Articles

As dawn breaks over the vibrant cityscape of Seattle, anticipation fills the air as property management professionals from across the region converge for the highly anticipated EdCon hosted by Washington Multifamily Housing Association or WMFHA as we all know them. For community managers like... Continue Reading

On March 26, WMFHA hosted an educational conference in Seattle for all multi-family professionals. Through the WFMHA Emerging Leaders Program and the generosity of my employer, I was able to attend EdCon for the first time this year. Here’s that story. The melodic hum of an iPhone alarm... Continue Reading

In February, 16 dedicated Leasing Professionals invested in 3 days of training to obtain their National Apartment Association Certified Apartment Leasing Professional (CALP) Credentials. This provided them an opportunity to learn and sharpen their sales skills. The students arrived each day at... Continue Reading

The inaugural Kari Anderson' Emerging Leaders Program started off strong in January! This first-ever cohort is comprised of 20 diverse members representing different companies, positions, ages and experience levels. Each member was identified as a current and future leader that will be on the... Continue Reading

We all know what Wednesdays are famous for...HUMP DAY! That day in the middle of the week when the upcoming weekend begins to come into focus. Here at your association, we are going to give you another reason to get excited about Wednesdays. In 2024 we are introducing WMFHA Wednesdays, a new... Continue Reading

Tatiana Hubbard is someone that any instructor would refer to as a "star student." In 2022 she obtained her CALP (Certified Apartment Leasing Professional) credential and she just completed the CAM (Certified Apartment Manager) course work in September of 2023. Every day of class, she showed up... Continue Reading

At Washington Apartment Outlook (WAO) this morning, WMFHA’s 2023 President, Tali Reiner, presented Senator Mark Mullet (D-Issaquah) with our 2023 Legislator of the Year Award. This is the highest honor given to an active legislator from WMFHA in recognition and acknowledgement of their... Continue Reading

Is there anywhere better than Seattle in August? We sure do love to show off our beautiful Emerald City in the summer. WMFHA had the opportunity to showcase the Pacific Northwest for a national audience on August 8th – 10th when we hosted the National Apartment Association’s Advanced... Continue Reading

WMFHA hosted our largest Supplier Success class ever on August 30th. We had 29 excited and engaged supplier partners join us at our 1Up Training Center in Renton. The Supplier Success Course offers an overview of the apartment industry and recommends ways that suppliers can maximize... Continue Reading

Patrick Moss (center of the front row) with his 2023 CAMT class Patrick Moss needed a little extra gas money back in 2016, so he took a temp job as a porter/maintenance technician. That temporary job became permanent and now he is a Senior Service Technician with Greystar based in Seattle... Continue Reading

Washington State was well represented at NAA"s annual conference! Continue Reading

Nick Marin is the new Executive Director of WMFHA. Nick is a certified Association Management Professional with nearly a decade of experience. He is joining WMFHA after serving as Executive Director of the Yolo County Association of REALTORS® (YCAR) in California for 6 years. Continue Reading

Vendor consolidation has risen to the forefront as the leading strategy for achieving all of that and more! Continue Reading

We are only six months into 2022, but the trend of housing providers leaving the Seattle market hasn’t slowed down. According to the latest data from Seattle’s Rental Property Registration database, Seattle continues to experience a decline in rental housing, with a net loss of 313... Continue Reading

Businesses get started because we have great ideas or processes, or both! Running a successful firm demands more than great ideas or processes but you probably weren’t expecting that your admin responsibilities would be a full-time job. Like any other type of business, the property... Continue Reading

When apartment communities relax breed and weight restrictions, the immediate reactions center upon what it means to current and future residents. Most notably, it means more pets will be accepted at move-in and existing residents have fewer restrictions when obtaining a new pet. But while... Continue Reading

Offering feedback to a colleague can be tricky. So tricky, that a lot of us skip it all together! Perhaps we see someone else’s mistake or missed task, but we say nothing, fearing that bringing it up may damage the relationship. Maybe something a coworker said rubbed us the wrong way, but we... Continue Reading

Winter can cause some problems with your plumbing system. Hoses and pipes may develop cracks and cause them to leak. Drains can get clogged. Before problems escalate, it is best to check your plumbing in the spring and get it ready for spring rains and the rest of the seasons. Here are spring... Continue Reading

