Thanksgiving is around the corner and it's time to reflect on everything and everyone I'm thankful for in my life. My personal list seems to get longer and longer each year, but that's a good thing. The older you get, the more you appreciate the little things in life as well as the big things.
During our Thanksgiving meal, we have a family tradition to go around the table and say what we are thankful for in our lives. It's a good practice (and should probably be done more than once a year to publicly proclaim what one is thankful for.) The kids usually say something silly like their x-box; but the older we get, the more meaningful it becomes as we find real gratitude in our lives.
During this economic downturn, I am thankful Drucker & Falk is able to offer stable jobs to qualified employees. We have some properties whose occupancy is being effected by increased skips and evictions, but overall we are performing on budget as a company. I am thankful Drucker & Falk continues to be awarded by performance, by our properties and employees. For the latest awards and recognitions, please visit our website AND our Facebook page to become a fan of Drucker & Falk, LLC.
I also wanted to congratulate (thank!) our latest Star Performers in both regions. In the Southeast: Robin Hays, Phillip Shumaker, Olivia Wise, Rashena Green, Jodie Bell, Debra Shea, Dawn Sims, J. Brea Garner, Brenda Anderson, Melissa Jones, Joni Surmrak, Jacqueline Perez, Sabrina Gendreau & Kendra Knowles. In the Mid-Atlantic: Shauna Beasley & Almonie Scott.
Finally, I am thankful for my family and friends...everyone needs some love and laughter to help us get through our crazy days! Enjoy your holiday...and be safe!
Kellie Falk-Tillett
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Autumn is in the air...
Sorry for the delayed blog, but been busy and on the road. My eldest son has packed up and move on campus at NC State University. So, I'm officially a Wolfpack Mom! I just wish they had a better football team.
Some good news...we were just awarded the managment of St. Albans at North Hills. A mid-rise mixed used apartment building under contruction in Raleigh, NC. It will have 409 units with average rents around $1300/month. There will be underground parking and 2 floors of retail with a Harris Teeter. We are currently working with the owner on the construction plans as well as their branding iniatives. We should have our first units in Fall 2009. Construction is almost complete on Smith's Landing Apartments in Blacksburg, VA and construction is complete on our renovated historical hotel, The Chamblin, in Hampton, VA. If you haven't visited their websites, please do...wonderful properties!
In a couple of weeks, I will participate in the Race for the Cure in Charlotte, NC with the Charlotte Apartment Association. I know too many people who have had cancer or have a loved one with cancer. I am walking in honor of my dear friend, Susan, who recently found out she has breast cancer at 45 years old. I ordered a photo button of her to wear during the race at www.buttonsofhope.com. Let me take this opportunity to remind everyone to volunteer for a non-profit organization. You can make a difference in someone's life. You can visit www.volunteermatch.org to see what organizations are in your area.
Now...something for fun...visit http://secure.wonderfulgraffiti.com for some great ideas on decorating a playroom, bedroom or bathroom. We used this site to help decorate the Raleigh Training Room. You can make up your own saying or use one of their quotes to put up on a wall. Some of our properties have used this site to decorate their clubhouses.
My youngest son just texted me...he wants to sign up for driver's ed...should I text him back and just say NO?? And why is he texting me and not calling me???
Some good news...we were just awarded the managment of St. Albans at North Hills. A mid-rise mixed used apartment building under contruction in Raleigh, NC. It will have 409 units with average rents around $1300/month. There will be underground parking and 2 floors of retail with a Harris Teeter. We are currently working with the owner on the construction plans as well as their branding iniatives. We should have our first units in Fall 2009. Construction is almost complete on Smith's Landing Apartments in Blacksburg, VA and construction is complete on our renovated historical hotel, The Chamblin, in Hampton, VA. If you haven't visited their websites, please do...wonderful properties!
