NEWSLETTER LINKS:


QUICK LINKS:
President's Message
Ginger Catherman, CPM®
President, IREM Maryland Chapter

Coronavirus Disease 2019 aka COVID-19. As Property Management professionals and vendors who provide support to property managers, the past few weeks have been unprecedented. I've been a property manager through other recent pandemics such as bird flu and swine flu but have never experienced anything like this. It's been difficult to get any "regular" work addressed with trying to stay on top of this while answering e-mail and phone inquiries, sending memos and attending meetings and conference calls. March has certainly come in like a lion, but I don't see it going out as a lamb. It's definitely been a good test of emergency procedures and even those with solid procedures going into this are modifying, as needed, along the way.

I am lucky to have the support of my fellow IREM property managers and industry partners during this difficult time. My IREM friends have proactively shared information with each other, as we experience new guidance, questions, responses and mandates. In addition to the WHO and CDC websites, IREM also has some industry-specific information: https://www.irem.org/learning/coronavirus. On the site you will find regular update videos called "From the Front Lines", a series of short, 10-15-minute videos on the current hot topic.

Let's "virtualy" stick together on this and responsibly follow guidance in order to limit the spread and duration of COVID-19.
We are all finding ourselves in a very different working situation. We may be used to going to an office and interacting with our teams in person. Now, we are all forced to work virtually. Our interactions are now via conference, email and phone.

To make the most of the new working environment, here are some tips from the Darren Hardy A-Team, who has been working virtually for over 5 years.

* Remember your purpose and your passion for your job. 
 
* Use effective systems and technology to stay connected.
o Zoom meetings
o Google Docs
o Project Management tools like Microsoft Teams or Asana

* Have a huddle every Monday and Friday (using Zoom).
o Use Monday to talk about what we are going to accomplish for the week. Talk about your goals for the week and where you might need some help.
o Use Fridays as a recap. Talk about what you accomplished and give a shout out to others who did something great like: completing a big project or having a "win" with a customer.

* Make your workspace comfortable, free from distractions and furnished with quality tools, where possible. Try to have a separate space. Don't be in the kitchen or in front of the TV on the couch.

* Make it fun - your virtual meetings can be to get together for fun - happy hour; celebrate birthdays, etc.

* Use JAM Sessions to be productive. These are 60 to 90-minute uninterrupted times focusing on one task. Put a note on your door that you are not to be disturbed and letting people know when you are available.

* Pretend that are NOT home. Don't answer the door. Don't do the laundry or clean the kitchen. Don't let the kids disturb you. Don't schedule non-work-related appointments during work time. You wouldn't do those things if you were in an office.

* Don't blur work and life. Have a set start and stop time for your workday. When you are in your personal time, don't do work, don't check email, etc. Take time for you. Set boundaries.

* Make the mental shift from work to home. Leave your workspace. Go outside for a walk. Make the mental shift from work time to home and family time.

* Play the part. Dress for the office. Get yourself ready as if you are going to an office and meeting with people.

* Be consistent. Get up at the same time. Start and end the work day at the same time.

* Remember, it's not always going to be perfect. That's OK. Keep moving forward.
A Community UnitedUnited
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the lives of everyone. Closed schools, cancelled events, employees working remotely, company layoffs, and social distancing have put a strain on our communities and the companies that operate within them. But if there's one thing history has shown us it's that hardship brings people together. Here's a look at some of the local companies that are helping with the COVID-19 relief efforts:

2020 IREM Income & Expense Analysis Report IE


Contribute to the 2020 IREM® Income/Expense Analysis®

As a past contributor to the IREM Income/Expense Analysis, you've helped us provide the most trusted property data in the profession - data that helps professionals like you make smarter and more informed decisions.
 
Help us to continue to provide the best data by submitting today! Our submission site makes uploading your property data easy. Just head over to our   submission site to plug in your 2019 data by April 30. And don't worry, your data doesn't need to be audited - budget numbers are just fine by us.
 
As a thank-you gift, we'll give you a free digital copy of a 2020 Income/Expense AnalysisReport and a free individualized building report too. That's a $565 value!
 
Submit your data today.
Check out the photos from our past events!