Episodes
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Interviewing is a lot like dating.
Today’s tip is about tackling the popular interview question of “Why do you want THIS job?" like how you would when dating someone you really like.
In this video, we discuss why this question can easily be misunderstood for other popular interview questions and how this misinterpretation can get your answer wrong.
In this clip, you’ll also learn: (1) WHY this question is often asked, (2) HOW to find your answer truthfully and authentically; and (3) DELIVER your answers in a way that gets your interviewers feeling safe, secure and - maybe - even blushing about the thought of hiring you.
Watch this video and get one step closer to the elusive: “YES, YOU’VE GOT THE JOB!”
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Today's tip is about a question that is often asked in a job interview for a building super that starts with "What if..." This type of question is called a hypothetical and it's a fictitious work situation that candidates are asked to listen to and explain how they would respond to it.
Often, these hypotheticals are designed like a puzzle and are difficult to answer on the spot. Indeed, many candidates fail this question.
This episode gives you some quick tips on how to tackle these types of questions. I reveal why they're difficult to answer and so easy to get lost when trying to answer them. Candidates often turn on their emotions to find the right answer and then unexpectedly find it almost impossible to find their way back.
This episode shows you why emotions are the WRONG path to take to answering these questions. I reveal what the interviewer is really looking for and how to follow THREE simple rules to help you untangle these puzzles.
In this clip, you'll also learn how NOT to answer this question. And, you'll learn what your response SHOULD be to (1) overcome the traps of answering this question and impress the most skeptical interviewers; (2) stay memorable in the minds of your interviewer by saying things that make them feel that you are a confident and clear-minded candidate; and (3) get the most out of the interview, even if you fail, with nuggets of wisdom that will help you in the future to get one step closer to the elusive: "YES, YOU'VE GOT THE JOB!"
Keep learning, keep motivated!
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Missing episodes?
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Today's tip is about a question that is normally asked by the interviewer at the close of the job interview, when you THINK that you've finally made it to the finish line and you start to relax and think that this part doesn't actually count towards the interview. It's the deceptively guard-dropping question: "Now, do you have a question for us?"
When most candidates hear this, they go into casual mode and ask questions that serve themselves only, not seeing that a great opportunity was lost to slam dunk an awesome interview or to turn a bad interview around at the last minute into a success story.
In this clip, I talk about this special, deceptively simple question, what the interviewer is really looking for and how you can use this question as a tool to flip the interview around and walk away a winner... regardless of whether you actually get the job or not.
In this clip, you'll also learn what NOT to say for this question. And, you'll learn what your response SHOULD be to (1) overcome and even impress skeptical interviewers who may not initially like you at the start of the interview, (2) memorably engage your interviewer and keep them wanting MORE from you, and (3) get the most out of the interview, even if you fail, with nuggets of wisdom that will help you in the future to get one step closer to the elusive: "YES, YOU'VE GOT THE JOB!"
Enjoy the clip.
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I hope you had a calm, yet productive week!
This episode is the 2nd part to our series about resume-writing for Supers.
The reasons why you MUST listen to this podcast are:
... you should be updating your resume at least once per year! (This podcast is an urgent reminder to do that, especially if you haven't done so in years!)
... your resume only has 6 to 7 seconds to make an impression on the recruiter before it goes in the YES or NO pile! (Listen to this podcast so it ends up in the YES pile!)
... recruiters only look at big titles, dates, and a VERY small amount of your actual experience! (So, follow our format to focus on the right things when it comes to resume-writing!)
We'll do this by examining three simple rules for you to follow: the A-R-C formula (Accuracy - Relevant - Concise).
We'll apply these three rules to an actual resume from a real job candidate in this industry, and show you how we transform this resume into one that can really stand out.
Part 1 is about the three basic rules of resume-writing to follow.
Part 2 shows how to apply these three rules to an actual resume.
Part 3 is about making the resume visually attractive to stand out from the rest of the pack.
Watch the YouTube version to follow along and see the resume transform on video:
So, sit back, grab a beverage of choice and have a great listen!
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I hope you had a fantastic week!
