MarCH 2023
The “FISH” PhilosophyLike a house on a solid foundation, every successful organization needs a healthy culture. At Kaftan, we like the FISH! Philosophy, built around four central ideas: 1. Play 2. Be There 3. Make Their Day 4. Choose Your AttitudeWhen coworkers make a commitment to be there for each other, trust grows and teamwork improves. When they make each other’s day with simple gestures of recognition and thanks, people feel valued. When people bring a playful state of mind to work, it releases energy and enthusiasm. When everyone, leaders included, takes responsibility for the attitudes they choose, the team spends less time on unproductive behaviors and more time working for a common goal.On January 26th, our Site Leadership came together for an energizing meeting! It was great to see everyone and exchange ideas and solve issues. Jerey Kaftan was there to discuss the BHAG for the upcoming year and beyond and of course there were a few JOKES and some JUGGLING! It’s always so great to have Jerey at the meetings and give us the vision! We were also fortunate to have Paul Bastas there to review budgeting and take lots and lots of questions. We all learned new things. We all discovered what Creative Genius traits we have! We are fortunate to have a little bit of everything and that’s what makes us so successful as a TEAM. It was fun to launch the FiSH! philosophy and discuss how to “catch the energy… and release the potential.”Catch the energy!Release the potential!
Covington Club’s New Leasing CenterWe have some thrilling news to share! The leasing center for Covington Club Apartments is relocating to a new building next to the community pool. Our plan is to be open by April 1st, and we invite you to visit us anytime for a tour of our brand new premises. We look forward to seeing you there!Community OutreachSince the passing of her son, Liz Spanski has been creating afghans in honor of him for the cancer patients at Troy Beaumont Hospital. Over the course of the past 15 months, Liz has meticulously crafted and donated 31 afghans.Dress for SuccessIt is important we always present ourselves in a professional manner. This includes maintaining a neat appearance by wearing clean, pressed clothes and avoiding casual items like jeans and sneakers. Paying attention to details such as well-groomed hair, clean nails, and minimal jewelry will further enhance our professional image. By dressing for success, we not only impress our clients and colleagues but also feel more condent and competent in our roles.In addition to the above tips, it’s important to remember to dress appropriately for the specic tasks and events of the day. And let’s not forget that our dress code also applies to our virtual meetings. By putting eort into our appearance, we show that we take our roles seriously and are committed to representing Kaftan Communities in the best possible light.
Bedford RenovationsWe are excited to announce the recent exterior and interior renovations that have taken place at The Bedford. Our team has been working hard to improve the overall aesthetic and functionality of our buildings, and we are proud to share these updates with you.Firstly, we have made signicant changes to the exterior of our buildings. The new contemporary architectural enhancements and color scheme are sleek and modern, giving our community a fresh new look. The new look to each building entrance provides an updated and welcoming feel for our residents and their guests.In addition to the new color scheme, we are excited to introduce new landscaping that will be in place this spring. Our goal is to enhance the natural beauty of the property and create a more peaceful and relaxing environment for our residents to enjoy.Moving inside, we have completed an extensive renovation of each common area hall. All halls have been updated with new ooring and fresh wall and door colors. However, the most interesting additions are the wall quotes that have been added to each hall. These inspirational and thought-provoking quotes have been carefully selected to bring a positive and uplifting vibe to our community.All interior units will be updated with a new contemporary feel including new appliances, wall and door colors, hardware, light xtures, and ooring. We are committed to ensuring that our residents have a comfortable and inviting space to call home, and these updates are just one way we are working towards that goal. The new contemporary feel in each unit will enhance the living experience for our residents, providing a space that is both stylish and functional.
Spring MaintenanceNow that Spring is here, it’s important to have a maintenance plan in place! This maintenance plan should be distributed to the maintenance sta with clear instructions, budget information and timelines for completion. It’s important to keep up with regular maintenance to keep the apartment community in good condition and ensure resident satisfaction.1. HVAC System Maintenance:• Inspect air lters and replace as necessary• Clean out air ducts and vents• Check refrigerant levels and top o if needed• Schedule routine maintenance for air conditioning units• Test the heating system for proper operation2. Exterior Building Maintenance:• Inspect the roof for any damage or leaks• Check gutters and downspouts for debris• Inspect the exterior walls for any cracks or signs of wear• Clean and repair any damaged or broken windows• Power wash the exterior of the building3. Landscaping Maintenance:• Trim trees and bushes• Clean up any fallen branches or debris• Plant seasonal owers or plants• Inspect irrigation system and make any necessary repairs4. Common Area Maintenance:• Deep clean the carpets in common areas• Inspect and repair any damaged furniture or xtures• Replace any burnt out light bulbs• Test and inspect smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors5. Resident Unit Maintenance:• Schedule routine maintenance inspections with residents• Check and replace any missing or broken window coverings6. Pool Maintenance:• Inspect and clean the pool deck• Test the pool water chemistry and adjust as necessary• Clean the pool and pool lter• Check and repair any damaged pool equipment7. Parking Lot Maintenance:• Inspect and repair any potholes or cracks• Re-stripe the parking lot• Replace any missing or damaged parking lot signage• Inspect and repair any damaged parking lot lighting
