Fair Housing: 

Are You Hiring Trouble?

By D. J. Ryan, Fair Housing Specialist/

Director of Client Education

Kimball, Tirey & St. John, LLP

     The first line of defense against a potential fair housing complaint is a well-trained and knowledgeable staff. But knowledge and training is only half the picture. The fact is, not everyone is cut out to work with the diversity of applicants and residents on your properties. No matter how intelligent and technically skilled an employee might be, the wrong personality in the job can spell trouble.

      For instance, take body language, which tells others about how we feel through unspoken communication in face-to-face encounters. Studies show that our body language says more than the actual words we use. Even without intending to, our body language can quickly give us away if we don't like someone. The way we tense up, pull away, fold our arms, change facial expressions, or lose the enthusiasm in our voices, for example, can speak volumes.

      There is no foolproof way to ensure that every person you hire on the property can or will be able to successfully make all applicants and residents feel welcome, but there are a few fair housing tips that you can keep in mind if you have the responsibility of hiring on-site personnel.

      First, establish the characteristics that are both the least likely and the most likely to create fair housing problems. Then, during the interview process, make it a point to identify those positive or negative traits are present in each candidate.

 

To read more, go to: http://www.iremsf.org/Hiring%20Managers%20Qualities%203.07.pdf

 

          Reggie makes her home in the Washington, DC area and she's a senior portfolio manager in the Asset Services Group of Cushman & Wakefield. With over 24 years of industry experience, she's responsible for asset and property management of 12 commercial buildings totaling over 3 million square feet in Northern Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland.

          Prior to joining C & W in 1997, Reggie was a senior property manager at two different Washington, DC-area property management firms, where she was responsible for 18 commercial properties totaling more than 2 million square feet.

 

Trade Fair

          The June  meeting will also feature a Trade Fair featuring Friends of IREM.  Representatives of participating companies will be available to discuss their services and answer questions about topics ranging from tenant-landlord relationships, to toxic mold.  "This is a great opportunity for members to survey a variety of vendors in a low-pressure, highly personal atmosphere," commented Margo Foster, Chair of the Chapter's Friends of IREM Committee.  "Being able to put a face with a company is invaluable when you need help from a vendor.  And dealing with a Friend of IREM can make the contact much more comfortable and rewarding." 

 

Parking Contract Negotiation Seminar

            Matt Griesheimer, Vice President of Ace Parking Management, will provide an in depth presentation on how to make the most of the parking facilities. Topics will include the ins-and-outs of finding the right parking management company;  controlling expenses, selection of equipment for garages versus surface lots; determine if parking rates at your facility are at the market rate; parking mix i.e. transient versus monthly parkers; and trends in the parking industry.  This seminar is good for managers with both indoor parking garages and outdoor parking lots.  

 

To view the flyer for the seminar and luncheon meeting, go to:

San Francisco well represented

at Capitol Hill visits in April

 By Chet Fitzell, CPM

   Legislative Committee Chair

     The trip to Washington D.C. in April was well attended by our San Francisco Chapter and an acclaimed success by those in attendance. The  number of attendees is growing each year. Each of us returns with fond memories of the conversations we have shared with our members of Congress or members of their staff. Members of our Chapter who have attended these meetings annually are building relationships with our Congressional leaders and their staff.

          The purpose of our annual Capitol Hill visits is to bring attention to issues that impact our industry as Real Estate professionals. Teaming up with NAR (National Association of Realtors) affords us the opportunity, given our numbers, to have a "loud voice" on matters relating to our industry.

          This year we focused on issues relating to the costs of property/casualty insurance, banks in the Real Estate industry, leasehold improvements recovery period being extended and positive incentives for energy conservation strongly supported by IREM and the NAR. To view a summary of our positions on these issues, go to: 

http://www.iremsf.org/Capitol%20Hill%20visits%202007.pdf

          Beyond meeting with our Congressional leaders, the opportunity to meet with our own members in an informal setting, to develop relationships and discuss the future plans for our Chapter is a great benefit for all of us involved in this process.

          The opportunity for each of us to serve our local chapter, meet members of Congress, tour historical landmarks and share together in this unique opportunity is a highlight in our individual careers. Please consider joining us next year during the month of April 2008 as we once again attend our IREM Leadership Conference and Capitol Hill Visits.