Did you know that by using someone’s chosen name and pronouns we can live our core beliefs? Yes! We can empower associates and put people and partnerships first. You may never have to worry about which pronouns other people use for you. But if someone you know is frequently misgendered,... Continue Reading

With an increased focus on team associates’ personal and professional development and creating a culture of valuing team members, it has never been more important than to give back to employees by exposing them to life-long learning. The industry has had to innovate over the past few years.... Continue Reading

Dispute Resolution Centers (DRCs) across the state are tasked with handling mediation between housing providers and residents when issues with lease compliance arise. Unfortunately, many DRCs operate at such a slow pace that instead of finding solutions and providing rental assistance, they are... Continue Reading

You’d expect the problems property managers face in low-income multifamily developments to be much different than those of someone overseeing a luxury one. And you’d be right - to an extent. But there are more similarities between the two developments than you’d expect. Continue Reading

And that's a wrap (Sine Die) with the industry victorious! Continue Reading

Recurring leaks in your plumbing, whether due to material defects or age, can be one of the worst problems you and your renters experience. Continue Reading

A checklist for property managers. Continue Reading

Another local Excellence Award winner is Erin Heathers from Epic Asset Management for Certified Apartment Portfolio Supervisor of the Year! We are so proud of her accomplishment and grateful to have her as a member and local leader. Continue Reading

National Apartment Association's Certified Apartment Supplier of the Year is our very own Heather Edwards from Apartment Advantage Staffing Services! Our members are absolutely #WMFHAbulous and nationally fabulous as well. Continue Reading

The ACE Industry Educator Award celebrates educators who have expanded the scope of career development and education initiatives beyond their responsibilities as a professional educator. Continue Reading

Seattle sheds 9,759 more rental units, adds only 27 units... Continue Reading

Congratulations to the following new credential holders! Continue Reading

Landscape can be a challenging and emotional topic. Yet with the right strategy, a landscape can become your community’s greatest asset. With careful planning and the right partner, the landscape can enhance curb appeal and property value, mitigate risk, create spaces that unite... Continue Reading

In this article, we will discuss a few proactive efforts that prevent fall and winter floods. Continue Reading

Below are ten ideas you can use to easily strengthen your community’s physical, mental, and social health. All while bringing the community together. Continue Reading

Please ask yourself – do any of the hallmarks of a toxic leader resonate with me? Be brutally honest with yourself. Do you see yourself in any of those characteristics? Continue Reading

Upon my recent review of hundreds of apartment community websites across the US, I was shocked with the choice of common verbiage used. Continue Reading

When it comes to ditching in-house checks – in favor of automated B2B payments – you may have lots of questions. You may also be wondering if online B2B payments are right for your multifamily, commercial, or other real estate business. You may be more ready to make the switch than... Continue Reading

Technology is now an amenity for multifamily units. Continue Reading

As a property owner or manager, you know how important surveillance cameras are for general security and safety. However, did you know that security cameras can do much more than just catch criminals? Continue Reading

We have defined this terminology below to better inform our members and the housing industry, tenants of our communities and residential property managers. Continue Reading

As a Latina of Spanish, Portuguese, and Mexican heritage, I proudly celebrate and represent my culture every day, but during Hispanic Heritage Month I find myself extra proud. Although there are many ways to describe what being Hispanic means to me, here are my five reasons why being Hispanic is... Continue Reading

Reopen your fitness centers and keep them open! Continue Reading

As part of our community service initiative, WMFHA Gives Back, Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) organized our sixth annual Volunteer Impact Day, partnering with Rebuilding Together Seattle. Continue Reading

With the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic coronavirus eliciting a host of new behaviors personally and professionally, the need for more flexibility in employee policies and procedures has been a hot topic among companies across all industries. Continue Reading

To help meet renters’ needs in the current multifamily housing climate, cities and states are starting to take a closer look at move-in affordability and, specifically, security deposit requirements. Continue Reading

In many places across the state, rents are still below pre-pandemic levels, yet costs for housing providers have continued to rise. Those increased costs directly impact the cost of rent. Continue Reading