EDITOn February 8th, Marla Kaftan, a certied health coach and owner of EDIT by Marla, spoke to our Kaftan Team about Sleep Success. She shared tips and tricks to improve sleep quality for greater health and wellness. EDIT by Marla is a lifestyle approach to health and wellness. An EDIT is an adjustment to a variety of existing habits and patterns. It begins with setting achievable goals by implementing small changes over time to result in sustainable lifestyle rewards. EDIT addresses not only food consumed but also amounts of stress, physical activity, sleep quality, brain health, and more. You can follow Marla via her website at www.editbymarla.com or follow her on Instagram at EDIT_by_Marla.Leasing Tips1. Be prepared: Before showing a unit or talking to potential residents, make sure you are familiar with the apartment community, including the features, amenities, and any available units.2. Be friendly and approachable: When speaking with potential residents, make sure to be friendly, polite, and approachable. Answer all their questions and be patient with them.3. Highlight the community’s strengths: Emphasize the community’s unique features and benets, such as its location, proximity to transportation, or amenities like a tness center or pool.4. Be honest: Don’t make false promises or misrepresent the community to potential residents. Be honest about the positives and negatives of living in the community.5. Be professional: Dress professionally and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. This will help establish trust with potential residents.6. Be organized: Keep track of all your interactions with potential residents, including their contact information, preferences, and any questions they have. This will help you follow up with them later and ensure that they have a positive experience.7. Follow up: After showing a unit or speaking with a potential resident, be sure to follow up with them to see if they have any further questions or concerns.8. Be exible: Be willing to work with residents to nd a solution that meets their needs. 9. Be responsive: Be available to answer residents’ questions and concerns in a timely manner, whether it’s via phone, email, or in person.10. Build relationships: Building strong relationships with residents can help increase retention rates and lead to positive word-of-mouth advertising. Make sure to check in with residents regularly and address any concerns they may have.
Resident EventsHere are some fun ideas for apartment community resident events that you can organize throughout the dierent seasons:1. Summer Pool Party: Host a pool party at the apartment complex’s swimming pool. Oer refreshing drinks, snacks, and pool games to make the event more enjoyable.2. Spring Cleaning Party: Organize a spring cleaning party where residents can get together and clean up their apartments. Oer cleaning supplies and snacks to make the event more fun.3. Fall Harvest Festival: Organize a fall harvest festival with seasonal treats, such as apple cider, pumpkin pie, and caramel apples. You can also host games and activities like bobbing for apples or a pie-eating contest.4. Movie Nights: Host movie nights throughout the year where residents can gather together to watch a lm. You can even oer free popcorn and drinks to make the event more enjoyable.5. Game Nights: Organize game nights where residents can gather together to play board games or card games. You can even have a tournament with prizes for the winners.6. Fitness Classes: Oer free tness classes throughout the year, such as yoga, Zumba, or Pilates. This is a great way to encourage residents to stay active and healthy.7. Cooking Classes: Host cooking classes where residents can learn how to cook new dishes. You can even invite a local chef to come in and teach a class.8. Craft Workshops: Organize craft workshops where residents can learn how to make DIY crafts. You can oer materials and supplies to make it easy for everyone to participate.9. Pet-Friendly Events: Host pet-friendly events, such as a dog show, a pet costume contest, or a pet adoption fair. This is a great way to bring residents and their pets together.
Chat GPTChatGPT is an advanced computer program that can talk to people just like a real person would. It’s been trained to understand and process human language so that it can answer questions, give information, and even have casual conversations. Its exceptional intelligence may raise suspicions of its inclination to take over the world! Just kidding, it is undoubtedly benign. But seriously, it’s a pretty amazing technology that can make our lives a lot easier.In the apartment industry, ChatGPT can be used to streamline customer service by answering frequently asked questions, providing information about rental agreements, and even helping residents troubleshoot common maintenance issues. This can save time and resources for both property managers and residents. Additionally, ChatGPT can help property managers gather feedback from residents, giving them valuable insights into areas that need improvement.Overall, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help the apartment industry provide better customer service and streamline communication. Its ability to understand natural language and engage in conversation makes it a valuable asset for property managers and residents alike.139 Years of EXPERIENCEThank you to ALL our Leasing Professionals that attended our Leasing Roundtable. The focus was on telephone skills and greetings — making that rst impression. The exchange of ideas amongst the team was phenomenal. We look forward to a strong leasing season. Remember YOU make the dierence. THANK YOU!
Follow Us Don’t forget to engage with us on social! Likes and comments bring awareness and trac.www.kaftancommunities.comCore Values FIRSTFirm but FairInspiring PositivityResponsible and AccountableSuperior ExperienceTruly Healthy Lifestyle Sterling Reputation for FairnessExcellence Inside and Out Treat Customers like FamilyThree UniquesThere Once Was a Business…There once was a business called Kaftan,With values that never did soften.They cared for their crew,And investors too,And their properties, oh so often. For over half a century in time,They’ve thrived with their principles divine.Their Core Values true,Shine through and through,In all that they do, oh so ne. With pride in their work and their name,Kaftan Communities rise to fame.Their success is no mystery,Their commitment is no history,For they stand tall in their ethical frame.