Author: Leigh Sublet
A New Hobby for the New MM
Celebrated Employee: Jantzen Velez
Experience Leader, Maintenance Manager
Falcon Square at Independence, Orlando, FL
Employee Since 2020
Jay moved on site when he accepted his new position with Falcon Square but, since he moved from the other side of town, his friends weren’t in the area. I suggested he join our AMM who likes to ride his bike early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Jay replied that he would definitely like to join Victor and ride together whenever he got a bike. His response prompted me to surprise him with a new bike as a way to brighten his afternoons. Jay couldn’t believe the company would do something like this for him!
Mom, can you take me for a walk?
Brenda Grasha Community Manager, Experience Leader
Timber Mill, The Woodlands, TX
Employee since 2012
If there’s one major thing that we and our residents have in common, it’s our love for animals! When a distressed resident experienced a physical setback with her dog that left him unable to walk, our hearts went out to her. We knew we had to step up and help. After all, their pets are our residents, too!
The Opportunity
Marilyn and her dog Mickey had come up to the office to chat. Once the conversation wrapped up, Mickey remained seated and could not get up to walk. Marilyn informed me that Mickey had canine degenerative myelopathy, an incurable disease of the spinal cord that’s similar to ALS. He had been doing okay, but recently began to decline. She asked if he could rest in the office for a bit in order to regain the strength to walk home. We moved him to a covered and quieter part of the office and I came back a short time later to check in. Marilyn became very upset because she had not seen Mickey this bad before. Marilyn would be unable to carry him home herself, as he is a full-grown Boxer weighing in at 50 pounds. I helped her get Mickey home and she mentioned to me that she had been waiting on her vet to receive a dog wheelchair. Unfortunately, she had been waiting on a response and was unsure how much longer it would be before she received one.
The Epiphany
It broke my heart to see Marilyn so upset that Mickey did not have the strength to get up, and it was even worse that she was stuck waiting on a solution. I knew that Marilyn is on a fixed income and cannot afford to go out and buy something like this. It was unbearable to think of Mickey not being able to go outside for walks and take care of his business and I knew Marilyn would not be able to carry him.
The Wow Moment
After I left Marilyn’s apartment, I immediately went back to the office and started researching dog wheelchairs. The first ones that popped up were over $450 — they are not cheap. I kept on searching and was able to find one that I could get in a couple days that was less expensive. So, I ordered it! It arrived on Monday and it was not until the late afternoon that I got a chance to put the chair mostly together. I called her a few times and finally on Wednesday, I heard back. I made sure she was going to be home all day and took the wheelchair over to her. She saw me coming through the patio windows and met me at the door. She could not believe I got Mickey a wheelchair! Together we went in and adjusted the chair for Mickey so it would fit and took him outside for his first walk. You can bet Mickey was a little apprehensive at first, but after a couple short attempts, he was walking without a problem. Marilyn was shocked, surprised, grateful, happy — you name it. She cried. I can’t count the number of times she said “thank you.” But what was the best part is how when she was helping me get it the right size for Mickey — the whole time she kept telling him that now he will be able to go for walks again. They are now able to take their daily walks around the property without her having to worry that Mickey will not make it home!
In Remembrance
Nadia Luckhoff, Community Manager, Experience Leader
CoHo, Atlanta, GA
Employee since 2017
Some people can make a lasting impact on our lives, even if we only get to spend a short amount of time with them. When a beloved resident was the victim of a tragic accident, our community was struggling to make sense of this insurmountable loss. And while we knew there was nothing we could do to ease the pain, the Venterra staff wanted to show up to the community with a thoughtful way to memorialize our beloved resident for years to come.
The Opportunity
On August 12 2019, Sheridan Lowe moved to CoHo with his husband, Scott. They were looking for a fresh start in a new home and were so full of excitement. A drop-in to the Leasing Office would turn into an hour-long conversation of the lives they left behind and the ones they looked so forward to starting. A writer and a chef respectively, their creativity, kindness and compassion shone through in every aspect of their lives, including their wish to make us all feel like one big family. They even brought us homemade jam for the holidays! In 2019, Sheridan and Scott attended our “Pictures with Santa” event and brought along their beautiful puppy, Endora. They filled the room with light and laughter. After a few glasses of spiked punch, Sheridan was telling hilarious stories left and right, breaking the ice and facilitating conversations across the entire room. His quick-talking energy was so powerful — he’d often stumble over his words as even his lips couldn’t keep up with his sparkling spirit. On Wednesday, September 30 at 11 PM, Sheridan was taking Endora on a routine walk. As he was rounding the circle, he was struck by a vehicle and killed on impact.
