BBR team
GOOD WORK
In November, BBR Management presented
a check for $45,831.93 to Jennifer Kelly, a
lemonade stand coach at Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Foundation, a group that raises money and
awareness to fight childhood cancer. BBR’s 100
apartment communities nationwide hosted various fundraisers during the summer in the effort,
which originated from a suggestion-box idea.
Be sure to send news of your
new hires, new properties
and other news to ABODE
at [email protected].
Visit the new and improved HAAOnline.org
for calendars, registration, news and more!
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
69
PHOTO ALBUM
Photos from the
NOVEMBER SOAPS LUNCHEON
Event: November SOAPS luncheon featuring a discussion
panel of management executives
When: November 6
Where: Eddie V’s at CityCentre
Industry leaders from the Houston market discussed trends
and troubles as well as forecasts for the future during the
luncheon. Thanks to our speakers: Matt Summers, Kaplan;
Clay Hicks, Greystar; Beth Van Winkle, Milestone;
Stephanie Graves, Asset Plus; and Matt Anderon,
Southhampton. Thanks also to our sponsors For Rent
Media Solutions and TXU Energy.
Many thanks to the sponsors of our November SOAPS luncheon, For Rent Media Solutions and TXU Energy.
70
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
DAVID JONES, Continued from Page 38
every annual general meeting, and when the
group’s vice president died unexpectedly in
2006, he was asked to fill the position on an
interim basis. The next year, he was nominated
and elected president.
“At that time, it was apparent that we needed to grow as an association,” he said. “… I was
president for two years, and basically what I did
for the entire time was rewrite the bylaws and
the articles of incorporation with the aid of a
Delaware attorney to get us into compliance. I
mean, it either wasn’t in writing, or we weren’t
doing it the way that it was in the documents.”
Jones learned a lot from the experience but
expects that little of it will apply to his work at
HAA, now in its 50th year as a highly professional trade group.
“There really wasn’t a lot there for me to
bring to this association except keep the politics out of it,” he said. “… For a position like
that, it seems like it should be easy, but over
that two-year period, there were many, many
weeks where I spent 40 hours on ADCA business. There shouldn’t be a volunteer board
position that you spend 40 hours on nights
and weekends on, especially something that
basic. But it’s come a long way, and we’ve made
a lot of progress. Our documents are right now,
so that’s all good. … Even HAA, with all the
functions, still didn’t take as much time as the
ADCA did for me.”
CORPORATE CHALLENGES
Association duties aside, Jones counts as his
greatest professional challenge Sueba’s 2006
portfolio sale, when the company’s German
investors took advantage of the United States’
hot multifamily market to command a top
sales price for its portfolio. Sueba had owned
72
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
and managed that group of properties – and its
staff – for more than 20 years, and the sale
came as something of a surprise, even though
even several of the properties were reaching the
point at which a sale or rehab would be necessary to maintain profitability.
“Ultimately, their business plan was that
they set a price, and if they could get it, then it
was a great deal, and if they couldn’t get that
price, then they’d refinance and renovate or do
whatever they needed to do,” said Jones. “And
they far exceeded the expectations on the sales
price. It was substantially higher than what
their goal price was. So that was a huge change
for us, because it was very unexpected. It really
wasn’t in the plan, and at that time we were
developing, pretty rapidly, four or five deals.”
Jones now found himself on the executive
end of a portfolio sale, facing the loss of many
long-term employees. Although the company
no longer had positions for the majority of its
people, Jones and Sueba made sure that they
were offered generous severance packages and
kept people on payroll until the company
could help find them new positions.
“We were very fair to the people, and over
the years since 2006, every time we have an
opening, we hire back an old Sueba employee,”
he said. “It was nerve-wracking for people.
There are investor tours, you’re trying to keep
the properties running, and you constantly
have the brokers coming through with tours
and it’s disruptive. Even though there’s a stay
bonus, people are still on pins and needles,
they’re still not sure – they’re just not 100 percent committed. … We’ve brought a substantial
number of people back. It worked out fine for
everybody in the long run, but going through
the process was challenging.”
In addition to his commitment to treat
employees fairly during such a tumultuous
transition, Jones also makes a point of creating
opportunities for the people he supervises and
teaching them to seek solutions and take
action. He credits Doug Hause, his longtime
supervisor at JMB, with sharing these strategies.
“Two things that we’ve always done well are
team-building and then promoting your people, getting your people to that next level,”
Jones said. “One of the things that Doug
always insisted on was when you respond to a
problem, give me a plan of action. Maybe it’s
two or three options, but give me a solution,
don’t just tackle it as a problem.”
