2020 has been a challenging year for property management companies and residents alike. Kong Management Group is a full-service property management company, serving several regions throughout the Sunshine State, and we have some thoughts on what the new year will bring for our industry. While the COVID-19 pandemic created many uncertainties, we also feel like it created opportunities for us to better serve our residents and guests. Here are the top four trends in property management that we anticipate seeing in 2021:
- There will be enhancements in customer service.
Based in the Tampa Bay area, Kong Management Group helps connect potential renters to both long-term and short-term housing opportunities throughout Florida, and our goal is to create a quality living experience for everyone. Our reputation is built on our commitment to excellence, and we strive to offer a five-star service to every guest with every rental. As a family-owned and operated business, personal touches, attention to detail, and exemplary customer care are the standard at Kong Management Group.
While providing a high level of customer service has always been our top priority, the pandemic made us look at it in a different light, considering how to offer socially distanced interactions with residents and guests, to communicate changing policies and procedures more effectively, and to better support residents in need. In addition, communication between property managers and owners about regulatory changes due to COVID, rent payments, and vacancies is essential to property operations and the resident experience.
One of the best tools we have for communication is our web portal, delivering a contactless way for residents to make payments, submit maintenance requests, and contact property management staff. As we move into 2021, we believe that customer service will continue to evolve with more focus on digital communication like smartphone apps, emails, or text alerts.
- There will be new ways to connect and support residents.
As much as we all want to resume “normal” community activities, we are still working to find safe ways for residents to interact and connect, while taking appropriate safety precautions. During these uncertain times, many property managers are rethinking traditional events and offering new virtual opportunities, such as drive-by celebrations and virtual events, to replace traditional resident activities.
At Kong Management Group, we are committed to building community connections at each of our properties in Central and South Florida. While we look forward to resuming pot-luck dinners, community garage sales, clubs, bowling leagues, and other gatherings when COVID-19 is over, it takes more than activities alone to create resident satisfaction and neighborhood support. The pandemic has created financial and personal hardships for some residents, and our property managers are here are a resource. Kong Management Group partners with local nonprofit organizations, such as One Community Now, Women in Distress, and St. Vincent de Paul, to make sure our residents have the food, assistance, and access to services they need.
- There will be more property upgrades.
As residents are spending more time at home than ever before, it just makes sense that property owners and managers would invest in properties, prioritizing maintenance requests and making upgrades.
At Kong Management Group’s ever-expanding portfolio of properties in Hillsborough County (Tampa Bay), Pasco County (Zephyrhills), and Broward County (Hallandale Beach), we have added many brand-new units in 2020, including features like vaulted ceilings, laminate flooring, new appliances, air conditioning, and exterior decks. We have also enhanced resident amenities, such as free high-speed Internet service, and upgraded security features. When you stay at any Kong Management Group property, you’ll find tidy landscaping, well-lit streets, clean facilities, and a welcoming community!
While COVID regulations did cause some changes to operations in 2020, we think that the goal of any well-managed property should be to foster a safe and healthy living environment for all residents. Moving into 2021 and beyond, Kong Management Group remains committed the cleanliness and upkeep of our communities, with enhanced sanitation procedures and maintenance policies in place. For more details about Kong Management Group’s COVID response, click here.
We believe that management companies will continue to adjust the way they operate in 2021, in order to be responsive to both the short- and long-term needs of residents. Outdoor amenities like green spaces or trails and Internet connectivity will remain priorities.
- There will be more innovation in affordable housing options.
Kong Management Group offers a wide array of rental housing, including single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and recreational vehicle/mobile home parks. With the COVID-19 crisis continuing into 2021, we believe that it’s imperative for owners and managers to consider housing options that can help close the affordability gap. For us, that means reimaging what affordable housing can be!
In fact, one of our properties, located just off U.S Route Highway in Zephyrhills, Florida, is doing just that. The Village of Zephyrhills is a mobile home and RV park developed with a mission to provide veteran-friendly and affordable housing for seniors 55+. This year, the property has been transformed from a traditional park to a village of tiny homes, offering affordable, permanent housing for retirees and military veterans!
Kong Management Group also works closely with local housing authorities through programs like the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH), to help house even more people. Our goal is to be the community’s go-to resource for housing and to make every resident’s rental experience exceptional.
The events of 2020 have changed and challenged us, making us rethink the way that we operate and putting even more emphasis on community. While we’re ready to see COVID-19 behind us, the staff at Kong Management Group is committed to bringing the lessons we’ve learned and the connections we’ve made into the future. To learn more about our available rental properties and housing opportunities, contact us at 866-499-9026 or email us at info@kongmg.com. Stay, live, and experience what rental housing can be in 2021!