The Epiphany
The news sent shockwaves throughout the Venterra and Buckhead communities — things like this don’t happen in the picture-perfect community of CoHo. We’d senselessly lost a wonderful man. I didn’t cry until a few days later, after the full weight of the news hit me and I began reminiscing on the person that Sheridan was and his short but powerful impact on our lives. We wanted to provide Scott and our residents with something to always remember Sheridan. While the couple wasn’t particularly religious, we were all in agreement that nature has its own spiritual and healing quality.
The Wow Moment
I knew there would be no words to help mend his husband’s pain, but we had to at least try and bring back some of the light that was lost. On November 25, 2020, we held a tree planting ceremony in Sheridan’s honor. After many trips to several different nurseries, I happened upon an “Ace of Hearts” and it stopped me in my tracks. Each leaf is in the shape of a heart. And while the leaves are currently dwindling as the cold weather approaches, the tree blossoms in the spring with a beautifully bright and dramatic display. This living memorial of Sheridan was much-needed. Scott’s eyes brightened and his spirit lifted, if even for just a moment. It’s the perfect homage to our friend who will forever be in our hearts.
A Pandemic Proposal
Megan Montemayor, Better Living Consultant, Experience Maker
The Phoenix, Ft. Worth, TX
Employee since 2017
For those of us fortunate enough to have our health, the COVID pandemic certainly put a stop to many of our plans and goals this past year. And when the shelter in place orders were placed in March and April, many of us were wondering if we’d ever be able to venture out and act out our life plans. For Grant, that meant proposing to his girlfriend, Mallie, in front of family and friends. Thanks to Allison and Megan at the Phoenix, we were able to help Grant make his pandemic proposal a reality!
THE OPPORTUNITY
Grant had the plan to propose to his girlfriend, Mallie, during his own birthday party (that she was throwing) at their favorite brewery venue in April. Unfortunately, all of their celebration plans fell through as the COVID closures hit hard in Fort Worth. The date came and went as we were all instructed to shelter in place and quarantine was making it difficult to keep the ring a secret in their two-bedroom apartment.
THE EPIPHANY
Grant was still eager to propose, even if the original venue was not an option, so Megan and I got creative and jumped on the opportunity to help! After all, we love LOVE!
THE WOW MOMENT
We had some tents and tables in storage and with a trip to the store, we were able set the scene in an isolated space on top of the parking garage, where the city sky-line could be in the background. Grant invited a few of their closest friends, and Megan used her leasing skills to set up a Microsoft Teams invite for the rest of their friends and family, so they could watch it live. It ended up being the perfect pandemic proposal! Mallie was so surprised and was still able to say ‘yes’ to the man of her dreams in their favorite city in front of their friends and family. We are so happy to have helped create a beautiful and memorable experience for our residents amongst all the COVID challenges.
Ventana’s Music Man
Celebrated Employee: Arturo Rodriguez
Experience Maker, Make Ready
Ventana, San Antonio, TX
Employee Since 2020
Arturo loves music and listening to cd’s. 2020 has been so stressful for everyone soI was looking for a way to make my team’s life a little bit easier and help them relax during their free time. I decided to surprise Arturo with a new stereo system. Now he can unwind at home with something he truly enjoys. He says he hopes everyone can see the smile on his face regardless of the mask!
Birthday Scavenger Surprise
Celebrated Employee: Tony Longoria
Experience Maker, Better Living Consultant
Shadowbrooke, Houston, TX
Employee Since 2018
I am so lucky to have Tony Longoria on my team, who is probably one of the nicest and most genuine guys here at Shadowbrooke.
Tony is a diehard football fan; he devotes every Sunday solely to watching football.
For his birthday this year, we WOW’d him with Texans tickets for a home game where limited tickets were being sold. But we made him work for those tickets! We sent him on a scavenger hunt, with the clues leading him to spots all over the property. Each clue was something related to the Texans, whether it be a whistle, face mask, t-shirt or foam finger. We had a blast putting this together! To top it off, it was the day before Halloween, so he was already dressed up as a zombie football player!
Tony was so shocked and thrilled when he found the tickets. He kept saying, “I’m going to a game, a real game, really?!”
