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Not everyone takes every item they store, and not addressing the issue could cost you.
Spring is the season of high turnovers. And while some tenants are great at removing their footprint on the property, others tend to leave items in a most inconvenient space – the storage room.And, the inconvenience adds up quickly. Very quickly.
Having a clogged storage and locker space costs you money. Getting staff to clean the space may be an option, but given the rest of their duties, may lead to even more delay in freeing up that space. It would be worth your dollar to invest in a professional service to spring clean your entire locker and storage space with precision and speed.
Most locker and storage rooms are between $20-$50 a month to rent, and with space being taken by leftover items, that can cost your property upwards of $300 per year for each storage unit or garage — that’s $1,000s of dollars per year GONE
Hiring satintouch to clean and trash out the locker and storage space ensures that the job is done quickly and professionally, so that you can go back to earning money on that space instead of losing it.
And, by hiring satintouch to trash out your space, beyond benefitting your bottom line, you also help the needy in your area. We donate gently used items found during trash outs to people in need in our communities.

Spring is here! And with it, lots and lots of turnovers, and leftover junk from tenants.
It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get up to our elbows in lockers and apartment turnovers!
Find out what what’s new with us by reading the satintouch Quarterly Spring 2016!
Click here to read
 

A property manager needs to have a certain set of specific traits and other, harder-to-define skills in order to be successful.A property manager needs to be able to listen, as well as be proactive and up to date in the current world around them. Great characteristics such as level headedness, personable and articulate helps create a well balanced property manager. At the end of the day however, most people working in the management industry agree that the most important trait for a good property manager to possess is the ability to communicate and relate to people.
Communication is Key
Good communication is the basic building blocks of management. It is the property manager’s duty to make sure everything runs smoothly, and that requires everyone in the building to understand one another. Conflict is generally a result of misunderstanding, and can be easily avoided if an open communication is established. Like a good leader, a property manager needs to be able to see another’s’ perspectives, to hear what they are saying, and to solve problems. Understanding and balancing multiple points of views may be difficult, but necessary to create a positive environment for the building’s inhabitants.
The property manager is the go-between for everybody associated with the building,they need to be a good interpreter and show diplomacy: listening, understanding, and translating messages between various parties. If you are a member of your board and you have been having problems with the super or the doorman, or unit owners have been complaining, you might want to take a closer look at your manager. Do they maintain open lines of communication?
Be Informed
In addition to communicating well, a good property manager keeps the board of directors informed on several different levels. According to Greg Cohen of Impact Management in Queens, “A managing agent should provide two reports on a monthly basis—a financial report… and a physical report that covers the day-to-day operations of the building.”
The financial report should consist of a general ledger that shows the projected versus the actual budget, as well as accounts payable status reports on shareholders or unit owners. It should also include a check register showing all money disbursed for the month. This should also include copies of bills, bank statements, checks, and a bank reconciliation. In short, the property manager should provide the board with ALL financial information they require.
The second report should consist of all correspondence between management, tenants/owners, the board, etc., and any other paperwork regarding the building’s operations. By keeping the board of directors updated monthly, the manager can see to it that the board is informed and prepared, and, thus less likely to be caught unawares by any unpleasant surprises.
Put People First.
The job of a property manager is a balancing act that requires the agent to anticipate and handle the logistical issues of the building without losing sight of the responsibilities to all the people of the building. With cell phones, and e-mail, a property manager is accessible nearly all of the time—for better or worse. They are in charge of supplies, finances, employees, professionals, boilers, and a whole slew of responsibilities that require incredible multi-tasking abilities. Ultimately, however, they must be responsible with answering questions and dealing with people on a daily basis.
Balancing the logistics while still catering to people suggests that a property manager should split their time 60/40 between being in the field and being in the office. Having an assistant manager in the office to handle calls and relay messages to the manager would be a good way to delegate. Proactively being involved in the present will help prepare a property manager and it’s staff to be prepared for future endeavors.
Professional and personable
In addition to looking towards the future, a property manager must also be physically present, visiting each building in their portfolio at least once or twice a week—not on a set visitation schedule. Managing the building’s employees means keeping them on their toes, and a flexible visitation schedule helps prevent a building from falling apart during the periods when the staff knows that there will be no pop-ins from a manager.
When dealing with professionals associated with running a building, such as attorneys, accountants, or other service providers, a good manager must also act professionally. Dealing with lawyers and accountants requires the same basic communication skills needed to work with anyone, with an understanding of exactly what duties a professional must perform.
In terms of accountants, by keeping the building finances in order and supplying the board of directors with the financial reports on a monthly rather than yearly basis, an organized property manager makes the accountant’s task easier.
The responsibilities of the attorneys, on the other hand, include collecting arrears and implementing the board’s policies. By attending every board meeting, the managing agent is better able to assist attorneys in doing their job.
Whether it be inspecting a boiler, informing the board of a new law, or even making sure the board of directors have all necessary materials monthly, a good property manager’s job is never done. If you have someone who can check the prices of oil or gas against the budget, console a tenant with a sick cat, and mediate a disagreement between two staff members, odds are you’ve got a keeper.

