Lessons Learned From Pandemic Have Become Best Practices

The Covid-19 pandemic forced property management companies to adapt on the fly like never before. The industry has implemented new processes and protocols to protect associates and residents alike, and adjusted operations to provide necessary support at the property level. 
While most of the changes are temporary, some of those new practices are here to stay.
During the Property Management Association’s PMEXPO 2020 session “Lessons Learned from Covid-19,” panelists revisited the new approaches and new technology they’ve adopted to support operations, marketing and resident relations during these unprecedented times. 
But the discussion centered on the value of on-site associates and the way teams have come together to overcome the issues brought about by the pandemic.
Cindy Sanquist, president and CEO of Edgewood and Vantage management companies, said by prioritizing the needs of associates, Edgewood and Vantage has been able to demonstrate its support at the property level and take teamwork to the next level. 
“I view the site personnel as the first responders,” said Sanquist, noting that an outside-the-box approach has been required to accommodate employees. “We really did a lot of shuffling around. It’s like having a task board and saying, ‘Who can go where?’ ‘How can we manage this community?’ The staffing itself moved around, not in terms of numbers, just in terms of where they were going to be and where we needed help on a particular day.” 
Suzanne Hillman, CEO of Southern Management, echoed the need for flexibility. 
“Every one of our team members is empowered to do the right things in the ……