Venterra Communities: Top Rated Nine Years & Counting
Our communities just got a promotion – a Top Rated one. To make it even better, the recognitions were given to us by our very on Venterra residents!
So, what are we talking about? Well, for the ninth time in a row, Venterra 2021 residents have ranked Venterra-owned communities positively for stellar customer service – earning Venterra the 2020 ApartmentRatings.com Top Rated Award.
Only 5% of all U.S. Properties listed on ApartmentRatings.com qualified for the award, making this a distinguished accomplishment.
New to the 2020 awards, ApartmentRatings.com evaluated communities based on the epIQ Index. The epIQ Index (short for “Experience & Performance Intelligence Quotient) provides a grade on a community’s performance based on four variables: Renter’s Ratings, Response Rate, Review Volume, and Reply Time. To be eligible for the award, communities must earn an epIQ Index grade of at least A- and have at least five new reviews submitted in the current award year.
“Resident satisfaction is a top priority for us. Receiving Top Rated recognition at such a large scale across our portfolio is not only reflective of how we conduct business and property management operations, but how our business is positively impacting the lives of those who call Venterra communities home,” said Venterra CEO, John Foresi. “We thank our residents for always being open to providing productive feedback, as it allows for insight into what can be improved. We are pleased to see such positive reviews despite the challenges in this past year, and we look forward to continuing to deliver industry-leading experiences for our customers,” added Andrew Stewart, Venterra Chairman.
Not only have our communities received this recognition nine times and counting, but we are also extremely proud to say that our residents have provided over 15,348+ positive reviews. We know that moving into a new place is more than simply picking up keys. It’s about creating new, exciting experiences. That’s why we are constantly looking for ways to improve – and we encourage feedback. In fact, do you have an idea of how your community could improve or what your dream community would look like? Share with us!
Wondering if the community you live at or are interested in is on the list? Take a look here for the full list of winning properties!
Resident Satisfaction Scores Earn Venterra Top Management Recognition
Our residents have done it again! For the fourth consecutive year, Venterra renters have shared increased resident satisfaction when it comes to the management of their communities and have earned Venterra recognition as a 2021 Kingsley Excellence Award winner.
The Kingsley Excellence Award distinguishes communities that outperform the Kingsley Index™ industry benchmark for overall resident satisfaction. Communities that receive this award go above and beyond to ensure their residents are satisfied with their living experience from start to finish.
It’s true what is said about us – we care more! From our executive team to our on-site teams, resident satisfaction is our top priority. We know caring is more than a warm smile or cookies in the office; it’s fixing things when they break and replacing them when we can’t; it’s being honest and doing what we say we’re going to do; it’s being consistent and having fun every day; it’s getting to know our residents and making their living experiences the best they can be.
Venterra has received numerous awards for our commitment to exceptional service, but when recognition comes from the satisfaction of our residents, it further inspires our teams to continue to raise the standards of apartment living.
“Consecutive recognitions of this kind can be directly attributed to the work ethic and dedication of our property teams,” said John Foresi, CEO of Venterra Realty. “It is our goal to continually improve the lives of our residents by delivering industry-leading customer experiences, and we are proud to see the positive satisfaction surveys continue to rise year over year.”
The Kingsley Index™ is the most comprehensive performance benchmarking database in the real estate industry. Compiled from 30 years of analyzing the performance of industry leaders, the proprietary index is the standard for measuring tenant, resident, employee, and client satisfaction, as well as broker relations and operational effectiveness.
“Databases like The Kingsley Index allow for an additional avenue to compare and track our management performance on an annual basis,” said Venterra Chairman, Andrew Stewart. “Any improvements in our scoring indicate positive growth, though we are particularly impressed to have properties score higher this year given the challenging year that the pandemic brought forward.”
Not to mention, we’re only getting better! With the help of renter suggestions, Venterra will be launching several technology-driven innovations in 2021, including:
· Release of a proprietary smartphone app for residents to streamline access to resident services.
· Implementation of a combination of smart devices and connectivity enhancements that accommodates the ever-increasing desire for on-demand control.
· The debut of SmartMove; Venterra’s initiative to provide a seamless move-in experience that is meticulously designed to eliminate all controllable stressors from the moving process.
Do you have an idea or suggestion for how to make apartment living better? What would you do differently if you owned and operated an apartment community? Tell us! And if we implement your idea, we’ll give you $100! Click this link to submit your idea!