Property managers often refer to their properties as communities, and rightfully so. But have you ever thought about strengthening that community? One of the things that apartment dwellers typically comment on about living in an apartment is a sense of isolation. In order to build and strengthen your community, consider starting up a few of the suggestions below:
Have a decorating contest – you can apply this activity to virtually any holiday or occasion!
Form a community watch program – people working together to keep your residence safe.
Grow a community garden in whatever space you have to use.
Plan monthly events like community barbecue, garage sale, or even monthly movie night.
Hold a monthly drawing for a gift card or free gas. Enter everyone who pays their rent on time.
Send a monthly newsletter giving you a personality with recipes, resident announcements, and a few coupons to local stores.
These events may require some additional time and effort from you and your staff, but creating a sense of community should be at the top of your list. By providing your tenants with a sense of belonging, you’ll create loyal group of tenants who are likely to remain happy renters long term.

There are numerous things that property managers can do in order to conserve energy on a larger scale. It’s currently estimated that about 40 percent of outside heat comes through windows, while 10 percent of heat is lost through windows during the winter, so while it’s important to keep those shades or curtains closed, it may be time to upgrade your property with more efficient window coverings.
One of the biggest energy savers are ‘smart shades’ that help conserve energy. And while any window covering is better than nothing, with current energy prices increasing, managers may want to start thinking about replacing those traditional window shades with more energy efficient ones.
Energy Efficient Cellular Shades – Cellular shades help to filter out damaging UV rays. The shades contain air pockets inside that protect against cold drafts in the winter months. During the summer, direct sunlight and damaging UV rays are blocked by blind fabric, preventing energy waste.
Blackout Shades – These are not like the old blackout curtains used by hotel rooms. Blackout shades block 99% of incoming light.
Thermal and insulated shades – These shades are designed with up to four layers of insulation and are made to fit as closely to windows as possible. Insulating window panels not only offer insulation from the heat, but block out most light as well.

In the home, where do you spend most of your time? Just a guess, but it’s probably your living room. So it’s important this room is designed just the way you want it because it sets the tone for the rest of the house. It says a lot of about your personal style and you as a homeowner.
Here are some creative tips for your living room design that are sure to help get you started.
Set the Tone:
The best way to plan a room is defining its purpose. Is it for entertaining? Or do you want it to have multiple functions? Determining the room will overall help create a useful and comfortable area in your home.
Fixate on the decorations:
Once the purpose is defined, you now have to find a centerpiece: that one feature that draws the eye. Most of the time, it’s the TV. Instead, consider being more original with your living room design. Focus on something more personal to you, like photos or a painting.
Rearrange Furnishings:
Once the focal point has been defined, the next step is furnishing. In order to make things look fresh, you don’t have to buy new stuff. Instead create a whole new atmosphere with just a little imaginative rearranging. Before you start moving around heavy couches and loveseats, picture how the new arrangement would flow in your home. Remember, not everything has to be against the wall.

