HOMESTEAD HAPPENINGS
December Blog 2022
The Homestead America team gathered for the 2022 Holiday Party to celebrate another great year. This year’s event took place at the historic Edison 777 in Italian Village. Twenty lucky winners walked away with prizes that included TVs, virtual reality headsets, a Yeti Cooler, iPads, laptops, and even a weekend getaway that included Delta gift cards, Airbnb gift cards, and a Visa gift card.
2022 HA Holiday Party
The Homestead America team gathered for the 2022 Holiday Party to celebrate another great year. This year’s event took place at the historic Edison 777 in Italian Village. Twenty lucky winners walked away with prizes that included TVs, virtual reality headsets, a Yeti Cooler, iPads, laptops, and even a weekend getaway that included Delta gift cards, Airbnb gift cards, and a Visa gift card.
Tanya Brand, Regional Manager for Homestead Senior Living said, "I've been attending these holiday parties for 11 years and the culture committee really outdid themselves. It was a great event, well decorated and so much fun! I'm already looking forward to next year."
A special thank you to our sponsors for making this event special.
Homestead America MVP Awards
Community Of The Year - Georgetown
Maintenance MVP - Jim Vest, Orchard Grove
MVP - Steve Turner, Worthington Commons
Check out our social media pages for more photos!
In The News: Huckleberry House Completes Significant Renovation at Teen Shelter
Homestead Companies’ philanthropic partnership with the Huckleberry House continues to make an impact:
“For nearly four decades, young people in Greater Columbus who have found themselves without reliable shelter often have sought — and always found — refuge at a three-story home in Weinland Park on the city's North Side.
In 1976, Huckleberry House moved its services into a house on Hamlet Street, evolving from the street outreach mission on which the nonprofit agency was founded six years prior. Built in 1905, the house was being used as rooming for Ohio State University students when Huckleberry House purchased it.
In the ensuing years, as Huckleberry House's reach has expanded and its mission has continued to grow, that 117-year-old house has remained largely the same. That is, until this year, when the agency partnered with other organizations and Columbus City Council on two distinct projects that included interior overhauls to both its first- and second-floor spaces at the shelter, as well as a revitalization of some exterior areas and the surrounding outdoor landscape.
Most recently, Huckleberry House underwent a renovation to the second-floor living space of the Hamlet Street crisis shelter valued at $123,223. The Columbus chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) provided parts and labor valued at $92,423, and Columbus City Council approved a $26,300 grant to support the project.
Huckleberry House financed the remaining $4,500 in expenses, said executive director Sonya Thesing.
Most youth ages 12 to 17 who go to the shelter stay for about a week, Thesing said. During that time, they are connected with counseling and other wraparound services until they find a stable living situation and move on. In some cases, Huckleberry House might offer extended emergency shelter to a youth for up to three months until Franklin County Children Services helps that person find a permanent housing situation.
By renovating and updating the sleeping areas and lounge spaces of the shelter's second floor, leaders at Huckleberry House are hoping to provide a more welcoming and comfortable space to the approximately 500 at-risk youth the organization serves each year who are experiencing homelessness or other crises, Thesing said.
“We wanted the shelter to have the kind of space where youth could be comfortable no matter what they are dealing with,” she said. “We know the space needs improvements, but there’s always a list of a thousand other things that need attention first.”
Although the shelter's capacity remains the same — 16 beds and a maximum capacity of 22 — Thesing said the renovations led to the space being reconfigured, allowing for four bedrooms instead of two, in turn equipping the shelter to better accommodate young people who are nonbinary, transgender or gender fluid.
The project also included overhauling the work station for overnight staff who monitor the sleeping areas.
The shelter's residents were moved temporarily to the third floor as renovations continued.
Members of NARI of Central Ohio, a nonprofit trade association serving the remodeling industry, first visited the shelter in the spring of 2021 before deciding to help Huckleberry House with a renovation project, said executive director Pam Patter. The work began in mid-September, with NARI’s members providing labor and such materials as flooring and paint before Huckleberry House announced the project's completion Nov. 20.
“We admire what they do,” Patter said. “We weren’t doing it for recognition. We’re doing it because we want to give back.”
Leaders of Huckleberry House also requested funding from Columbus City Council, which approved it in July through the city's Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Councilman Rob Dorans said the council has long supported Huckleberry House, and he acknowledged the urgent need to support organizations providing housing and shelter in Columbus amid a housing crisis. Youth are by no means immune to the instability that has largely grown in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
“Huckleberry House has been that really important anchor to make sure kids have somewhere to go, that they have someone who can connect them with the right services,” Dorans said. “It’s hard being a teenager in general, and you layer on top all these issues young people are dealing with and its incredibly difficult, so it’s really important for them to have a space that’s inviting and comfortable and safe.”