A FARM OF HIS OWN
When he’s not tending to the apartment
business, Jones can be found among his cattle
and other animals, or out on the Gulf on a
fishing expedition. So just how did a man
determined to get away from farm life end up
raising livestock? As pets, of course – llamas,
emus and other exotic animals, including tiny
cows – the economic enterprise came later.
“We actually started with a multitude of
exotic animals,” he said. “We originally had
miniature Zebus, which are really small little
Brahmans, but they’re tiny. They have no
economic value. You can’t eat them, they’re
high-strung, they’re just strictly pets, which
ultimately, pets don’t make much sense when
you have the volume of pets that we had.
“So the Dexters were a good fit for us
because we were expanding the size of land we
had available, and so they were just attractive.
… The cows are about 750 pounds, and the
bulls are about 1,000, so it’s a good fit for small
acreage, but it still has an economic end result,
whereas the others – you know, when you’re
selling them for pets, that’s a pretty limited
number of people that want pet cows.”
Even with all the critters and exotic plants
he raises, Jones says fishing is his true passion,
and waiting for a bite may be as still as he gets.
He took his first offshore trip with JMB colleagues years ago but caught the bug while
working in Florida.
“I try to get seven or eight offshore, 60-, 70mile out trips a year,” he said. “… Because
we’re so close to the Gulf, it’s easy to get
involved in it, so if you’re here any length of
time, you’re probably going to get invited on a
trip, and you’re probably going to go, and if
you like it, then you keep doing it. We’re an
hour from some of the best fishing around.”
He also enjoys riding motorcycles, another
hobby he picked up in Florida, but he gave up
his Harley a few years ago when he realized it
sat in the garage more than he rode it. He
hopes to make time to ride again soon.
LOOKING AHEAD
Friends and former colleagues Holcombe
and Small both look forward to Jones’ leadership this year.
“He has a great ability to move an organization forward,” said Holcombe. “He sets his
standards high and succeeds with little to no
compromises.”
Small thinks Jones will make the association’s 50th year memorable and productive.
“His energy and can-do attitude will likely
be very contagious, and his ability to work
with community leaders will be invaluable,”
she said.
Jones himself is excited to be president during the 50th anniversary year – a landmark he
shares with the association, at least until June.
“I guess if you have to do it any given year,
I guess a special year is … pretty amazing,”
he said. “And of course, I’m 50 also. I turned
50 in June, so I’ll be 50 for the first half of
our anniversary.”
He hopes the coming year for HAA and the
industry will be a quiet one and that the market and the economy will continue to grow.
“Economically, for the challenges that we’ve
had, I really think most of us thought there
would be more downturn within HAA than
there was, and there really wasn’t,” he said.
“We maintained all of our levels, and I think
that speaks very well for the association. … I’m
sure there are companies that have had to
tighten their belts and stuff, but it really didn’t
have a major effect on us as an association, so I
would expect that to continue through the
year, and if anything, strengthen because of
the 50th anniversary. It’s going to be visible.
It’s going to be attention-getting, so I think
that will speak well for all of us.”
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JANUARY 2010
73
INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
For Rent Media Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
281-281-1800 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.forrent.com
TPI Painting Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
713-668-7986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.tpipainting.com
AAA Plumbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
713-462-4753 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.aaaplumbers.cc
FSI Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
713-690-5330 . . . . . . . . . . .www.fsiconstruction.com
TXU Energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
713-953-5631 . . . . . . . . . .www.txu.com/apartments
Access Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
281-489-7755 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.access-electric.com
Hamilton-Steele Outdoor Accents . . . . . . . . . . .71
713-533-9059 . . . . . . . . . . .www.hamilton-steele.com
Texas Apartment Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
800-493-5406
Advanced Foundation Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
713-464-5561 . . . . . .www.advancedfoundationrepair.com
HARCO Insurance & Financial Services . . . . . . . .72
713-681-2500 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.harco-ins.com
Triple V Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
832-644-6455 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.triplevcorp.com
AdvaloremTax.net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
281-474-2300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.advaloremtax.net
Maintenance Supply Headquarters . . . . . . . . . .12
281-530-6300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.supplyhq.com
Waste Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
713-354-5230 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.thinkgreen.com
Affordable Quality Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
713-695-5992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.acuityelectric.com
Meyer Smith Inc. (Houston Gate) . . . . . . . . . . . .50