In a couple of weeks, I will participate in the Race for the Cure in Charlotte, NC with the Charlotte Apartment Association. I know too many people who have had cancer or have a loved one with cancer. I am walking in honor of my dear friend, Susan, who recently found out she has breast cancer at 45 years old. I ordered a photo button of her to wear during the race at www.buttonsofhope.com. Let me take this opportunity to remind everyone to volunteer for a non-profit organization. You can make a difference in someone's life. You can visit www.volunteermatch.org to see what organizations are in your area.
Now...something for fun...visit http://secure.wonderfulgraffiti.com for some great ideas on decorating a playroom, bedroom or bathroom. We used this site to help decorate the Raleigh Training Room. You can make up your own saying or use one of their quotes to put up on a wall. Some of our properties have used this site to decorate their clubhouses.
My youngest son just texted me...he wants to sign up for driver's ed...should I text him back and just say NO?? And why is he texting me and not calling me???
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
National Apartment Association
Greetings...just back from my vacation and ready for the grind!
The National Apartment Association was a success. I was introduced to a few new companies that can help us in our business. We are getting formal presentations from the new vendors to see how we can benefit from each other. All the new companies have something to do with technology. Rent Wiki is a new social media oriented apartment locator for our industry. It is in its beginning stages, but they have pulled concepts from MySpace, Facebook, Apartment Ratings, TripAdvisor, etc. It should be a great product once it is finalized. I also met with 2 vendors that will benefit the property's individual websites...one helps to search local businesses around an address and the other helps residents set up their utilities. We are working with them now to see how we can integrate for success. Lastly, we reviewed a Lead Tracking system to partner with Yardi to help us manage our "guest cards" more effectively.
Steve Hayworth, Maintenance Director, toured the trade show floor meeting with current vendors and seeking out new companies and products.
National Apartment Association (NAA) is also the time our current vendors introduce new products or enhancements. I was excited to learn how Yardi can help us even more in the management of our properties as well as enhancements within Vaultware.
You recently received a memo from us about finding a replacement for Ron Melvin, our COO/President. While we are very sad that he will be retiring in a couple of years, we are excited about the prospect of bringing in someone dynamic to help us to obtain the goals of our strategic plan--which is basically to grow our business in all departments. We have just started the search and hope to have someone within a few months.
Did you know you could receive a bonus for bringing leads for new business? It could be a lead for commercial space management, commercial space leasing, property management or a commercial sale. Just contact myself, David or Wendy if you have any leads and we will redirect you to the appropriate person.
Finally, for your enjoyment, I wanted to share with you a short clip from UTube on a recent story I saw about 2 guys and their lion cub. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGKWoJi5qM
The National Apartment Association was a success. I was introduced to a few new companies that can help us in our business. We are getting formal presentations from the new vendors to see how we can benefit from each other. All the new companies have something to do with technology. Rent Wiki is a new social media oriented apartment locator for our industry. It is in its beginning stages, but they have pulled concepts from MySpace, Facebook, Apartment Ratings, TripAdvisor, etc. It should be a great product once it is finalized. I also met with 2 vendors that will benefit the property's individual websites...one helps to search local businesses around an address and the other helps residents set up their utilities. We are working with them now to see how we can integrate for success. Lastly, we reviewed a Lead Tracking system to partner with Yardi to help us manage our "guest cards" more effectively.
Steve Hayworth, Maintenance Director, toured the trade show floor meeting with current vendors and seeking out new companies and products.
National Apartment Association (NAA) is also the time our current vendors introduce new products or enhancements. I was excited to learn how Yardi can help us even more in the management of our properties as well as enhancements within Vaultware.
You recently received a memo from us about finding a replacement for Ron Melvin, our COO/President. While we are very sad that he will be retiring in a couple of years, we are excited about the prospect of bringing in someone dynamic to help us to obtain the goals of our strategic plan--which is basically to grow our business in all departments. We have just started the search and hope to have someone within a few months.
Did you know you could receive a bonus for bringing leads for new business? It could be a lead for commercial space management, commercial space leasing, property management or a commercial sale. Just contact myself, David or Wendy if you have any leads and we will redirect you to the appropriate person.