The project was the second completed this year at the crisis shelter.
Homestead Cos., a Columbus apartment rental agency, contacted Huckleberry House in the spring about doing a volunteer day at the shelter.
But what started as a single day of employees and some workers they had recruited from Sherwin-Williams volunteering turned into a largescale project on the first floor of the shelter. Beginning in late June, the company provided new flooring and paint and added a second laundry room in the crisis shelter valued at $40,000, Thesing said.
Volunteers also planted flowers and painted all the wood trim at the counseling center on the Hamlet Street campus. Huckleberry House also has an apartment complex for those ages 17 to 24 on Kenmore Square on the Northeast Side, where volunteers power-washed sidewalks and patios and painted all the gates and trash dumpsters.
“We really depend on and benefit from the kindness and generosity of our community,” Thesing said. “We typically receive financial support for programs and services, but not for improving spaces, so these two organizations made a very big difference for us this year.”
Homestead Village In Grove City Makes History
Homestead Village in Grove City has hit 100% occupancy!! For most communities, this is a familiar milestone but for HSL, this is the first developed community in the senior living division and the first to hit 100% occupancy!
"With this being our first lease up in senior housing, there was a lot of learning and having to overcome challenges like COVID during our grand opening. However, this team has been incredible and has put us over the finish line. A big win for Homestead!" said Ryan McGahan, VP of Marketing.
Homestead Village in Grove City is the first of 4 senior living communities in the portfolio with the latest community in Ft. Wayne, Indiana slated to open in early 2023.
In The News: Largest Central Ohio Construction Projects
We made the list! 🗞
Homestead Construction has multiple properties ranked in the top 50 Largest Central Ohio Construction Projects. See below:
#12 - Lusso, Italian Village, OH
#13 - Homestead Village, Huber Heights, OH
#29 - Stella, Italian Village, OH
#31 - Hayden Apartments, Huber Heights, OH
#47 - Homestead Village, Miamisburg, OH
HU November Champ Chain Winner: Kaitlyn Griffin
Please join us in congratulating our November Thankful Champ Chain, Kaitlyn Griffin; Homestead's very own Leasing and Marketing Manager at SkyGarden, all the way over in Charleston, South Carolina!
"Kaitlyn is great with all of our residents. Always makes sure to know their names and the things they are passionate about. Kaitlyn is good at making the residents feel welcomed and at home. Kaitlyn has been a fantastic boost of life since returning from maternity leave. She has made an immediate positive impact on both the residents and her team. Kaitlyn puts on really creative and thoughtful resident events which are really appreciated by the residents. She has always been a star when it comes to leasing and has helped train both our new leasing consultants to be successful. I am so very thankful to have KG on my team. " Nominated by Caitlin McDermott and Joe Jurcak
Kaitlyn has gone above and beyond since we took over SkyGarden! We know we can count on her to make it happen and rock it out with her team. We are excited to see Kaitlyn lead her team to another year of 100% pre-leased!
Employee Spotlight: Sharron Giles
Name: Sharron Giles
Job Title: Community Manager
Community: Homestead Village - Grove City
How long have you been with Homestead? 2 years
What were you doing before Homestead? Property Management, I stepped in it in 1994 and it stuck to my shoe, lol.
Where are you originally from? Hinton, WV
What are your favorite hobbies? Reading historical fiction; walking my two dogs.
What would you most likely tell your 13 old self? Find Homestead sooner...(tee hee)
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be? My Pa-paw; Ellen DeGeneres; Dolly Parton (preferably all together)
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Eric Clapton
What is your dream vacation? Must involve mountains....Appalachian, Great Smoky, Rocky or Teton are my faves.
What is the one THING, you can't live without? ZipFizz (My morning wake-up drink)
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Completing the sale of Bentley above the NOI goal set by the owner.
What is on your retirement bucket list? Simple living, hopefully in WV.
Jen Radcliffe, Home Office, 14 Years
Sierra Belt, Orchard Grove, 4 Years
Stephen Montell, UV, 8 Years
Travis Lane, Parkway, 4 Years
Jeannette Groves, Schrock Park, 2 Years
October & November 2022
The Homestead U CEO Summit started 8 years ago with the idea of empowering our community managers to think like CEOs. This year the attendees got to hear from industry leaders, present ideas to their peers, and even checked off the C-Bus Nightlife bucket list!
2022 CEO Summit
The Homestead U CEO Summit started 8 years ago with the idea of empowering our community managers to think like CEOs. The event has continued to evolve over the years into a week-long event where our community managers become stronger, and we give recognition to the on-site leaders in the company. The awards ceremony kicked off the summit on night one, and there were some new names that took home hardware this year!