Moving Out of an Apartment: Ways to Manage the Dreaded Task
Moving: typically a term that that is said before or after a long sigh. We get it, taking hours to search for the perfect complex and moving into a new apartment can be stressful. Packing only to unpack, organizing only to remember you need the one thing at the bottom of the box – and the worst of all, having to clean your living space before turning in your apartment keys.
While moving into a new apartment is a chaotic process, you certainly are not alone. According to moving.com, 32 million people in the US move to a new residence throughout the year. To put that into perspective, that is over 10% of the population that are packing up and relocating each year. Even more so, those in the millennial generation are reported to be on the move to a new living space once every two years on average.
Why are people moving so much, you ask? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are various reasons why Americans tend to relocate, a few being:
- Wanting a new or better home/ apartment (17.4%)
- Establishing own household (12.2%)
- New job or transfer (10.8%)
- Cheaper housing options (8.2%)
- To be closer to work/easier commute (6%)
Knowing these statistics, it is clear that the moving process is not going away anytime soon. What can be alleviated, however are the headaches that come along with moving into and out of a new apartment community. The sections below will outline ways that you can make your relocation the easiest one yet!
Find the right time to move
Different times of the year call for changing rates, availabilities and moving benefits within apartment management companies – and ultimately the decision you make on timing will depend on what you value as important. For instance, are you more interested in saving money on monthly rental rates and moving company costs, or would you rather have the option to choose from a wide range of available floorplans? While it may sound silly, going through the exercise of asking yourself questions like these can point you in the direction of the values you want to prioritize.
After determining your top priorities, visit apartments.com, which has created an entire outline of the drawbacks and benefits that fall, winter, spring and summer moves offer so that you can make an informed decision to move in and out at a time that best fits your specific needs.
Outline your moving timeline
After you’ve weighed the options, and made the decision on what time of the year you want to move into a new apartment complex, you may start to feel overwhelmed by everything that needs to “get done” before your move out date: think changing your address and decluttering the items in your closet. To stay on track during this chaotic time, it may be useful to create your own moving timeline with an itemized checklist to help you save valuable time when it comes to managing your productivity, while keeping you organized so you don’t miss any important tasks when the big day comes.
Research moving companies
If you choose to go the route of using a moving company, the options can seem endless – and with good reason, as the American Moving and Storage Association counts around 7,000 companies just in the U.S alone. Instead of spending hours on Yelp, Google and other platforms to compare pricing, check out and download the MoveAdvisor: Moving App. By using the app, you will have access to thousands of reputable moving reviews and performance ratings based on real customer experience at your fingertips.
Move out efficiently
If you’ve followed your timeline and checklist, one of the last remaining items will be to clean the apartment after everything is packed up and moved out. At Venterra, we know this is one of the most dreaded tasks – getting on your hands and knees to clean small crevices after a long day of packing or, even worse, taking the time-consuming task of calling to get quotes for an affordable maid service to clean your residence.
Luckily, if you have chosen to reside within a Venterra property, our CLEANMOVE initiative allows you to sit back and relax once everything is all packed up and ready to go! CLEANMOVE, a new addition to our move-out process, guarantees that our team handles the following*:
- wiping down of surfaces and appliances
- cleaning fans, vents or baseboards
- vacuuming carpets or mopping
Not only will CLEANMOVE save you the energy of cleaning, according to the average price of a maid service plus added gratuity, you can save upwards of 22% through CLEANMOVE.
“I love CLEANMOVE! I’m a single mom, and my recent move was very stressful for me. Going back to clean was the last thing I wanted to do. I love knowing that my Apartment at Ventana will be just as clean as when I moved in 4 years ago with little effort required.” Johnna, Ventana San Antonio Resident 2016 – 2020
At the end of a long moving day, the CLEANMOVE process helps you save time so that you can focus on the next phase of your life… and clean less!
*CLEANMOVE does not cover: apartment damages, furniture or trash left behind, odor or pet treatment, paint pro-rate charges or sheetrock repair, or any heavy cleaning.
Consider a Venterra property for your next home
It is clear that the moving in and moving out processes are not something that can necessarily be avoided; however, they can always be improved. Venterra Realty is dedicated to making the process as seamless as possible, and even provides a 30-Day Live It. Love It. Guarantee™ which provides new residents the option to move out if they aren’t completely satisfied with their apartment for any reason.