As for me, this strange week started with an electrical short that threw both booster pumps to the "off" position and, simultaneously, disengaged the low water alarm. Hours later and without any alarm, 420 apartments had no water and I found my Monday dragging on for several hours past 5pm.
During this same week, two elevators were suddenly knocked out of service, stranding 21 floors of residents to the sweltering stairwells.
Can I keep going? Absolutely.
With all this going on, I'm sure that resume-writing is the last thing to think about on your list of to-do's. We're often exhausted after a full week of work, especially when things don't go as planned and it's filled with surprises.
But, when it comes to resume-writing, did you know that...
... you should be updating your resume at least once per year?
... your resume only has 6 to 7 seconds to make an impression on the recruiter before it goes in the YES or NO pile?
... recruiters only look at big titles, dates, and a VERY small amount of your actual experience?
These points should urge you to spend quality time every so often revising your resume and putting in as much care as you would into the technical aspects of your job.
This means not only adding things blindly to your resume, but thinking about how you've changed as a professional since your last resume draft, and what this means in terms of your value to a potential employer.
In this podcast episode, we'll look at three simple rules to guide you in making an amazing resume.
We'll apply these three rules to an actual resume from a real candidate in this industry, and show you how we transform this resume into one that creates interest and keeps the recruiter's attention for more than 7 seconds.
Part 1 is about the three basic rules of resume-writing to follow.
Part 2 shows how to apply these three rules to an actual resume.
Part 3 is about making the resume visually attractive to stand out from the rest of the pack.
Watch the YouTube version to follow along and see the resume transformation.
So, sit back, grab a beverage of choice and have a great listen!
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Happy Saturday!
This week's episode is Part 2 of email etiquette.
Why a podcast on writing emails?
From last week, emailing is part of our everyday life as Building Supers. We write, copy and forward emails to residents, building managers and vendors. We send documents, links, etc. through email.
Because emails are central to communication nowadays and they often replace face-to-face, direct verbal communication, we should look at emailing as a way we represent ourselves to others as accurately and professionally as possible.
So what if I don't write emails well enough?
There are many ways that our message can get lost in email communication or what we say can be taken the wrong way. Sometimes, this can lead to conflict and confusion, which can escalate needlessly when emails are written carelessly.
Why should I care about writing good emails?
Email is a form of customer service. The better you are in customer service, the higher your value and the salary $$ you can command.
In this podcast, we'll look at simple ways to prevent those problems that occur because of careless email habits. For instance, how starting and ending emails can set the tone for a clear, pleasant communication with others.
I focus on this topic because the last thing a Building Super needs during the course of a busy and stressful week is more drama added onto it. Good email writing can subtract from it. Poor email writing can add to it. Simple as that.
For this episode, I highly recommend you to watch the Youtube video as there are some visual aids to the podcast.
Once again, here's a simple guide for you to follow in order to start off with the right email habits.
Here is a template you can use to copy and paste into your emails.
Let's get started!
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Happy Wednesday!
In case you don't know it yet, you are going to have a great rest of the week!
For all of the things that can happen in a week, like water leaks and mechanicals breaking down, the very last thing that a Building Super probably thinks about is email etiquette.
But, emailing is part of our everyday life as Building Supers. We write, copy and forward emails to residents, building managers and vendors. We send documents, links, etc.
Or, we use emails simply to keep a party informed about what's going on. We keep these emails as record for later when we need to recall what happened in a certain situation.
Because emails are central to communication nowadays and because they often replace face-to-face, direct verbal communication, we should look at emailing as a way we represent ourselves to others as accurately and professionally as possible.
There are many ways that our message can get lost in email communication or what we say can be taken the wrong way. Sometime, this can lead to conflict and confusion, which can escalate needlessly when emails are written carelessly.
In this podcast, we'll look at simple ways to prevent those problems that occur because of careless email habits. For instance, how starting and ending emails can set the tone for a clear, pleasant communication with others.
I focus on this topic because the last thing a Building Super needs during the course of a busy and stressful week is more drama added onto it. Great email writing can subtract from it. Poor email writing can add to it. Simple as that.
Moreover, emails are a form of customer service. The better you are in customer service, the higher your value and the salary you can command.
