What happens when you put a few hundred property managers in the same building? Well, there's probably more discussion about security deposits, maintenance emergencies, and difficult conversations than most people would consider a good time. But for those of us in the business, it's an opportunity to compare notes, challenge assumptions, and occasionally discover that the problem keeping us up at night is keeping everyone else up, too.
Recently, I attended the NARPM Texas Style Conference with several of my fellow Austin chapter officers. NARPM—the National Association of Residential Property Managers—is an organization dedicated to education, professional development, and improving standards in our industry.
Why I Stay Involved With NARPM
I've always believed there's a danger in assuming that because you've been doing something for a long time (16 years!), you've figured out the best way to do it. Serving in a leadership role with the Austin NARPM chapter puts me in regular contact with other professionals who are wrestling with the same questions we are. Some run smaller companies. Others manage much larger portfolios. Everyone brings a different perspective.
I don't expect to come home from a conference and reinvent our business. My goal is to come up with 2-3 ideas that we can test or implement; usually the challenge is not finding those 3 good ideas, but winnowing down the list of 50+ interesting things that I heard and jotted down notes about.
What Does That Mean for Our Clients?
For property owners, it means the company managing your investment isn't operating in a vacuum. We're paying attention to what's happening across the industry, learning from other professionals, and looking for ways to improve how we operate.
And if you ever find yourself wondering what property managers talk about when owners aren't in the room, the answer is probably your property. In a good way.