713-862-7339 . . . . . . . . . . .www.meyersmithinc.com
Webb Pest Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
800-243-6303
Alexander-Rose Associates Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
713-644-4441
Mid-Continental Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
713-528-2961
Ameristar Screen and Glass . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 69
713-683-6767 . . . . . . . . . . .www.ameristarglass.com
Migura Insurance Agency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
281-499-7676
Ameritex Apartment Movers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
713-484-8400 . . . . . . . . .www.ameritexhouston.com
Namco Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
800-634-5816 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.namcomfg.com
Apartment Data Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
281-759-2200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.apartmentdata.com
On The Move . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
800-645-9949 . . . . . . . . .www.onthemovetrucks.com
Apartment Finder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
800-422-8300 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.apartmentfinder.com
Perfect Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
713-952-0202
CKI Wholesale Lock Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
713-462-0704 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ckilock.com
Rasa Floors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Cover
713-660-7777 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.rasafloors.com
Camp Construction Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
713-413-2267 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.camprecon.com
RENCON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Inside Back Cover
713-666-3636 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.rencon.cc
Certified Recovery Systems Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
713-464-8219 . . . . . . . . . .www.certifiedrecovery.com
Resident Credit Reporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33, 74
713-595-0345 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.haaonline.org
Comcast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
713-341-1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.comcast.com
Scott Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
713-686-7268 . . . . . . . . . .www.scott-equipment.com
Dixie Carpet Installations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
281-261-6334 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.dixiecarpet.com
Service Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
936-441-2121 . . . . . . . . . . . .www.serviceconcepts.us
First Advantage SafeRent . . . . . .Inside Front Cover
972-612-2420 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.fadvsaferent.com
THS Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
713-574-1443 . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.thsnational.com
Do you need HAA or TAA
forms and leases?
Contact our Form Sales department
directly at 713-595-0317, or send an
e-mail to [email protected].
See RCR Online at:
www.haaonline.org/portal_rcr.aspx
74
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
MARKET LINE
By
BRUCE McCLENNY, President, Apartment Data Services
HOUSTON
T
41 submarkets, and the ranking is based on the best combination of
rental rate growth and absorption over the past three months. The third
table distributes and analyzes concessions (specials) by classification.
Concessions generally are represented by three types of specials:
move-in, months free or floor plans. The effect of these specials is
captured and prorated over a lease term to arrive at a percentage
reduction in market or street rents.
he first table below displays a snapshot of the current market
conditions. The graph displays the overall occupancy and
effective rental rates over the past 24 months. These statistics
are derived from a continuous survey of all apartment communities in
the Houston region. The effective rental rates are the calculated net of
concessions and utility adjustments. The second table lists the five
hottest submarkets in the Greater Houston area. There are a total of
History of Effective Rental Rate & Occupancy for All Units
SNAPSHOT
84.0 –
Past 12 Months:
-1.9% rental rate growth
4,800 units absorbed
Recently Opened (12 months):
55 communities
15,332 units
82.0 –
•
80.0 –
•
•
•
• •
•
• • ••
•
• • ••
•
• • •
– 89.0
•
•
– 87.0
• •
– 86.0
78.0 –
– 85.0
Under Construction:
14 communities
3,402 units
_ 84.0
HOTTEST SUBMARKETS Over the Past Three Months
Rank
1
2
3
4
5
Submarket
Tomball/Far Northwest
HWY 288/South
Inner Loop East
Fort Bend
Northline/Aldine
% of Market
Absorbed
1.9%
0.7%
0.7%
1.7%
0.5%
Annualized
Rental Rate
Growth %
22.5%
5.4%
2.8%
-0.9%
12.7%
Nov 09
Oct 09
Sep 09
Jul 09
Aug 09
Jun 09
Apr 09
May 09
Mar 09
Jan 09
Feb 09
Dec 08
Nov 08
Oct 08
Sep 08
Aug 08
Jul 08
Jun 08
May 08
Apr 08
Mar 08
Feb 08
Jan 08
76.0 –
Dec 07
Proposed Construction:
40 communities
12,928 units
– 88.0
Occupancy (%)
Operating Supply:
2,850 communities
569,420 units
Rental Rate (¢/sq.ft./mo.)
84.6%
$712/mo.
82.0¢/sq.ft./mo.
868 sq.ft.
•
Occupancy:
Price:
Rental Rate:
Size:
CONCESSIONS
Class
All
A
B
C
D
Total Units
w/Concessions
376,004
70,487
150,638
147,316
7,563
% of
Total Units
66%
75%
65%
70%
23%
Average
Special
-9.9%
-12.7%
-9.6%
-7.5%
-9.2%
Citywide
Effect
-7.1%
-9.9%
-6.7%
-5.4%
-4.2%
One Month Free = -8.33%
TEXAS
DALLAS/FT. WORTH
SAN ANTONIO
AUSTIN
Occupancy:
Price:
Rental Rate:
Size:
Occupancy:
Price:
Rental Rate:
Size:
Occupancy:
Price:
Rental Rate:
Size:
87.2%
$728/mo.