For this episode, you'll need to watch the Youtube video as there are some visual aids to the podcast.
In addition, Jennifer has create simple guide for you to follow in order to start off with the right email habits.
Here is a template you can use to copy and paste into your emails.
Let's get started!
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Friday is finally here. For those who's had a long and crazy week, I salute you.
This week's podcast is the 2nd PART of the episode on "Trust Me, I'm Your Super." You may be thinking "WHAT? How much can we talk about honesty and trustworthiness?
In my opinion, probably not enough. As a basic human need, we want to trust someone and be trusted by others.
But, as a building super, though, there's a whole lot more riding on the trust that others bestow you with.
In your role as the building's authority figure and agent, you have stewardship over the building's parts and expensive mechanicals, and are in charge of safety and welfare of the residents and their guests, building vendors, etc.
And it may be a fact that no one else in the WORLD has a complete access to the apartment, homes and lives of every resident who lives inside your building. A lot of us become like family to the residents who live inside our building.
Trust and honesty are the bedrock of a Building Superintendent position, which is a heavy responsibility to bear. And, like everything else, we just need to remember this and polish it up once in a while so that we keep these traits from slipping or doing things that make it seem that we've slipped up.
So, we continue with the goal of PART 1:
"This episode looks at the common pitfalls that a Super (live-in and part-time) faces when it comes to building up and maintaining TRUST. It looks at the many ordinary tasks that Building Supers do that can expose you to the potential risk of your honesty being questioned, such as entering an apartment unsupervised, even with the most innocent of intentions. We also discuss ways to prevent TRUST from degrading and how to restore it when it's down." Sit back, grab your favorite end-of-week drink and enjoy this podcast. Cheers to a successful week accomplished and a great weekend ahead!
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Happy Wednesday! - Congratulations, you've made it mid-week!This past couple days, I've sat in on several interviews for open RM positions in various buildings. Mainly, I observed the questions and the candidates' responses, and had the chance to learn which qualities Property Managers (PM) or Board members are looking for in their candidates.While there's a large list of qualities that managers generally value in a Building Super, such as technical knowledge and skill, the one thing that I've sensed that they were trying to look for was whether he or she could be TRUSTED. Every job interview was really an investigation into whether the candidate is honest and whether he or she can be trusted. Without a “yes,” this candidate would most likely not make the next round interviews, or be flat out rejected, whether or not they had the rest of the package. Moreover, TRUST is the main bond between a Building Super and Property Manager (or Board). Without it, the job and/or relationship will not last. It's important to remember that TRUST bonds are shaky and they can be broken even when all intentions are honest and good. Miscommunication, misunderstanding, mishaps, etc. can unnecessarily create crises in TRUST. This episode looks at the common pitfalls that a Super (live-in and part-time) faces when it comes to building up and maintaining TRUST. It looks at the many ordinary tasks that Building Supers do that can expose you to the potential risk of your honesty being questioned, such as entering an apartment unsupervised, even with the most innocent of intentions. We also discuss ways to prevent TRUST from degrading and how to restore it when it's down. Sit back, grab your favorite mid-week drink and enjoy this podcast. Cheers to a great rest-of-the-week!
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Happy 4th of July weekend! 🎉Between the burgers and hot dogs, I take a moment on this holiday every year to remember our country's birth and its history of achievements and struggles. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, the first gunshots of the Civil War, the moon landing of 1969, to the singing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as many other historical events, this country has come a long, long way from its birth.While some events were marked with celebration, many others were marked by pain. And those things happening now on the streets and in politics, as confusing as they can be to understand, have its roots in this checkered past. No matter how you look at these events or current news, I'm hopeful because there's only one way to describe our journey from 1776 to now as a country: Improvement. At the end of the day, things get better and better.And, you can say that this same principle applies to ourselves and our own professional growth as Building Superintendents. What we're valued for as Building Supers is problem-solving. This includes solving problems regarding staff, resident complaints, board concerns, mechanical issues, etc. In this podcast, I would like to focus on just one area of problem-solving: maintenance troubleshooting. For the Building Super, maintenance troubleshooting is one of the highest forms of art. It's where all of your skills, from carpentry to plumbing, come together with theory, practice and past experiences. Troubleshooting requires patience, diligence and luck. It also requires making plenty of mistakes and learning the lessons from them. It's a painful process. But, at the end of the day, you'll get better and better. “Three steps forward and two steps backwards.”In this podcast, I bring you through a troubleshooting process where the source of a water leak in the bathroom was finally discovered. I offer four steps for you to become a better troubleshooter, especially if you're just starting out as a Building Super. I'll also reveal some other helpful hints, such as why you should carry a granola bar or other light snack while you're troubleshooting. For this troubleshooting, I've paired up with Angel Quinde, a part-time Building Super who works in the West Village and carries some great troubleshooting successes under his belt. There are some diagrams and other visuals, so make sure you see the Youtube version here.