Finally, for your enjoyment, I wanted to share with you a short clip from UTube on a recent story I saw about 2 guys and their lion cub. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiGKWoJi5qM
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
We're Moving and Grooving
My trip a couple of weeks ago was a success! We signed a management agreement on a new construction property in Knoxville, TN...252 units, Class A Apartment Community. We have posted job openings on DFPeople.com, so be sure to check it out! We have a few more management proposals outstanding, so hopefully we will hear soon about additional new business.
I was finally able to eat at Penguin's in Charlotte...great fried pickles...highly recommend the sweet potatoe french fries, but go early for a table. I'm still in search of the best cheeseburger, please let me know if you have any recommendations.
Here are the Mid-Atlantic "Star Performers" from first quarter...sorry about the delay in posting, but I am trying to get up to speed on how to blog, etc., etc.
Eboni Soule, Colonial Pines, Williamsburg, VA
Angie Faille, Crater Square, Petersburg, VA
Pamela Wagner, Old Donation, Va. Beach, VA
Deborah Hall, Smith's Landing, Blacksburg, VA
Rich Parron, The Towns at Jones Run, Newport News, VA
Gladys Woods, Woodbriar, Richmond, VA
Congrats to all!!!
Tomorrow I am leaving to attend the National Apartment Association Educational Conference with some of our Regional Property Managers. I expect to attend educational seminars as well as stroll through the 300+ vendor trade show for ideas, products, services, etc. to bring back to you.
Summer is here and the rental season is HOT! Keep watering your maintenance teams and lease your apartments!
I was finally able to eat at Penguin's in Charlotte...great fried pickles...highly recommend the sweet potatoe french fries, but go early for a table. I'm still in search of the best cheeseburger, please let me know if you have any recommendations.
Here are the Mid-Atlantic "Star Performers" from first quarter...sorry about the delay in posting, but I am trying to get up to speed on how to blog, etc., etc.
Eboni Soule, Colonial Pines, Williamsburg, VA
Angie Faille, Crater Square, Petersburg, VA
Pamela Wagner, Old Donation, Va. Beach, VA
Deborah Hall, Smith's Landing, Blacksburg, VA
Rich Parron, The Towns at Jones Run, Newport News, VA
Gladys Woods, Woodbriar, Richmond, VA
Congrats to all!!!
Tomorrow I am leaving to attend the National Apartment Association Educational Conference with some of our Regional Property Managers. I expect to attend educational seminars as well as stroll through the 300+ vendor trade show for ideas, products, services, etc. to bring back to you.
Summer is here and the rental season is HOT! Keep watering your maintenance teams and lease your apartments!
Friday, June 6, 2008
The beginning of our heat wave
It's been a busy, but productive two weeks. Two presentations were made for apartment management. I haven't heard back from the prospective clients, but I felt positive about the presentations. More news to follow on our results!
This week we worked on our "green" campaign. We want to be a better company by providing ways our residents and employees can be green. Look for developments in the next few weeks on our "green" campaign. I recently joined an organization called Green Dimes...it helps you to eliminate your junk mail. I've been sending memberships to friends and family as gifts. My junk mail has decreased since joining! Visit http://www.greendimes.com/ for more information on participating.
I hope you have noticed the updates and changes to http://www.dfapartments.com/. Recently I was reviewing our traffic results with Vaultware. In 3 1/2 weeks of reporting...May 13 - May 31...we had 220 leads to our properties on Vaultware. However, we only had about 40+ properties on Vaultware during this period and not all were on the site the entire 3 1/2 weeks of reporting, so I expect these numbers to increase!! Rent.com was the highest source of leads with DFApartments.com in a close second place. We beat out Apartments.com, ApartmentGuide.com, Move.com and ForRent.com!!! That's amazing!
I wanted to share 3 websites with you...all from the Drucker & Falk family...the first is a re-developed website for The Cosmopolitan Apartments...check out their new resident section...it is still under construction, but you can see how great it will be when complete! http://www.thecosmopolitanapartments.com/. Our newest apartment communities... http://www.smithlandingapartments.com/ and http://www.historicchamberlin.com/ Notice on the Chamberlin you can change the font size or get "voice"...this is a senior housing property...great touches!!