Presidents Award
The Valley
Community Manager: Mikayla Lewis
Maintenance Team of the Year
Live South Green
Community Manager: Ashley Gall
Best Delinquency Management
University Village
Assistant Manager: Tammy Lusk
Comeback Players of the Year
University Village
Community Manager: Todd Jessup
Rookie of the Year
2818/Parkway
Community Manager: Kaitlyn Key
Congratulations to all our winners!
The Awards Ceremony was followed by a solid week of roundtables and fun events that included a tour of the Ohio State Horseshoe, a night in the Short North, and a round of Duck Bowling that ended with a three-story slide. Shannon Latsko, Regional Manager and co-organizer of the CEO summit noted “We put a strong emphasis on building relationships within the organization. It’s always nice to have a support line of someone that is going through the same experiences as you are. So, we create events and workshops where the community managers can come together, share war stories, bounce ideas off each other, and build healthy relationships.”
This year was just that. Attendees got to hear from industry leaders, present ideas to their peers, and even checked off the C-Bus Nightlife bucket list. Thank you to our sponsorships and speakers for making the 2022 CEO Summit a success.
October Culture Recap!
This past month was full of excitement! The office participated in a Halloween Spirit Week, our first annual Chili Cook-off + Costume Contest, and celebrated Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a pink breakfast and our very own speaker, Donna Stage.
Donna is a 6 year Warrior, stable Stage 4 Breast Cancer survivor. She offered great statistics and tips on how we can ALL help be aware and support individuals in their cancer journey such as:
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer during their lifetime
Stage 1, 2, 3 Breast Cancer: Cancer has stayed closer to origin. 5-year survival rate is 90%!
Stage 4 Breast Cancer: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body. 5-year survival rate is 28%
Stay on top of your scans and be knowledgeable of symptoms. Pay attention to your instincts if you think something is wrong.
Support those you know going through any type of cancer
They don't want to hear "everything will be fine." Let them know you are there to support them, go to appointments with them, listen to them when they need an ear.
Don't be in denial about their condition, accept it, be positive but realistic. Understand that they will have up and down days, and side effects to deal with as they go through treatments. Help them deal with the side effects the best they can.
Be YOU! Don't force yourself to act the way you think you are supposed to. Nothing is more uncomfortable than someone trying too hard to "do the right thing". Ask questions if you are uncomfortable or don't understand. Be honest that you don't know what to do or say. They will tell you.
Participate in activities that show solidarity of support for those going through cancer. It does help to know others are out there that "get it," and it helps us expand our support groups. Donations help fund research that increase that survival rate, and help Warriors live longer!
Thank you, Donna, for bringing awareness and highlighting the positive ways we can help our loved ones and beyond!
John Brinich: Building Careers in Construction
Contrary to what seems to be popular belief, you don’t need to go to college to find a rewarding career.
I am not quite sure where that idea started in our society, but I know it’s still around. I think back to my high school days and how, when senior year rolled around, I had that meeting everyone scheduled with the high school counselor. I remember the counselor asking me directly what I wanted to study in college as if that was my only option. The same thing happened with my own kids during their high school experience all those years later.
The fact is, for many people, college isn’t for them – and that doesn’t mean they won’t be successful. While college is valuable and required for many careers, it is expensive and takes years to complete. Yet, there are many satisfying and lucrative careers for which college simply is not needed.
My title is the President of Construction at Homestead Companies, which is a fully integrated real estate company with in-house development, property, and construction management. In 2021, our company had more than $200 million worth of new construction contracts in place.
I lead a team of 17 that manages the construction process for our company’s projects. We ensure skilled labor is hired, materials are sourced, and projects get done safely and on time. We have several high-level supervisors that do great work for our company and our clients, none of whom has a college degree.
No college textbook or lecture can get you ready for a construction worksite. What people in construction need is time in the field, along with a passion for the work.
When I interview candidates for our jobs, I never look at the bottom of the resume where education is usually listed. I want to know – can you problem solve, can you think outside the box, and does your personality fit within our culture? Education doesn’t address those questions. With these parameters, we have several people at our company making six-figure salaries.
Right now is a golden opportunity for those who have ever considered a career in construction:
Development driving demand
All over the country, development continues at a rapid rate, but the construction side can’t keep up. Data from Associated Builders and Contractors says the industry needs 650,000 additional construction workers to meet the rising demand.
Workers getting older
Not only is development driving the need for workers, but a large share of the industry’s workforce is reaching retirement age. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 22% of our workers are 55 or older.