84.4¢/sq.ft./mo.
863 sq.ft.
88.0%
$692/mo.
82.8¢/sq.ft./mo.
836 sq.ft.
89.2%
$820/mo.
94.9¢/sq.ft./mo.
864 sq.ft.
Past 12 Months:
Past 12 Months:
1.4% rental rate growth
Past 12 Months:
Operating Supply:
2,561 communities
573,171 units
Operating Supply:
709 communities
143,787 units
Operating Supply:
724 communities
158,791 units
Apartment Data Services Inc. has
been providing apartment data and
marketing products since 1986.
ADS Online covers Texas’ four
largest metro areas and provides
real-time access for property specific
information, market surveys and
historic submarket data for more
than 1.3 million apartment units.
For more information, contact
McClenny at 800-595-8730.
© 2010 Apartment Data Services Inc.
ABODE
JANUARY 2010
75
BACK PAGE
News from around the
Thank you, HAA members and volunteers, for your support of this worthy cause!
HAA collects tons of food
for Houston’s needy
HAA members, properties and volunteers once again really stepped up and donated
thousands of pounds of food and more than $1000 in cash for needy Houston residents.
This was our 14th year to participate in the Houston Food Bank’s “Share Your
Holidays” food drive. Many thanks to Camp Construction for allowing us to use their
warehouse as a drop off and repacking location, along with Certified Recovery Systems
and For Rent Media Solutions. To help increase our donations, Hire Priority held a contest for the property that collected the most food, and the winners of that contest are:
1st place: Villa Toscana, with manager Mary Ellen Tedford, donated 622 items and won
the grand prize of a staff dinner at Seppia Restaurant & Wine Bar.
2nd place: St. Andrews, with manager Dana Holder, donated 530 items and received
gift certificates to Maggie Rita’s.
3rd place: Greystar Cypress Village, with manager Shannon Crumpler, donated 492
items and received gift certificates to Maggie Rita’s.
Many thanks to these individuals, properties and companies who donated their
time, food or cash for the cause. If we missed you or your property’s name,
please let us know.
Greystar – all properties
Falls at Copper Lake Apartments
Landmark Management
Nolan Real Estate
Henry S. Miller
Stonegate Villas
Ashford Lakes
Thornbury
Cabochon at River Oaks High Rise
Kensington Place
Francis Property Management
Kaplan Management
Stone Mist
Bay House
Parkside
Town Center
4444 Westheimer
Alexan at Grand Mission
The Abbey at Briar Forest
Timberlakes at Atascosita
Eagle Crest
Tradewinds at Willowbrook
Broadstone at Piney Point
Verde Woodson Park
Breakers at Windmill Lakes
Park Plaza
Camden
Jamila Ross, Ginger Posey and Betzabe
Vasquez, Kaplan Management
Andrea Winans, Bishop’s Office Needs
Brian Brueckner, Total Package Turnkey
Peter Sidaro and Lydia Conn, Asset Plus
Misti Morales and Carina Bryars,
Greystar
Theresa Lamar, Ice Blue Advertising
Clint Strahm, Corestone Paving
& Construction
April Wilkin, Building EMTs
Dean O’Kelley and Debra Knight,
The Liberty Group
Mindy Price, BG Personnel
Roger Camp, Jeff Blevins, David Koenig,
Patrick Sheahan, Sherwin Williams
Christopher Hilton, Apartment Finder
Barbara Brett, TVMax
Darlene Hunter and Susan Wells,
Francis Property Management
Brenda Nite, J&L Distributors
Susan Lee, Craven Carpet
Theresa Martinez, Frontier Utilities
Mark Denson, Overhaulinpro.com
Beth Rohani, Ameritex Movers
76
JANUARY 2010
ABODE
Denise Hurt, Shannon Fletcher, Lisa and
Lauren, Landmark Management
Mary Estrada, Certified Recovery Systems
Christian Espinoza, Ygnition Networks
Chris Gizinski and Kristi Riddle,
Hire Priority
Jerry Winograd, Judwin Properties
Nichole Williams, Apartment Guide
Mary Parkhouse, Amanda Sherbondy
and Susan Hinkley, HAA
COMMUNITY
Houston Apartment Association
4810 Westway Park Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77041
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2010 HAA President David Jones has built his career by seizing

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