I had the pleasure of joining the STAR PERFORMERS' lunch in the Raleigh Office. I would love to meet everyone at one of these lunches. Here's a complete list of the STAR PERFORMERS for the Southeast Region...you have to score at least 92% on the overall report and 100% on the benchmark questions each quarter. I'll list the Mid-Atlantic Performers next week.
Andrea Jarvis-Aspen Peak, Charlotte
Susan Porter-Barclay Place, Wilmington
Patricia Vasquez-Brentwood West, Raleigh
Heather Clarke-Calibre Chase, Raleigh
Derrick Lee-Canterbury Woods, Wilmington
Brenda Rodriguez-Carlton Arms, Orlando, Florida
Charolette Whitaker-Floating Manager, Raleigh
Lacy Drake-Hunt Club, Charlotte
Brittany Buchanan-Northridge Crossings, Raleigh
Misty Hyde-Northridge Crossings, Raleigh
Karen Pawelec-Remington Place, Raleigh
Deborah O’Brien-Stonehenge, Raleigh
Joni Sumrak-Sumter Square, Raleigh
Kevin Lawson-The Oaks, Charlotte
Jill Crowley-The Regency, Charlotte
Hillary Starrett-The Regency, Charlotte
Regina Goods-The Timbers, Raleigh
It's going to be hot this weekend and next week in Raleigh...near 100 degrees. Please make sure our Maintenance Staffs drink plenty of water...bring them some water!!!
I'm going to the N.C. State Fairgrounds this weekend for my father's annual COW sale. Yes, since his retirement from Drucker & Falk he has been in the cow business. He still talks apartments, but with a "moo" in between sentences. AND my baby (don't tell him I called him baby) graduates from High School next week. It will be a bittersweet week! Have a great weekend!
Kellie Falk-Tillett
This week we worked on our "green" campaign. We want to be a better company by providing ways our residents and employees can be green. Look for developments in the next few weeks on our "green" campaign. I recently joined an organization called Green Dimes...it helps you to eliminate your junk mail. I've been sending memberships to friends and family as gifts. My junk mail has decreased since joining! Visit http://www.greendimes.com/ for more information on participating.
I hope you have noticed the updates and changes to http://www.dfapartments.com/. Recently I was reviewing our traffic results with Vaultware. In 3 1/2 weeks of reporting...May 13 - May 31...we had 220 leads to our properties on Vaultware. However, we only had about 40+ properties on Vaultware during this period and not all were on the site the entire 3 1/2 weeks of reporting, so I expect these numbers to increase!! Rent.com was the highest source of leads with DFApartments.com in a close second place. We beat out Apartments.com, ApartmentGuide.com, Move.com and ForRent.com!!! That's amazing!
I wanted to share 3 websites with you...all from the Drucker & Falk family...the first is a re-developed website for The Cosmopolitan Apartments...check out their new resident section...it is still under construction, but you can see how great it will be when complete! http://www.thecosmopolitanapartments.com/. Our newest apartment communities... http://www.smithlandingapartments.com/ and http://www.historicchamberlin.com/ Notice on the Chamberlin you can change the font size or get "voice"...this is a senior housing property...great touches!!
I had the pleasure of joining the STAR PERFORMERS' lunch in the Raleigh Office. I would love to meet everyone at one of these lunches. Here's a complete list of the STAR PERFORMERS for the Southeast Region...you have to score at least 92% on the overall report and 100% on the benchmark questions each quarter. I'll list the Mid-Atlantic Performers next week.
