From Our Founder

Several people have asked me what I learned last year or better yet, during the pandemic, since the last two years have basically melded into one looooong year.  So here are a few of my top takeaways.

The mantra, “if you don’t ask, you will never know” is a good one when negotiating an agreement with a new provider.  I say, “if you ask for the moon and the stars, but end up agreeing to just the moon or just the stars, you were successful”.

Like many of you, I want partnerships with providers where I am a valued partner, and when an issue arises, it is addressed quickly.

People ask me, “What was one of those ‘business life lessons’ you will never forget?”  I’m not sure if there is just one lesson, but a few.

Everyone asks me “how long should it take to negotiate an agreement?” There is no clear cut answer…

Many owners, management companies, and developers don’t have the manpower or budget to bring on an in-house ancillary service and contracting expert, so they rely on current staff to handle negotiating agreements. 

Staying ahead of the competition and meticulously managing your amenity and ancillary services can lead to happier staff and residents, therefore resulting in an increase in your bottom line.

We do not just negotiate deals and walk away; we assist our clients throughout the lifecycle of a contract, including handling issues on agreements we did not negotiate.

I spent a ton of time and money figuring out how to create a business, from creating table entities to operations to marketing yourself and your business.

I was kind of forced into it. I was recruited from Charles E. Smith to KSI (now known as Kettler). At KSI, I was tasked with setting up a new division that would handle all of their “ancillary service agreements” in their single family and multifamily projects.

I was always looking for ways to improve/streamline services, decrease expenses and improve revenue for the company….and I was good with people.

Just as a “Cat 5” hurricane packs the most wallop, missing out on key ancillary service opportunities could have a devastating impact on your bottom line.