Life is about improving your skills one day at a time. Have fun and learn! We're on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts! Thank you for subscribing!Sit back, and enjoy your weekend!🍺
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Finally, the weekend is here! For me, it was a hectic week. Some mistakes were made and valuable lessons were learned. Talking about mistakes, it would be great to get your feedback on this true story: "A $300 flower bouquet was delivered to a building (there is no doorman). The delivery person buzzed the resident, who was not home, so he stepped into the building when someone was exiting and went upstairs to the apartment floor. The delivery person left the flowers near the recipient's apartment, which also happened to be next to the building's designated trash pickup area (let's just say that due to the building's strange layout and policy, the exact border where the trash pickup area begins and ends is very unclear). The next day, building porter threw the bouquet away after noticing water leaking from the pot, thinking that this item was left out for trash." Needless to say, this created a stir as to whose responsibility this was: (1) the Porter who threw this out, (2) the delivery person or flower store who left the item unattended and without proper protection; or the (3) Co-op for having the strange layout and policy that caused this confusion. Who would you think is responsible for this $300 mishap? By next week, I'll let you know how the Co-op Board and property manager had decided.Anyway, I would like to end this week with a podcast and Youtube video about a topic I'm often asked about: “Which is the better career -- a Live-in or Part-time Building Super career?”For many years, I've had the chance to see how both of these paths turn out, and I've discovered that there's so many pros of both types of career. But, as with anything in life, there's some noteworthy cons as well. For one thing, when you make mistakes like the one in the story above, you could be financially liable for mistakes. Thank goodness that this item was only $300; what would happen if this was a MUCH more expensive mistake (hint: that's why professional part-time supers should carry sufficient insurance). In this podcast, I weigh the pros and cons of each career to see if there's a rhyme or reason to this question. We're on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts! Thank you for subscribing!Sit back, and enjoy your weekend!🍺
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The idea of taking on a Part-Time Super / Porter gig is exciting. This can mean more income, an opportunity to learn more, meet more people and add experiences to your professional resume.
But, the hardest part of pricing correctly and making sure the gig is profitable boils down to knowing the job detail (the weekly task list) and accurately predicting how long it will take to get everything done. Once you have this number (whether in total number of weekly or monthly hours), you can calculate your price for a clean profit.
Nothing will help you more here than an old-fashioned building walk-through. Inspecting a property before you offer a price will give you a chance to understand the complete set of expectations that the customer (property manager, board member, landlord, etc.) will have for his Part-time Super or Porter service.
Follow me through a small, 20-unit building as I perform a basic-level walk-through and check out those things that will determine how many weekly visits this gig will require and how many minutes or hours each visit will take.
For the Youtube Version, click the thumbnail below:
Also, if you need a walk-through task checklist to start off, click the thumbnail below and download the PDF version.