It has been an incredibly challenging last 18 months for all of us, both personally and professionally. Continue Reading

There comes a time for every apartment community when cabinets become a drag. Continue Reading

If you are a landlord, owner, or property manager in the Seattle area, you should know about upcoming utility price increases over the next few years. Continue Reading

Today’s generations are all about “self-care and socially share”, and communities of every size and description are capitalizing on that fact, especially involving fitness and wellness. Creating accessible fitness and wellness spaces that intrigue and inspire can return the investment up to 900%. Continue Reading

The answer is yes... Continue Reading

Employers can continue to require employees wear a face covering, regardless of vaccination status. Continue Reading

Councilmember Kshama Sawant recently proposed an extended ban on evictions pegged to the school year. Continue Reading

Governor Inslee announced Washington will fully reopen by June 30, 2021, if not sooner when the state reaches a 70% vaccination threshold. Continue Reading

We found 91.5% of statewide apartment homes made a full or partial payment by March 31, 2021. Continue Reading

A week from Monday, April 5, the legislature must pass policy legislation, or it is considered dead for this legislative session. Continue Reading

New data released by King County shows that while the breadth of people behind on rent is historically high, the depth of the challenge may not be as big as many thought. Continue Reading

2020 will certainly be a year to remember, and a year to forget. Continue Reading

You’ve probably seen Jim Winskill or Erin Brewster at a WMFHA event in the past year. But did you ever stop to find out how Catchall Environmental can help save your properties money by maintaining your stormwater systems? Preventative maintenance now could save you a big headache in the future… Continue Reading

The intense pressures of COVID-19 have exacerbated domestic and family violence, along with addiction and mental health challenges. Continue Reading

Rental assistance funds for residents and housing providers impacted by COVID-19 are being made available as part of local CARES Act relief funding. This is positive news for the 1.4 million people experiencing unemployment and the thousands of housing providers who are also struggling to cover cost Continue Reading

When COVID-19 hit Washington, many of HNN’s residents, who are often low-income households, faced job loss or a sudden reduction in income. Continue Reading

What we don’t need are policies that slash housing creation and living-wage jobs at a time when Washingtonians need it the most. Continue Reading

You’re probably wondering, and your residents are asking, when will the pool open? When will the fitness center open? As counties are in different phases, it is important to note what’s open in each phase. While many businesses are open, there remains restrictions on specific... Continue Reading

We must work together to address the urgent need for affordable housing in Washington state. WMFHA has joined Partnership for Affordable Housing, a 501(c)4 nonprofit, formed out of a strong and shared interest to come together to provide effective solutions to housing affordability in... Continue Reading

In September 2019, the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance that permits tenants to add additional occupants to existing tenancies. The law passed the City Council unanimously, but the Mayor did not sign the legislation, allowing it to go into effect without her signature. Though we have... Continue Reading

We are quickly approaching a moment that will significantly test the resiliency of our housing system amidst COVID-19 and historic unemployment. Eviction moratoriums are beginning to lift in cities and states across the country, yet many people remain out of work. Meanwhile, the extra... Continue Reading

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On May 11, 2020, the Seattle City Council passed two more bills affecting the landlord-tenant relationship. The laws become effective immediately upon the Mayor's signature. Each bill is described below. The law applies to properties located in the city of Seattle only. These laws, on top of the... Continue Reading

Weidner Apartment Homes has grown to include properties in 12 states since opening in Seattle in 1977. When the coronavirus outbreak hit their hometown, they knew the situation was serious. Weidner’s Kirkland office is less than a mile from the nursing home where the outbreak began. As they... Continue Reading

The economic impacts of the coronavirus are placing new challenges on both residents and housing providers who must work together to find solutions during this difficult time. Now more than ever, we need to do everything we can to help people remain in their homes while we ensure that our... Continue Reading

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Engagement can be defined as the act or state of interlocking. To encourage Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) members to “interlock” with the association, we employed many innovative and effective tactics in 2019. These included easy ways for members to use their... Continue Reading

Our current membership reaches 1,499 communities, 259 industry supplier companies, and 170 management companies. In terms of individuals, we have 3,789 people’s email addresses. With a staff of just six people, we know we can’t individually reach all our members. However, with a... Continue Reading

