Posted by By Oretta Croushore, Property Manager for Home Rental Services
Property management requires us to follow guidelines set out by cities, states, and even homes associations. Bylaws and ordinances are a regular part of our everyday lives.
Recently, the HRS team was discussing some ordinances which seem to aim to keep renting at bay. It made me think of the genius Mr. George Carlin. At a young age, he taught me about NIMBY – Not In My Back Yard. I couldn’t help but think how true that feels sometimes when we see rules and regulations that seem to work to keep out rentals. It’s like, sure, we understand that there are a variety of reasons that a person chooses to rent and that is all fine and good. Just as long as they don’t do it in my space.
This conversation led us down the “quotes by George Carlin” rabbit hole. As I read through them, I couldn’t help but think George could have been a property manager. Amidst his humor and cynicism, I found some things which hit home for me in my job and my life.
“A house is just a place to keep your stuff
while you go out and get more stuff.”
I think Americans have a relationship with stuff that is not the same as in many other cultures. Have you ever walked through Ikea and checked out the seemingly tiny houses where actual families live? At first, I always think, “yeah, if we just have the right bins and storage contraptions, we could make this work.” Then, I think “where would all my stuff go?” It makes me a little anxious to think of giving up my various craft stuff and other unmentionable things I am sure I need.
One of the common reasons people move is for more space. As families grow and life situations change, we do need space to accommodate the extra people that come along. But, it’s not always about having space for more people. It’s so often about the stuff that goes with each of those people.
I remember when I had my child, an older coworker saying to me that babies don’t need all the stuff people seem to think they do. I thought she was crazy. I wanted all the things! My baby needed them! 18 years later, I am here to tell you, she was right. Though I do not give that advice to new parents, I think it.
“We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years.”
“Trying to be happy by accumulating possessions is like trying to satisfy hunger by taping sandwiches all over your body.”
“The caterpillar does all the work,
but the butterfly gets all the publicity.”
Everyone who works behind the scenes to get a house rented is the caterpillar. They work hard to help someone create a new home for themselves and their family. When a renter tells me they love the house or they love living there or even that they love working with HRS, they are seeing the butterfly. They don’t know or care about all the things that had to happen to birth their butterfly. They just know it’s beautiful.
“Never argue with an idiot.
They will only bring you down to their level
and beat you with their experience.”
Much of property management is customer service. It’s strange to discuss customer service when referring to people as idiots. If we think of an “idiot” as someone who doesn’t see eye to eye with us, it’s a little less harsh. Getting someone to change their opinion is hardly ever accomplished by arguing. In the case of an angry customer, client, renter, it’s easy to get dragged into the anger and to become defensive. Doing so only takes us down to a level where nothing gets accomplished and all parties leave the conversation feeling irritated.
“Scratch any cynic and you
will find a disappointed idealist.”
It’s hard to think of a stand up comedian giving advice to his audience, but George did that frequently in his career. Property management requires creativity on a level I never could have guessed before I was living the life. So much of this business is built on legal contracts, as an outsider, I would have thought it was all black and white. Most of you are laughing at my former naivety.
“Think off-center.”
Hardly anything in life is black and white outside a box of Crayons. My off-center thinking is often looking for ways to help someone reach their goal but to make all parties happy. I have also had to learn to choose my words carefully and to think of the many ways something can be interpreted. I do this when sending a work order to a vendor as well as when communicating with renters and owners.
“Don’t just teach your children to read.
Teach them to question what they read.
Teach them to question everything.”
Read it and question it before you sign it. Once you sign it, you are bound by whatever it says. We are regularly surprised at how many people sign documents they have never read or don’t understand. The surprising thing to me about this is it feels like our current culture is one where we question everything.
We have so much information, good and bad, at our fingertips. It often feels like answers are hardly taken at face value. “Are you serious?” “That can’t be right” “You’ve got to be kidding!” Those are a few phrases which I know fly from my mouth, or my fingers, a lot.
George wants you to read, but he wants you to think too. Is this contract something I can live with? Is this the right direction for me? If my situation changes, can I still fulfill this? Is this the best property management company ever? (The answer to that one should be obvious but I am biased.)
“Just because you got the monkey off your back
doesn’t mean that the circus has left town.”
Having a long time renter is great. You don’t have that monkey that comes with a turn. That doesn’t mean you will never have it again. The longer a renter lives in a home, the more you will probably have to do when they do move out. If an owner lives only in the bliss of rental income they can count and never look toward the future, they are likely in for a big surprise when that lease does come to an end. Enjoy the fruitful times but prepare for the lean ones.
“Some people see the glass half full.
Others see it half empty.
I see a glass that’s twice as big as it needs to be.”
Life is complicated and it’s great to do what we can to make it simpler. Take the easy solution and don’t over think it so much. I could regale you with some wise words that come from my heart. I think I will let George guide us this time.
My wish for you: “May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.”
Free advice: “My advice: just keep moving straight ahead. Every now and then you find yourself in a different place.”
Promise for a happy life: “Laugh often, long, and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.”
In the off-chance you do not know George Carlin, I suggest you spend some time on YouTube. He performed observational type comedy from 1959-2008, when he passed. There’s plenty to choose from. I promise, you will laugh out loud.
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