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It's great to start seeing things return to some sort of normal. Yesterday, I walked into a neighborhood gym (yes, it's time for me to reverse my pandemic weight gain) and I was given the choice not to wear a mask. It seemed like Twilight Zone.Not so long ago, people were fighting about wearing masks. Tempers were flaring at places like Wal-mart. Remember that?As Building Supers / staff members, we've also had to enforce rules inside the building that stoked anger among shareholders, vendors, etc. I remember the mad dog stare straight into my soul when I asked a shareholder to put his mask on inside the building's common area laundry room last year.Luckily, it was my attitude that de-escalated the situation and persuaded him to wear a mask. I'm sure you've had similar incidents. Building Supers and staff often have the unappreciative task of enforcing rules that residents don't particularly like.And, I'm sure you know that, many times, the key to preventing things from heating up is by keeping cool and having a positive attitude.So, I would like to end this week with a podcast and Youtube video dealing with this touchy subject: ATTITUDE.Coincidentally, this past week, I sat in on several job interviews for open Resident Manager positions and, afterwards, I was given the opportunity to listen in as the Board discussed the pros and cons of each candidate. Can you guess which trait came up time and time again? You guessed it: attitude.The Boards seemed to think that a good attitude would spell success when it came to dealing with the building's residents, with staff, upcoming projects, etc. Attitude was a close runner-up to a candidates' actual real-life professional experience.On the other hand, attitude -- or a negative attitude -- was often a huge, if not the main, reason behind unfortunate situations I've witnessed where the Superintendent was finally terminated from his or her job.The scary fact is, every single one of us is vulnerable to slipping into a negative attitude without realizing it. We can sink into a negative attitude when we're overlooked for a promotion, feel under-appreciated, or our integrity or self-respect is questioned or challenged. The list of pitfalls is endless.The goal of this podcast is to help you recognize when these negative attitudes creep up on you, and how to counter them before it takes root in your soul (and your professional work).Having only a great attitude will not help you win every interview, but it will make you memorable to the interviewer and give you the edge when you don't have everything else.We're on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts! Thank you for subscribing!
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In the second part of this episode with Albert Laracuente, we'll continue on our journey getting to know this Part-time Super in NYC.
We'll get his take on pricing and how he sizes a potential building as an opportunity, the hardest part of being an entrepreneur-superintendent.
So, sit back and enjoy a discussion on:
The life-changing decision why Albert suddenly decided to become a part-time building superHow Albert quickly sizes up a building for serviceCommon, hidden mistakes when pricing buildingsSee the YouTube Video by clicking the thumbnail below:
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This podcast (and Youtube video) covers a topic that comes up time and time again: What are boards and property managers really looking for when we're being interviewed.At these interviews, we're often asked such questions as: "What's your greatest strength?" or "What (value) can you bring to the building?" We try and answer these questions as best we can, hoping to say the right things, keep cool and focused on the question we've just been asked. Then, panic sets in.Sounds familiar?If so, don't worry; it happens to the best of us. We panic because we aren't sure what board members and property managers are looking for and we start to lose track of what we are trying to say.This episode reveals the secret behind interviewing, and the ten (10) things, or traits, that every interview question is designed to uncover about you. Once you know what these 10 things are, you can ace your interview by focusing your answers on promoting these values.We're on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts! Thank you for subscribing!
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This podcast is about Hank Wisner.You may already know Hank through the building trades if you, or your building, have ordered building supplies through National Maintenance Supply, one of NYC's leading janitorial supplies and services company, which he represents.But, another surprising side to him is that Hank is also a great educator and the co-founder of the immensely popular Residential Manager Emergency Response Team ("RMERT"), a course that prepares an Resident Manager and other building staff for human-made or natural disasters, which he created with his partner, Peter Morici.This course is designed to turn building staff into first responders with knowledge about how to approach a catastrophic event in which lives are stake and where there may even be human casualties.Hank and the RMERT instructors cover such topics as terrorism, high-rise fires, flooding, active shooter, among many others. They also provide hands-on training so that action is fast and effective on the part of building staff when things quickly turn dangerous and confusing.In this episode, we talk with Hank about the RMERT course and what it takes behind the scenes to deliver this popular course year after year to NYC's building staff.
See the Youtube version:
Course website: https://rmert.com/ Related videos: https://youtu.be/1jEoesHQhd0 https://youtu.be/Z_fuGjIHXmc
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In this episode, you'll meet Albert Laracuente, who operates a part-time Super company in Brooklyn. We'll get his take on things, such as how he handles sanitation tickets, finds new customers and takes on a new building and its responsibilities. We'll also talk about his past mistakes in this industry and how he's overcome these challenges.
The reason for this episode is that talking to other supers helps me to solve the problems that I face everyday in the super industry. The potential to learn from each other is huge.
