Are You Taking Advantage of the CAA Business Partners?

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 by chrissy.wills

The CAA Business Partners Program was developed as a way to increase income for member companies. These partnerships offer significant price reductions on selected products from CAA member companies.

The CAA offers members the following opportunities from current Business Partners:

• HD Supply is the recognized leader in providing quality brand name merchandise at everyday low prices. As a CAA Business Partner they offer CAA members the lowest published price regardless of quantity purchased.
• The Columbus Apartment Guide is the official multi-family housing guide for CAA members. A relationship that began in 1993; it has proven valuable to both the Guide and CAA.

“At The Apartment Guide, we take a lot of pride in being the #1 source for advertising and marketing needs in the Columbus multi-family industry,” said Michael Monteith of the Columbus Apartment Guide. “Being a business partner with the CAA is an extension of our goal to provide the best source of traffic and leases to our advertisers.”

“The Business Partners program benefits HD Supply by providing an opportunity to interact with a wide range of property management companies,” Said Harvey Buller, HD Supply representative. “The diverse portfolio size of CAA members gives HD Supply a better working knowledge of the multi-family housing industry’s needs.”

Since vendors must qualify for this program as CAA members you will receive the highest level of service in addition to extra advice, design and solutions. These vendors value your business and will go above and beyond to provide the service you expect.

“This program affords us the opportunity to act closely with the CAA to better our industry and work honestly and with integrity for its members,” said Monteith. “It is an invaluable tool in showcasing our credibility and we value having the platform to do that.”

“The Business Partners program benefits HD Supply by providing high visibility to CAA members of our company’s products and services,” said Buller. “By allowing us to provide volume discount pricing to CAA members, the additional volume discount has made HD Supply more competitive and has in turn increased our business among CAA members.”

For information on how to take advantage of the CAA Business Partners discounts and special offers contact:

Apartment Guide

HD Supply

Posted in CAA Partner Success Stories | No Comments »

Enhancing Curb Appeal during Hot Summer Months

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 by chrissy.wills

By Darrin Finch, US Lawns of Columbus

To enhance curb appeal during the summer months, make sure you are taking advantage of diverse landscape content.  For example, some perennials have great blooms, even in the heat of the summer.

Some consider daylilies to be the “perfect perennial”.  While most of us think of daylilies with a bright yellow flower, they are available in a rainbow of colors.  They can survive in many climates and conditions, including droughts (that doesn’t mean you don’t have to water them!), and adapt to different kinds of soils.  If you really want to throw your favorite nursery for a loop, ask for tetraploid lilies.  They have larger flowers and brighter colors than their diploid relatives.   The best thing about daylilies is that they are relatively low-maintenance.  When you are caring for a commercial property, that should be your #1 criteria!

How about some English Lavender (often misspelled as “lavendar”)?  They are technically an evergreen plant that grows 2’ – 3’ high and wide, but most people think of them as an aromatic herb.  During the summer months, they have great purple/blue shoots and have a wonderful smell.  That aroma will attract butterflies and deter ants.  Usually, that’s a win/win for most properties.  Like lilies, lavender does great in full sun and well-drained soil. 

If you are looking for a couple of good annual suggestions, try marigolds and zinnias.  Both have great color and are good complements to the hot summer. 

Everybody and their brother planted red begonias this year and there is nothing wrong with that at all.  However, my favorite sun-tolerant flower is still the wave petunia.  They’re classic, bright and easy to take care of.  You can get them in a dozen different colors, too, so you can accomplish a lot of different “looks” with them.  I just did a landscape of alternating red and white wave petunias with blue salvia highlights.  It’s the perfect patriotic accent for the property owner’s big 4^th of July celebration every year.

