About Me
My name is Cris and I have over 20 years of experience in the residential property management field, working for professional and prestigious nationwide property management companies that provided me with extensive, ongoing training and education in the residential property management industry. Currently, I am the Operations Manager for an apartment association in California; managing day-to-day business, as well as supervising advisors and branch offices, i addition to authoring and revising forms for our members.
Starting out as a leasing agent, I quickly moved up the ranks to manage multi-million dollar, Class A properties. As you can see in my resume below, my experience ranges from 50 units to 500 units in the Greater Los Angeles area - from Westchester to Camarillo, and Santa Monica to Hollywood.
In 2018, I received my commission as a bonded Notary Public, endorsing my integrity and truthfulness as a public official, to serve the public as an impartial witness in performing a variety of official fraud-deterrent acts related to the signing of important documents. I renewed my commission in 2022.
Thank you for visiting and supporting my hobby of keeping landlords informed. I hope to one day fulfill my dream of becoming a property management trainer, to allow me to share valuable strategies and tactics with others. Luckily, being the Operations Manager for an apartment association, I get to enjoy and love being part of a strong support team that help landlords and on-site teams not only succeed, but thrive in that success. In addition, maintaining this website helps fulfill my desire to teach and inform until I speak in front of crowds at seminars and events.
Experience
Training
No training manuals when I started at the apartment association. The notes I took during my first week became the foundation of the 30+ page department training handbook we now use for new hires.
Hired and trained 8 advisors and branch managers.
Since there was no previous curriculum required for training prior to my hire, I put together a combination of one-on-one training, webinars, recorded videos, and even remote training via Zoom or Google Meet.
Implemented and required ongoing training for my team. Required courses include, but limited to:
Telephone etiquette (ADP)
Excellence in Customer Service (ADP)
Listening Skills - Transform Your Customer Interactions (ADP)
Complaint Handling (ADP)
Cyber Security Awareness (ADP)
Pre-Tenancy Issues (Kimball, Tirey & St. John)
During Tenancy (Kimball, Tirey & St. John)
Preparing and Serving Notices (Kimball, Tirey & St. John)
Maintain training logs for my team, to manage the progress of the different courses.
Also, maintained the Sexual Harassment Training training log companywide to ensure compliance
Introduction to Fair Housing Presentation:
Property Management Industry Knowledge
Landlord Rights & Responsibilities
Fair Housing
Los Angeles Rent Control - on-site experience
Coordinate SCEP inspections and facilitate repairs
Santa Monica Rent Control - on-site experience
Familiar with other area rent control ordinances: Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, San Francisco, Oakland, Alameda, etc
AB2330 preliminary move-out inspection
SB90 SODA processing
General tenant/landlord laws
Worked with third party water, sewer and trash collection agencies such as Ista, Conservice and NWP
General federal and California payroll laws
Facilitated re-pipe project of 66 units due to slab leaks
Mold remediation that resulted in a renovation
Facilitated full unit renovations for higher market rents
Worked with Kimball, Tirey and St. John at several properties for evictions
Worked with Dan Yampolski of Karsaz and Associates at several properties for our Claims Department
Networked and collected hundreds of contacts from marketing to maintenance to help run properties successfully
Apartment Association
Operations
Manage day to day business operations and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.
Facilitate and coordinate incidents to crisis situations affecting the business operations.
Manage company articles in WordPress; manage company Facebook, LinkedIn, Yelp accounts; create and schedule company email blasts to over 30,000 recipients in over 8 different regions of the state.
Started an internal monthly newsletter to boost employee morale by recognizing great work, birthdays and other good news. Mix in customer service reminders and tips, as well as company announcements and reminders
Software research, development and testing to offer to our members – new property management software.
Seminars & Trade Shows
Plan, book and work all seminars for our members from San Fernando Valley to San Diego, as well as assist with Northern California seminars.
Coordinate speakers for bi-annual trade shows; work on special projects; update and/or create member forms; hiring; etc
Author
March 2020 Blog | COVID-19 Related Moratorium by City
March 2020 Blog | AOA Landlord’s Resource: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
November 2019 Blog & Video | Los Angeles Emergency Renters Relief Program
October 2019 Blog | Urgency Ordinances by City
October 2019 Blog | Determining Maximum Allowable Increases Under AB 1482
October 2019 Blog | Rent Control is Back on the Ballot in 2020
October 2019 Magazine | “Tenant Welfare” is Spreading Like Wildfire Throughout California
September 2018 Magazine | New Prop 65 Regulations!
February 2018 Magazine | What Every Owner Should Have to Protect Themselves from Discrimination Lawsuits
January 2014 Magazine | Introducing…the New AOA Guest Card
Supervising Membership Department
Give advice to members on how to manage their property and day to day operations, credit report review, etc.
Created training manuals for different job duties – payment processing, payment entries, check scanning, ROCA department, Membership department, etc.
Created and maintain AOA Wiki - an internal resource for advisors
Maintain an office calendar through Google that is accessible to advisors with seminar dates, AOA functions, vacations, etc.
Set up an RSS Feed with over 10 different ongoing online searches regarding the different Rent Control areas. Article links are on the AOA Wiki home page to grab an advisor’s attention and they can click on it and read about it.
On-going advisor training and support; assist fellow advisors with landlording issues, and company policies; created and maintain a daily activity log to track statistics on calls
Branch accounting audits, call volume statistics, seminar statistics, etc.
Interview candidates and filled open positions in the company.
