Did you know your fellow apartment association members want to learn about the recent updates to the Real Estate License Act? What about software? Did you think that your peers in the C.I.A.A. might be interested in attending a training in how to use programs that are related to our business?

Our last luncheon meeting of the year revealed these ambitions and more. Together we had a facilitated discussion during which we made a wish-list for 2010. Your friends in the association have ideas for where to get information and for fun things for us to do together. They spoke of their interest in more interactive training like the role-playing done at our September session, and expressed pride for the place we have earned at the political table. In other words, our December discussion began to tap the real power of the C.I.A.A.: you.

You’ll be seeing and experiencing the effect of your power in the next twelve months. Over that period remember it’s always the right time for us to hear directly from you how we can help you do your business ethically, effectively and profitably. Contact any of your association board members with your ideas and suggestions. Your involvement is what keeps the C.I.A.A. vital.

Being president of an association like the Central Illinois Apartment Association opens your eyes to the need for excellence and involvement in issues relating to your life’s business. I became a landlord at the age of 19 and I am still amazed at how much about this business I do not know. We all strive to be better property owners and landlords, but it is like trying to hit a moving target. Change is inevitable and particularly in this economically challenging time period.

As president of CIAA I was privileged to meet and interact with many top professionals in our community. From city council members to community leaders the Central Illinois Apartment Association is a respected entity with a long history of portraying the property owner and property manager as a professional business person. This kind of positive public exposure is important to help offset the oftentimes negative image portrayed by the media and a few of our customers.

This month’s general meeting will be held on December 17 and will focus you and your input into the coming year. We will also hold an election of officers for 2010 and beyond. Please attend and give us your input. Our association is only as strong as the people who are involved.

Finally, I would like to thank my Board of Directors (for all of their hard work this past two years) and Marita Booker, CIAA Coordinator, for outstanding support and loyalty to me during my tenure. It has been my pleasure to serve you as president and I look forward to remaining on the Board of Directors as Past President. See you at the next meeting!

Most landlords require a prospective tenant to submit an application prior to approval and occupancy. Professional landlords will consider the rental application information critical to the approval process. High on the scale of value of application information is who the current and past landlord is. By contacting the current and past landlord the professional property manager will find out key information regarding the prospective tenant’s desire to pay rent, take care of the property and reside without conflict with neighbors.

Recently our office had to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent, high traffic (in and out of the unit) complaints by neighbors and constant trouble of one kind or another. Upon discovering where the evicted tenant moved to, we contacted the local landlord and asked how he could be approved by them (one of the largest landlords in the C-U area) under the circumstances? We also asked why they had not contacted us for a reference. We were told he did not list a current landlord on his application! They made their decision based upon a recommendation by a local agency that helps tenants (on a temporary basis) pay their rent when they are about to be evicted.

It is hard to imagine approving a prospective tenant without running a credit check (that would show current and past addresses), verifying employment and talking to the current and previous landlord. These are the tools of our trade. When we do not use our tools our odds of failure increase exponentially.

When landlords do not rely on each other for key information when deciding on leasing property to tenants we miss out on the most important part of associating together. Think of it this way, the tenants in C-U have a tenant’s union and they do work closely together. Does it not make sense that we act as professionally as our tenants?