If you’re in the midst of looking for a new apartment property, consider browsing through one of Venterra’s communities located in 15 cities across the U.S. and contact us if you have any questions on the move-in or move-out process.
Working from Home is Here to Stay: Is Your Living Space Sized for Success?
2020 was a year unlike any other and one that will undoubtedly hold a permanent place in our personal memories and in the history books. The coronavirus pandemic changed all facets of our lives in an instant including how we live, do business, work and educate our kids. Even now as we enter a new year, we continue to grapple with the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Some impacts are short-term while others endure and have started to settle in—especially those that surround the spontaneous blending of our work and home lives.
The home transformed into an office and a classroom practically overnight as employees transitioned to work from home and students pivoted to online learning. Remote work became the new norm as companies announced both long-term and permanent plans for staff to work remotely, while school districts started the academic year online. This simultaneous merging of lifestyle changes caused people to pine for extra space to accommodate their personal and professional needs, and so they reconfigured their dwellings and sized up in square footage.
A glimpse at the new “working from home” economy
Working remotely is not a novel concept but COVID-19 kick started a working from home wave. Companies, employees and teachers around the globe interacted virtually to keep business booming and students learning. Now, nine long months into the pandemic, experts are saying the work from home trend will likely continue into 2021 and beyond.
According to Stanford Economist Nicholas Bloom, 42% of the U.S. labor force is currently working from home full-time. 33% are not working and the remaining 26% are working on-site which if you do the math, means that almost twice as many employees are working from home as in an office. By sheer numbers alone, the U.S. is now a working from home economy.
Google, Uber and Facebook are among the major companies embracing the virtual work model and are allowing their staff to remain remote for the foreseeable future. Some companies like Twitter and Zillow have taken it a step further, telling employees to work from home permanently. Others are adopting a hybrid approach where employees come into the office a few days a week and work from home the rest. In fact, a recent Gartner survey revealed that more than 80% of company leaders plan to permit employees to work remotely for part of the work week upon reopening post-pandemic.
Benefits of remote work methods
The massive transition to remote work during the pandemic was a necessity for office-based companies that wanted to sustain operations, and with a large majority of businesses planning to continue this trend, benefits for both employers and employees are continuing to come to light. There are a multitude of reasons why remote work has evolved into a win, win scenario including that it increases employee productivity and retention, attracts and retains talent, leads to improved mental health and is environmentally friendly. In fact, Venterra Realty is such a strong proponent of a work from home environment that it transitioned the majority of its Houston staff to work remotely.
The pandemic proved that working remotely produces benefits across the board, and it’s for these compelling reasons that it is likely here to stay. With everyone spending more time at home, it’s now also essential to have a dedicated space within your dwelling where you can complete your work quietly, consistently and efficiently.
Venterra Realty offers residents living spaces sized for success
The mass move to remote work for many Americans has dramatically affected how and where workers want to live. Working from home has also become less temporary and more permanent as the months go by, prompting workers to take advantage of their new location independence.
Many workers no longer have commutes and are fleeing the city for more space giving them more real estate options than ever. Working from home daily has made the home much more essential too making home office space an imperative to keep workers happy and productive. Plus, families may require even more space if their partners are also working from home or they have kids logging in for online learning. A clear separation between living and workspace ensures that everyone has a quiet and isolated area, free from interruptions, distractions, kids and pets. The kitchen table and couch just aren’t conducive anymore, and Venterra Realty has the space and square footage to ensure that their resident’s living space is sized for success.
Venterra Realty proudly manages apartment communities in 15 U.S. cities and provides housing to over 32,000 people. Venterra’s extensive property portfolio includes 32 communities with work from home floor plans that feature dedicated home offices, lofts, and flex spaces with built in desks. New residents receive Venterra’s 30-Day Live It. Love It. Guarantee™ which means that if they aren’t completely satisfied with their apartment for any reason within the first 30 days, they can move out. Existing residents who need more space or a change in scenery can easily transfer from one apartment to another—within their current community or to another Venterra property. Plus, with Venterra’s SmartLeasing program, prospective residents don’t pay to apply for an apartment at all—only once they are approved and reserve a move-in date.
Make your next move to a Venterra Community
As companies continue to extend remote work opportunities into 2021, and more people realize they are not tied down to their current location for their job, the rental and real estate markets are likely to continue to transform. If you’re ready to make your next move, we invite you to browse Venterra’s communities and contact us to further explore your options for working from home success.