Andrea Jarvis-Aspen Peak, Charlotte
Susan Porter-Barclay Place, Wilmington
Patricia Vasquez-Brentwood West, Raleigh
Heather Clarke-Calibre Chase, Raleigh
Derrick Lee-Canterbury Woods, Wilmington
Brenda Rodriguez-Carlton Arms, Orlando, Florida
Charolette Whitaker-Floating Manager, Raleigh
Lacy Drake-Hunt Club, Charlotte
Brittany Buchanan-Northridge Crossings, Raleigh
Misty Hyde-Northridge Crossings, Raleigh
Karen Pawelec-Remington Place, Raleigh
Deborah O’Brien-Stonehenge, Raleigh
Joni Sumrak-Sumter Square, Raleigh
Kevin Lawson-The Oaks, Charlotte
Jill Crowley-The Regency, Charlotte
Hillary Starrett-The Regency, Charlotte
Regina Goods-The Timbers, Raleigh
It's going to be hot this weekend and next week in Raleigh...near 100 degrees. Please make sure our Maintenance Staffs drink plenty of water...bring them some water!!!
I'm going to the N.C. State Fairgrounds this weekend for my father's annual COW sale. Yes, since his retirement from Drucker & Falk he has been in the cow business. He still talks apartments, but with a "moo" in between sentences. AND my baby (don't tell him I called him baby) graduates from High School next week. It will be a bittersweet week! Have a great weekend!
Kellie Falk-Tillett
Thursday, May 22, 2008
This is my FIRST blog on www.dfpeople.com!! I want to share information with our Associates on the happenings at D&F, what I'm doing and share stories from the industry.
MY WEEK
I just got back from a National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) meeting in Dallas, Texas. Drucker & Falk is a member of the Board of Directors for this organization...learn more by visiting their Web site at www.nmhc.org. The meeting focused on the economics of the apartment industry as well as the overall US economy. The overall feeling was we were in a mild recession with a recovery expected in mid-2009. The apartment industry is fairing better than home sales, but rent growth isn't as strong as it as been in the past. However, positive job growth and occupancy rates were strong in Southeast with emphasis put on Raleigh, Charlotte and Atlanta. Most of the major apartment managment companies (Lane, Lincoln, UDR, Bozzuto, Archstone, etc.) were represented at the meeting, so it was interesting to hear their insights on what's happening in their markets. The meeting ended with a Board of Directors Meeting discussing NMHC's legislative efforts.
MY WEEK
I just got back from a National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) meeting in Dallas, Texas. Drucker & Falk is a member of the Board of Directors for this organization...learn more by visiting their Web site at www.nmhc.org. The meeting focused on the economics of the apartment industry as well as the overall US economy. The overall feeling was we were in a mild recession with a recovery expected in mid-2009. The apartment industry is fairing better than home sales, but rent growth isn't as strong as it as been in the past. However, positive job growth and occupancy rates were strong in Southeast with emphasis put on Raleigh, Charlotte and Atlanta. Most of the major apartment managment companies (Lane, Lincoln, UDR, Bozzuto, Archstone, etc.) were represented at the meeting, so it was interesting to hear their insights on what's happening in their markets. The meeting ended with a Board of Directors Meeting discussing NMHC's legislative efforts.
Last week, I spent most of the week in Charlotte trying to make sure our new office is running smoothly as well as spent time with a client visiting the Charlotte properties. We've hired a new Regional Property Manager in the Charlotte office and her name is Kelly! Another Kelly!! (different spelling) and she started this week. Shane Abell, the Charlotte Assistant/Office Mgr./Receptionist and I tried going to "The Penguin" last week for lunch...we wanted to taste their famous fried pickles; however, the line was already around the building, so we went somewhere else. We decided we need to get there either at 11:00 am or 2:00 pm. www.penguindrivein.com. I have to go!! Afterall, I saw it featured on The Food Network's Diner's, Drive in's and Dives.
In addition, we are looking for a Commercial Broker for the Charlotte office. We would like to offer the same services as our Raleigh and Newport News Offices on the commercial side. The job is posted on www.dfpeople.com for more information.
I'll finish up my week by clearing off my desk, answering calls, returning emails and getting ready for next week. NEXT week is going to be exciting...traveling to meet with 2 different prospect clients for more properties to manage.
Send me your feedback and/or questions or what you would like to see me "blog" about...until then...have a wonderful holiday with friends and family!
Kellie Falk-Tillett
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