Our event and educational training attendance were off the charts in 2019! We held 79 events and educational offerings throughout the year. 30 of those sold out at maximum capacity and nearly all the others were at 90% capacity. Due to the success of all our events and education in 2019, we are... Continue Reading

We introduced a lot of new and different ideas to engage our members in 2019, and a lot of these ideas came directly from our members! We believe that the people we serve make our association great, so who better to brainstorm on ways to engage themselves? Our members are on the cutting edge of... Continue Reading

Our most passionate volunteer and supporter with her unwavering service to the association and industry, her exemplary leadership skills and dedication, is Sheri Druckman, CAPS. Sheri has served on our Board of Directors for six years and has held the Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President,... Continue Reading

Assistance for Small Businesses Across the United States, multifamily communities are grappling with the COVID-19 outbreak. Social distancing is being put into place, as well as regular deep cleaning of community spaces and changes to daily operations. With April 1 around the corner, many... Continue Reading

Washington continues to grow. Our state’s population has exploded by 12 percent in the last decade with no sign of slowing. By 2030, Washington needs nearly 10,000 new apartment homes built annually in addition to other housing types so that everyone who needs a home can access one they can... Continue Reading

While many properties in Washington have already been converted to smoke-free, or have been built recently and adopted smoke-free policies from their inception, there are many other properties that have not yet adopted no-smoking policies in their community. It is clear that residents appreciate... Continue Reading

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the outbreak of a novel (meaning new) coronavirus (2019-nCoV), which was first detected in Wuhan City, China, and has since spread to 15 additional countries. With 5 cases of coronavirus confirmed in the United States... Continue Reading

Bio: I come from the small town of Sumner WA. I have two wonderful kids that attend school in the Sumner school district. Prior to beginning my career in property management, I worked in retail management. I joined the team with Tarragon Property Services as a leasing agent and I quickly... Continue Reading

Recent findings by the National Apartment Association (NAA) reveal rent control’s potential effects on four major U.S. cities. NAA’s analysis shows that these policies decrease the housing supply, harm the condition of existing housing stock and lower property values, which leads to... Continue Reading

We recently wrote about best practices for local SEO and how to incorporate them into your digital marketing strategy. Today we’ll be covering location-based tactics for digital advertising and the world of possibilities it has opened for those in the multifamily industry. Although... Continue Reading

According to EvictionLab.org, Washington’s eviction rate has continued to fall from its 2005 peak of 1.45% to 0.82% in 2016, the latest year the data is collected. Evictions remain low in Washington and its biggest cities despite increasing housing costs brought on by historic population... Continue Reading

When you pick up your phone and search for something “near me,” the ads that show up are a great example of local marketing in action. With the information local renters need only a quick search away, your property must show up in order to compete in an increasingly digital... Continue Reading

Apartment Industry & Its Residents Contribute $3.4 Trillion to the National Economy A new Hoyt Advisory Study commissioned by the National Apartment Association (NAA) and National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) reveals that the apartment/multifamily industry and its residents annually... Continue Reading

Bio: As a Spokane native, I have enjoyed my experiences within this great city from the time I was born. I now enjoy this beautiful city with Kaden, my free-spirited 9-year-old and Sofia, my little diva who is just over a year. I spend most of my time with my children exploring and watching them... Continue Reading

When did you start with AFB and what was your first position? 1991. I started in our Renton distribution warehouse pulling mini-blind orders and preparing them for shipment to apartment communities, universities and housing authorities across the country. Where are you from? I was born in... Continue Reading

Summer is photo season! It's that time of the year when the sun is out and our properties look their best in natural light. We have all heard the phrase, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” It couldn’t be truer. Our property photos will paint a picture of what the residents... Continue Reading

The subject of housing affordability is front and center in the national conversation. The causes of rising housing costs and available and effective solutions are just now getting their much-deserved spotlight. Congressman Denny Heck from Washington’s 10th District made his viewpoint very... Continue Reading

Can you tell me a bit about your role working with the multifamily housing industry/Xfinity Communities Team? I started in a sales call center role at Comcast and began developing marketing events for that side of our business. Those experiences led me to pursue a master’s degree in... Continue Reading