Social Media & Marketing
Manage several business social media profiles:
Facebook: AOA, Apartment Nerd (hobby), Tabby's Kitchen (hobby)
LinkedIn: AOA
Twitter: Apartment Nerd (hobby)
Instagram: RedSparkDiaries (hobby)
Membership Accounts Receivables
Enter Membership/Credit Check payment into company accounting program and QuickBooks
Process check scanning deposits directly to the bank – approximately 500-1,000 checks per week.
Forms
Update and/or draft forms for our members to use
Created Fair Housing Poster to sell for profit
Created a guest card from a blank page and wrote an ARTICLE about the importance of keeping track of traffic that was published in AOA's monthly magazine on January 2014 (see above).
Organize and lead the AOA Forms Booth for two AOA sponsored Trade Shows per year.
On-Site Property
Managing Experience and Responsibilities include transitioning of communities to and from management companies; payroll and bonus processing; lease file auditing; overseeing, coordinating and training up to sixteen employees managing corporate housing units within my community; attending court dates for communities’ legal affairs; preparing for and presenting to owner and board meetings; overseeing of common area renovations and unit renovations; re-piping of buildings; and so much more.
Marketing Experience and Responsibilities include updating market surveys weekly to monthly; outreach marketing; establishing preferred employment programs with local companies in the area; creating ideas that are implemented companywide; updating and working closely with lease expiration planners; preparing lease renewals and increases; creating and updating extensive marketing plans; shopping for and setting up of mini-models; daily postings on Craig’s List with V-flyer, Postlets and other creative additions; maintaining community social networking pages, such as Yelp, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; creating property specific collateral from price sheets to resident flyers; creating and updating monthly newsletters; coordinating with local vendors, such as dry cleaners, to offer additional resident services and amenities.
Accounting Experience and Responsibilities include entering rent checks; preparing balance due letters and Three Day Notices; working closely with collection companies; setting up vendors in accounting system; coding invoices according to budget; entering payables; working closely with community budgets to run the building(s) efficiently and within budget; preparing budgets; SB90 SODA processing; month end accounting, closing of books, reclasses and accruals, variance reporting and other extensive owner specific MORs.
Leasing Experience and Responsibilities include touring vacant apartments and preleasing on-notice units; following up with phone call, thank you card and/or email; processing rental applications; gathering of required proofs of income; preparing leases; moving new residents in; preparing move-in unit with move-in gifts, useful information and collateral; move-in inspection walk-through.
New Acquisition Takeovers/Transition Experience and Responsibilities include due diligence on possible new venture; filing paperwork to obtain business licenses, tax ID numbers, bank accounts, utility accounts, etc.; ordering start-up materials and office equipment; setting-up new office with equipment and materials; extensive lease file audits to get knowledge of the community; organizing meet and greet functions for residents to meet new management team and make a positive first impression. Transitioning out include doing lease file audit to make sure files are ready and easy to review for new management; putting together easy instructions on how the office is currently set-up and run; organizing office to make sure all files, keys, etc. are located in the correct place.
Technology
Computer skills include proficiency in Microsoft Office programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher and PowerPoint, Google counterpart of Microsoft Office programs such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, etc. Other programs include iContact, Mailchimp, Doodly video creator, WordPress, VoterVoice, Quickbooks, Yardi, SafeRent, On-Site.com, Property Bridge, Assurant, SureDeposit, Adobe, various dos based Rent Roll programs, as well as other various softwares. Create and maintain www.apartmentnerd.com (Google Sites) as an online resource for CA landlords.
Property Management History
Apartment Owners Association | March 2013 to April 2014, March 2015 to January 2021
Operations Manager, Event Coordinator and Membership Department Supervisor
Private Owner – Resident Manager | August 2014 to July 2018
Olde English Village, Mission Hills, CA 28 units: Resident Manager, August 2014 to July 2018
Market and lease vacancies; created a website to market vacancies
Coordinate maintenance repairs with handyman and/or vendor; coordinate turnovers; SCEP inspections
Cirrus Asset Management – Community Manager | March 2014 to August 2014
The Allure, Canoga Park, CA 150 units: Community Manager, March 2014 to August 2014
Windsor Communities – Property Manager | September 2010 to January 2012
The Marlowe/Windsor at Hancock Park, Hancock Park, CA 121 units: Property Manager, September 2010 to January 2012
Alliance Residential Company – Leasing Consultant to Business Manager | July 2004 to August 2010
Ocean Palms and Ocean Palisades, Santa Monica, CA 96 units: Business Manager, December 2008-August 2010
Alexandria Park, Westchester, CA 160 units: Business Manager, February 2008-November 2008
Marina Terrace, Marina del Rey, CA 500 units: Assistant General Manager, August 2007-February 2008
Hollywood Tower, Hollywood, CA 52 units: Community Manager, March 2007-August 2007
SeaCastle, Santa Monica, CA 178 units: Assistant General Manager, September 2006-March 2007
The Monarch Pasadena, Pasadena, CA 84 units: Community Manager, March 2006-June 2006
Regency at Encino, Encino, CA 74 units & Regency at Sherman Oaks, CA 68 units: Assistant Manager, December 2005-March 2006
University Glen, Camarillo, CA 258 units: Leasing Consultant, July 2004-July 2005
Jones and Jones Management Group, Inc. – Assistant Manager | November 2002 to July 2004
Lombardi Apartments, Woodland Hills, CA 143 units & Parthenia Terrace, Canoga Park, CA 134 units: Assistant Manager, November 2002-July 2004
Kennedy Wilson Properties – Leasing Consultant to Assistant Manager | March 2001-June 2002
Parthenia Plaza, Canoga Park, CA 68 units & Parthenia Court, Canoga Park, CA 66 units: Assistant Manager, March 2001-June 2002