Every plant I’ve mentioned is tough and should be able to make it through a hot summer, but don’t forget to inspect your irrigation system.  No flowering plant in our climate zone is impervious to drought.  More than half of the properties I’ve visited this year have irrigation problems that are wreaking havoc on their landscape.  A leaking drip line means that one bed will be flooded and the next bed will be bone dry.  Poorly adjusted or broken sprinkler heads will make your seasonal color strategy irrelevant.  Have your irrigation lines and heads inspected by a qualified professional at start-up, and then again on a monthly basis.  In the long run, you will save money and plants will give you that “pop” you are looking for.

What tips can you give fellow members who need a little help with their landscaping? Log in to comment below.

Tags: Curb appeal, flowers, Maintenance
Posted in Maintenance, Seasonal Topics, Summer | No Comments »

Are you Celebrating National Ice Cream month with an Event at your Community?

Thursday, July 15th, 2010 by chrissy.wills

Here are 5 ideas on how to host one:

Happy Ice Cream Month

Did you know Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream month? It’s the perfect time to host an ice cream social at your leasing office. You could use the event to thank your residents or invite prospects back for a second look.

Need some help on how to plan the event? Check out these five steps to pulling it off:

1. Brainstorm with your team/co-planners – first decide on the type of event (ice cream social, breakfast, pool party, etc.). Then figure out date, time and place. Consider what’s convenient for your customers/residents. Write down party essentials, number of possible attendees and determine your budget. Is it possible to partner with a local restaurant or supplier to help offset some costs? Figure out your timeline to accomplishing everything including: sending out invitations, buying food, drinks and prizes, setting up the space, etc.

2. Invite your party people – the theme of your event will help determine your invitation list. If you’re hosting a resident appreciate ice cream social, you will need to invite all your residents. Post info in your community center, mail box area and workout facility. Send emails, post info on your web site and Facebook page. If you’re inviting prospects and previous traffic, what’s the best way to communicate with them? Emails, social networks, and postcards work well. Remember, a personal touch is always nice.

3. Prep your place – it’s time to set the scene. Is your pool sparkling for your pool party? Is your welcome center ready to shine? Be sure everything is in tip top shape. Consider the flow of the event when placing food, beverage and paper supplies. If you’re doing a prize giveaway, how are you asking attendees to register? Are there games and activities you need to fit into the space? Do you need more staff at the party?

4. Be social – the party is here; time to be a great host. Be visible, welcoming and helpful. Keep things positive and be ready to problem solve. Also, remember to have a camera ready to capture fun moments.

5. Thank attendees – remember to thank everyone for coming. Post photos on your web site and social networks. Send out a follow up email with photos and a quick thank you. You can target this to your specific audience.

This five tips should get you ready to host your summer get together. What is your biggest tip to hosting a party for residents? Log in and let us know your secrets. You can also post your photos and ideas on our Facebook page.

And don’t forget to honor National Ice Cream month with a big sundae!

Tags: community events, ice cream, marketing
Posted in Marketing & Leasing, Seasonal Topics, Summer | No Comments »

R-410A Strategy needed…

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010 by chrissy.wills

By Paul Rhodes -Supervisor/ Lead Instructor; HD Supply Customer Training

At last years NAA Education conference in Las Vegas we discussed that it was not time to panic about the impending EPA regulatory enforcement. (HVAC Regulations; Panic Not Required) Now that these regulations are in place, and we have an idea how our industry is responding, it is time to look at and form a specific plan to deal with the changes.

What is happening with the regulations that I heard about at Last year’s conference?

Beginning January first of this year (2010) Equipment manufacturers are prohibited from making any new equipment that contains Ozone depleting substances in them. This means that these manufacturers must use a different refrigerant than what was being used in the past. The new refrigerant, R-410A, has some differences associated with it that Management companies may not have considered.

How can I come up with a plan for my properties?

At this years NAA Education conference in New Orleans, ideas, options and the potential economic impact that management companies are using to implement processes across the country were discussed. We will look at differing response strategies and bring up some surprising facts about this equipment and the way that maintenance is performed on site currently and in the future.