Ty Reiff, Project Manager from Allied Residential, was interviewed about his experience at EdCon featuring Maintenance Mania in 2019. Here is what he had to say: What were your biggest takeaways from EdCon and the classes you took? My biggest takeaway was the high quality of classes being held.... Continue Reading

Washington Multi-Family Housing Association (WMFHA) is deeply committed to using the strength and passion of our membership to make a positive impact in our communities. We strive to create a spirit of service and giving and engage our members in doing so. Among others, four organizations... Continue Reading

Our charitable programs serve the needs of our entire membership and our community members. At DAWN, our Chili Cook-Off event “is the number one event that everyone talks about,” says Cheryl Kilodavis, Executive Director. Their team loves that the event is inclusive of their staff,... Continue Reading

2018 marked our twelfth year supporting DAWN. We raised $46,964 in 2018, a huge increase of 29% more than the previous year. Over the years we have proudly donated over $194,500 to DAWN, but that is not our only measure of success. When our partners want to be even more involved with the... Continue Reading

Our programs are innovative, inclusive and far-reaching. We proudly serve our partners year after year and constantly look for ways to keep things interesting. “The Chili Cook-Off is such a fun, smart event,” says Christina Koski. “I find that the innovative ways that WMFHA... Continue Reading

Engaging our members in community service is a piece of keeping our costs down for these programs. In 2018 we had multiple volunteer committees helping us plan, procure for, and execute these initiatives. In all, we estimate over 270 volunteer hours helped make our community service successful.... Continue Reading

“What attracted me to volunteering with WMFHA was getting a big group of people together that can make a huge difference,” says Christina Koski. The Chili Cook-Off brings together people from all walks of life to have fun and give back. Our members bring their families, children,... Continue Reading

We are in the business of providing healthy homes and communities for people to grow in. Therefore, the impact of our charitable efforts is near and dear to our hearts. It means a lot to us to make a difference in the lives of children, women, and families that are affected by adversity. The... Continue Reading

We love sharing the contributions our members make in the community with the public. We make sure the message is broadcasted far and wide through social media, blogs, videos, and celebrities. WMFHA’s Facebook page has over 2,000 “likes” including our members, their families,... Continue Reading

We are highlighting our wonderful Supplier Partner members to share the great work they do for our industry and the unique qualities they bring to the table. Companies like One Way Carpet Cleaning and Restoration is a good reason why you should keep Members Using Members (MUM's the word) top of... Continue Reading

"I began getting involved with WMFHA when I was just 19 years old. During the past 12 years, I have connected with so many amazing people who have become customers and even friends. I consider the relationships made through my involvement with WMFHA as invaluable. I have had the luxury of... Continue Reading

"I saw an ad on Meetup.com for Tapas & Topics, clicked on Tricia's name to inquire about attending, and she responded back immediately." Johnny Kessler's first impression of WMFHA was at Tapas & Topics. He got a warm, welcoming feeling, made some great connections, and we seemed on top... Continue Reading

Website Sponsor: Apartment Advantage Staffing's blog feature! The 2012 winner of the Industry Partner of the Year Emerald Award, Apartment Advantage Staffing makes a positive impact and significant differences for property management companies and the community. As proud supporters of the... Continue Reading

Share your Members Using Members story and win $300 cash! Help us spread the word about Members Using Members by sharing your story, and be entered to win cash prizes! Here's how it works: Tell your story. It can be in any format that works for you: video, graphics, or written. Share your... Continue Reading

Website sponsorships include a blog feature! Their motto “Do the Right Thing” is not just a marketing scheme – they mean it. When The Plumbing & Drain Company started in 2011, partners Brian Harding, Eric Styles, and Randy Sak sought to do just that. Their growth and success... Continue Reading

Did you know your WMFHA membership comes with FREE membership in the National Apartment Association (NAA)? NAA is a federation of 160 state and local affiliates, comprised of more than 73,000 multifamily housing companies representing more than 9 million apartment homes throughout the United... Continue Reading

Now through Oct. 31, 2018 we are offering 25% off National Apartment Association Education Institute's online learning through Visto! Too busy for in-person seminars? We have you covered! Visto is a new online hub for multifamily professional development. Through Visto you can access credential... Continue Reading