The 6 Most Expensive Words in Property Management

🚫 "We've always done it this way" - The 6 Most Expensive Words in Property Management

After 20+ years in multifamily operations, I've learned that comfort is the silent killer of excellence. Especially in affordable housing, where compliance and resident wellbeing hang in the balance.

Here's what happens when "we've always done it this way" becomes your team's mantra:

📋 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘀
• Legacy processes that nobody questions
• Outdated metrics tracking vanity numbers instead of impact
• Quick fixes that morphed into permanent SOPs
• Compliance tools gathering digital dust between audits
• Leasing procedures from three software systems ago

The real cost? In an industry where one compliance misstep can trigger a cascade of consequences, 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺.

💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲
We need to build environments where:
• Frontline teams feel safe questioning the status quo
• "Because that's how we do it" isn't an acceptable answer
• Leaders actively seek feedback on outdated processes
• Innovation is rewarded, not just error-free execution
• Cross-functional teams regularly review and optimize workflows

Remember: Just because a process worked in 2020 doesn't mean it serves your residents, staff, or compliance requirements in 2024.

🎯 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽
Pick one process this week that's been running on autopilot. Ask your team:
• Why do we do it this way?
• Who does this serve?
• What would we do differently if we started fresh today?

What's one "we've always done it this way" process you've successfully challenged or updated in your organization.