My technicians are hearing from refrigerant manufacturers that there are other refrigerant choices on the market. Is this correct?

Yes, there are other alternatives for use in existing equipment. As the price of refrigerant continues to rise, these may become a viable candidate that should be considered. Before changing to any of them, the whole picture should be considered. Efficiency, longevity and the effect on the property long term should be considered.

How much longer will systems that are compatible with my existing equipment be available?

Unfortunately, there is not a specific answer to this question. The outlook appears that as we near the end of this summer season, many markets around the country will begin running out of in demand sizes of R-22 containing units. The truth is that once current supplies of R-22 containing equipment run out in suppliers’ warehouses, no more will be available. At that time the only option for equipment that can not be repaired will be to replace the system with one containing R-410A. Then the property will have to determine what changes will be needed to existing equipment to allow the new refrigerant to operate properly.

Paul is the Supervisor/Lead Customer Training Instructor for HD Supply and holds certifications in: NSPF® CPO Instructor, EPA Universal, and R-410A. He is still active with and was Chairman for the HVAC Excellence Advisory Board. He served as an SME for the National Apartment Association Certificate for Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) curriculum rewrite where he co-authored the new HVAC Module. Connect with HD Supply by contacting HD Supply’s Product Support line (800-431-3302).

Posted in Maintenance, Seasonal Topics, Summer | No Comments »

July 4th Safety Reminders

Thursday, July 1st, 2010 by chrissy.wills

Have a happy and safe 4th of July

This is the weekend for backyard cookouts, parades and fireworks. We at the CAA wish you a happy and safe holiday weekend and we wanted to give you some friendly reminders for those parties.

Earlier this summer we posted an article on grills in apartment communities, now it’s time for fireworks. The CAA has partnered with the Red Cross this year to spread the message about safety preparedness. Here are some friendly reminders from their site:

Enjoy your Fourth of July Weekend Safely

Many of us will enjoy a three-day weekend this year with Independence Day falling on a Sunday. As you plan your Fourth of July, you might be thinking of travel, fireworks or a yummy barbecue. The American Red Cross would like everyone to enjoy a safe summer holiday, and offers some tips to help you and your loved ones have a great weekend.

Travel Tips
With more people on the roads during the holiday, it’s more important than ever to drive safely—which means being well rested and alert, buckling up, observing speed limits and following the rules of the road. If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.

In addition:

• Don’t let your vehicle’s gas tank get too low. If you have car trouble, pull as far as possible off the highway.
• Carry a Disaster Supplies Kit in your trunk.
• Pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination. Travel and weather Web sites can help you avoid storms and other regional challenges that could impact your safety.

Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

Find out what disasters may occur where you are traveling, especially if they are disasters you have never experienced. Find out how you would get information in the event of a disaster (local radio systems, emergency alert systems).

If you are traveling with your pet, redcross.org has special advice to make your trip more enjoyable.

Fireworks
Spectacular fireworks are often a highlight of the Fourth. You can enjoy the show safely by following a few tips:

• Store fireworks in a cool, dry place away from children and pets.
• Never give fireworks to small children, and always follow the instructions on the packaging.
• Keep a supply of water close by as a precaution.
• Make sure the person lighting fireworks always wears eye protection.
• Light only one firework at a time and never attempt to relight a “dud.”
• Never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials.
• In addition, stay at least 500 feet away from professional fireworks displays, and leave any area immediately where untrained amateurs are using fireworks.

The American Red Cross wishes everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July. For more safety and preparedness tips, visit www.redcross.org.

Another source for information on safety and fireworks is the The National Council on Fireworks Safety.

Enjoy celebrating the Fourth! If you’re looking to share your photos or celebration stories, check out WhyWeCelebrate on Facebook or Twitter and use the hashtag #whywecelebrate.

Posted in Current events, Safety, Seasonal Topics, Summer | No Comments »