# Nation's Building News Online: February 9, 2004 Print All Articles Text Version
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# New Book Examines Changing Role of Property Managers Multifamily management used to be “collecting the rent, supervising maintenance and repairs — and sometimes even mopping the floors,” according to David Kuperberg and N. Mike Patellis, authors of “Residential Property Management,” a new book from BuilderBooks.com. These days, though, say the authors, “each residential property is like a branch office, an independent business center with...goals to meet.” That sort of enterprise needs a professional manager, one who’s trained to prepare a budget and understand legal requirements and responsibilities. And beyond that, “the manager needs communication skills, marketing expertise and more,” says Kuperberg, himself a RAM (Registered in Apartment Management) and a CPM (Certified Property Manager). The new publication on property management will be the textbook for the revised and updated RAM course that is being piloted this year, according to Patellis, also a RAM and CPM. With the information the two have pulled together, students will be able to understand the important issues and develop strategies to deal with them in a professional manner. But the book also was designed to serve as a reference for people involved in property management at every level, from the site itself to the corporate office. “There really aren’t any comprehensive property management guides out there that focus only on residential management,” says Patellis. “This is a reference you can consult whenever a question arises. It’s indexed, it has a glossary and it’s as complete as we could make it.” The new book includes information on updated approaches to record-keeping and reporting used by firms who must be accountable not merely to syndicates or shareholders, but to large corporate investors. It includes information on managing condominium communities and co-ops, as well as now-privatized military base housing. It talks about higher-tech methods of communication, and when to use them. The authors note that in the RAM textbook they helped write in 1987, they talked about “this new thing — computers — that might transform the workplace.” In this edition, computer use by professional manager is a given. “If you’re not using computers, you’re not in this business.” The book also addresses the top problem areas — the issues that, if handled badly, can land a company in court or worse. Those include: Fair Housing Accessibility rule Americans with Disabilities Act rules Responding to lead paint Responding to mold Responding to asbestos Hiring practices — what you can and can’t ask legally. Patellis and Kuperberg appeared at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas last month to answer questions and to sign their new book. To order a copy, click here.