satintouch helps save a house of a newly single mother in need.
Jennifer was living a fairly ordinary life. She had a husband, a daughter and a house.
The family worked, played, and were active members of their community on the West side of the Twin Cities. While this sounds like a safe and uneventful life, there was a dark secret her husband kept that would affect the life of Jennifer’s family completely.
“On the outside, he played the part of a great husband and father. He brought in money through his storm damage business and apartment he managed.” Jennifer said. “He played with his daughter daily after school, coached her soccer team, and was active in local politics.”
She trusted him implicitly. Was there any reason not to?
After 17 years of marriage, she found out that not only was he not paying taxes, but he made forged checks to deceive her into thinking that he had paid them.
Once it was apparent that he would not escape his debts, he fled to Arizona saying he had business. It was the last time the family would see him again.
“I depended on him 100 percent to take care of our family.” Jennifer said. “I kept asking myself, ‘what do I do now?’ But, I had no answers.”
Thankfully, the IRS did not find her liable for all the taxes owed by her husband, but she was still liable for what is considered her share of them.
She worked slowly to build her now single parent family back up by taking on a second job, and a new tenant in her home, but shortly thereafter was hit by another large setback.
“I was sure that I was going to lose my home.” Jennifer said. “My insurance company demanded that I repaint my entire home or they’d deny my coverage. I just couldn’t afford it.”
Losing homeowners insurance means Jennifer would have lost her ability to own a home. So she tried to find loans, and attempted to contract just the extremely difficult jobs to professionals to save money.
That’s when she met Chad and satintouch. When he heard about her situation, he had a simple solution.
satintouch reinvented details beyond a simple coat of paint. “He said he’d do it for the price of paint.” Jennifer said. “I was floored. That doesn’t happen everyday.”
satintouch painted the entire house, down to every detail, including the concrete basement to their mailbox and house numbers. They brightened the house, giving it a fresher look that would impress any insurance company.
And, it did. After seeing photos of the house, her insurance agency did not deny her homeowners insurance saving her house and family.
When Jennifer tried to pay satintouch for the paint, owner Chad refused saying, “Don’t thank me. Thank God.”
“I don’t know why I became so fortunate.” Jennifer said. “It’s been a very humbling experience. There really are still good people out there.”

A service that not only increases your bottom line, but prepares you for a MADACS.
Reinvent the Way You Rehab Rooms
Every apartment complex needs rehab from the normal wear and tear of living. As you approach updates to your units, make sure to consider that a room’s rehab not only includes necessary functional updates, but aesthetic details that turn heads.
satintouch Design is your rehab solution. We see a room beyond the turnover and rehab. From timeless improvements – like subway tiles – to targeted improvements – including thematic retro styling – satintouch Design – we see a room reinvented.
Getting Down to the Details
From whether or not a bathroom mirror is framed to installing a backsplash in the kitchen, it’s all about the tiny details with satintouch Design.
Done By Deadline
When we enter a space, we take inventory of the details that are often missed or cut from a budget line to save money in the short term. With these elements designed and implemented in your apartment spaces, this redesign not only makes the space more functional, but also more appealing.
These details can mean the difference between being an average complex, to being viewed as upscale.
Reinvent Your Bottom Line
To attract a customer base with more money, it starts with a reinvented room with satintouch Design. With our insight and implementation, your apartment building can easily charge 100-200 additional dollars per unit. And, having an apartment over market rate isn’t unheard of for a reinvented room.
We understand the importance of getting through a project quickly while ensuring quality. Having a unit off-the-market digs into your bottom line, and we work diligently to reinvent your rooms on deadline.
Start Turning Heads Today
Once your complex has been completely reinvented by satintouch Design, people will take notice. So we recommend getting your pen and paper after you contract satintouch. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to ensure that your MADACS acceptance speech is ready.

Attract new tenants without all the stress with a rehab by satintouc
Every apartment complex ages.
What was once new and hip, is now aging and tired. In the apartment management business, reinventing your rooms is a part of the long term business strategy.
An apartment complex in Bloomington had apartments that weren’t in bad shape, but needed a facelift to give their aging apartments from the late 80s a new appeal.
They planned to rehab all their apartments in phases, tackling rehab work like new cabinets, countertops, color conversions, and some floor plan modifications.
“We tried to complete some of them ourselves, but soon found ourselves in a tight spot,” the Bloomington apartment manager Ted said. “We had a lot of units, and tight deadlines and a lot of detailed work.”
satintouch had worked with Ted at previous apartment complexes doing apartment turnovers.
“I’ve seen great work from them throughout my career,” Ted said. “When it came time to look for rehab vendor that does quality work, responsive, and meets deadlines, it was a no-brainer for me to call satintouch.”
With over 60 apartments and counting reinvented through rehab by satintouch, Ted continues to work with satintouch because, “working with satintouch lowers my stress, not just at the end of the month, but daily.”