The reality is that, in addition to Albert, there are countless supers out there. Across NYC, inside every property, large and small, is someone serving as its building superintendent with his feet on the ground and mind set to solving everyday tasks. And they are hard-working, diligent, always on-call, silent, low-key, and often under-appreciated heroes of the building trades.
So, sit back and enjoy a discussion on:
The life-changing decision why Albert suddenly decided to become a part-time building superHow Albert quickly sizes up a building for serviceCommon, hidden mistakes when pricing buildingsWe'll also look at an actual Superintendent task list for a new building in Astoria, Queens and go over the details with a fine-toothed comb.
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One common source of anxiety for a Part-time Super who is just starting off in the industry is Boiler Maintenance. What should you do, as the part-time super, to minimally ensure that the boiler is properly maintained?
Knowing what to do and what not to do can be confusing and scary, given the many parts of the boiler and the consequences of when the boiler breaks down.
Should a Part-time Super simply leave the boiler care to others, or should you take this responsibility on? The answer should be YES, learn about the boiler and take this on! Your value to the building increases with higher knowledge about the boiler, and what to do to in the event of:
A heating emergency (sudden loss of heat or hot water)A boiler breakdown, and the super is needed as a first responder and troubleshooterIn this episode, I share a very simple checklist for you use as a starting point to learning more about the steam boiler. This checklist is for making sure your boiler is maintained and operating correctly.
I filmed this episode inside the boiler room of a small, 10-unit Co-op in the Upper West Side with a unique boiler setup (for instance, the boiler body is set too low compared with the water heater, causing all sorts of problems). Your boiler may have its own quirks, so make sure you learn about them.
What I learned from making this episode is that there are Building Supers who not only understand this subject better that I do, but ALSO are probably MUCH better at teaching this than I am.
If this person is you, I bow to you! Reach out to me - let's do an episode together and get you the recognition you deserve.
This episode may be better "seen" than "heard." Watch the Youtube video here:
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A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for a building Superintendent.
That's because saying the wrong things or wearing the wrong kind of clothes can derail an interview unnecessarily and cause the interviewer to focus on things that may not really be about your experiences, skills or work ethic.
This episode is about preparing for a job interview, whether it's for a part-time super building or any other position. It's about the simple things to watch out for before and during the interview so that you start off on the right foot and stay on the right path.
We often forget that we are being interviewed to see if we can solve a problem they have, something which keeps them up at night. I'll show you the secret to flipping the script on the interview process so that you can take control of the interview, become confident and come off as the expert they're looking for.
I'll show you the tips to keep improving your interview skills with every failure or success.
So, after you listen to this video/ podcast, you'll know the answers to such questions as:
What should I wear to the interview?
What do I do if I can't answer a question?
What are two small things to bring to an interview to appear professional? A "notepad" is one of them!
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In this episode, we'll examine the complex relationship between the Building Superintendent and:
Property managerBoard of Directors (with multiple people to answer to)Shareholder / Unit OwnerSubtenant / RenterBeing a building superintendent a Co-op or Condo building in NYC requires a savvy understanding of the rules of "who's the boss," or who holds the ultimate authority in the building.Building Supers are often considered the boss because they carry the responsibility to prioritize the needs of the building and the authority to carry these objectives out.But, this chain of authority can become very confusing and frustrating to follow for a Building Super because everyone - including the property manager, the shareholder, a board member, a renter or subtenant - can seem or act like the Boss.And breaking from this chain, no matter how well-intentioned you may be, can cause a host of problems that can get you into a heap of trouble with the manager or Board, and even cause you to lose or forfeit money.This podcast aims to show you when to defer (say YES) and when not to (say NO), and whose authority should take priority at any given time. This episode will also guide you to confidently navigate any conflict between the parties when it comes to the question of "Who-is-in-Charge."Learning to do this correctly will help you preserve your time and energy, as well as to keep your efforts and hard work properly compensated.For this episode, I'll use a whiteboard to help illustrate the points. Feel free to see the Youtube version of this podcast by clicking the image below.Sit back, grab a Friday drink and enjoy this podcast. Cheers to a great weekend!🍻🍺
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