Salaries going up
Over the past few years, wages in the construction industry have grown due to supply and demand. Analysts are expecting the pay growth to continue to increase along with the growing need for workers. Getting started in construction is quite easy, especially in Ohio where Homestead is headquartered. Ohio has the second largest registered apprenticeship system in the country. Apprenticeship programs allow workers without any prior experience to learn the trade. Not only are these programs free, but the
apprentices are paid for their on-the-job training and receive additional benefits. While many of their peers start their careers in debt from college, apprentices enter the field ahead.
The need for construction isn’t going to slow anytime soon. The jobs are available and so are the opportunities to ascend into leadership roles. College is a great option for many – but it’s certainly not the only one to build a career you can be proud of.
HA Q3 Medal of Excellence: Tanya Brand
Please join us in congratulating Tanya Brand for winning the 3rd Quarter Medal of Excellence Award! Here are a few things that her fellow co-workers had to say about why they feel she helps Homestead "GROW IT!":
"Tanya has done everything in her power to get her brand-new communities off to a great start! She is literally growing the company every day with new residents and new units. She worked late nights and weekends to help get the Blacklick residents into their homes after they received TCO. She will be turning around shortly and doing the same for HSL Miamisburg. We are so lucky to have Tanya on our team through this tremendous period of growth for our company!"
"Ever since I started for Homestead, I have watched Tanya work so hard to lease up the Homestead Villages! She really does care about the residents and the future of Homestead Village. She works endless hours and is great at helping the new team members and prospective residents see how charming Homestead Village is! She is helping GROW this company every day!"
Thank you, Tanya, for all your hard work!
HU September Champ Chain Winner: Travis Lane
Please join us in congratulating our September "Survivor" Champ: Travis Lane, Business Administrator over Parkway and 2818, all the way in College Station, Texas!! (He has to GIG em' for now) but he comes to us from RED RAIDER LAND, WRECK EM'!
"As chaotic as Turn was, Travis was constantly out on the grounds with us. Travis continuously picked up on the slack, drove his team, and encouraged us to go further every day. He showed up every day with a smile and encouraged everyone to do better than yesterday. He looked out for everyone, kept us all in check, kept us hydrated, and encouraged us when we were ready to call it quits. Now that Turn has passed, Travis fell right back in line and made the financial side of move-in day run as smoothly as possible for both 2818 and Parkway. He cares deeply for and always takes care of his team ~ Turn and its aftermath would have been a rocky road if it weren't for Travis. Even now, while Parkway is short-staffed, Travis has hit the ground running and kept Parkway in tip-top shape. He has gone above and beyond in every single way and made the struggles seem like nothing. There's nothing that Travis can't do and everyone at Parkway and 2818 both couldn't be more appreciative of how much he does for both properties and how much of a survivor he truly is. Travis is amazing in more ways than you ever could think, and he has been the biggest team player there could have been throughout Turn. We can all depend and rely on Travis for anything, big or small, personal or professional, financial or leasing... he is our jack-of-all-trades -- the biggest thank you we, as a team, could ever give him is his moment in the spotlight." Nominated by Kasen Hobsen (keep nominating em' Kasen!)
Travis has been a pleasure to work with from Lubbock all the way to College Station. He is dependable and will give it his ALL, no matter what the task. We are so truly blessed to be able to call Travis the SURVIVOR for September's Champ Chain; and could not have gotten through the wild and crazy turn season without him.
HU October Champ Chain Winner: Jordyn Swoope
Please join us in congratulating our October Fall Champ: Jordyn Swoope, Leasing and Marketing Manager at The Valley, all the way in the heart of the Happy Valley of State College, Pennsylvania! "We are, PENN STATE"
"Jordyn goes out of her way, each week, to ensure the best experience for both residents and employees. Whether it be planning an event or bringing coffee in for her coworkers when she knows it will be a busy day, Jordyn goes out of her way to make the office better. I admire Jordyn's dedication and passion for her job as a Leasing Manager here at the Valley in State College. Ever since my interview last year, Jordyn has been outgoing and beyond helpful with any questions that I had, and I know she works 10x as hard for our residents. Jordyn inspires me to work harder and strive for greatness in my role as a Community Assistant. When a screaming resident came in yelling at a community assistant, Jordyn stopped what she was working on at her desk, went out, and defused the situation. She did so by making sure the resident first felt heard and then offered multiple solutions to the resident allowing them to pick what best fit their needs. This impressive display of leadership and problem-solving is why I nominate Jordyn Swoope. Jordyn takes on so much extra responsibility, challenges and critique. She is beyond deserving of this nomination and more. Jordyn puts her job before herself to make sure everything gets done and that our residents are happy. She works hard to resolve any problem and does not let past resident experiences influence her relationship with them. She is fair, honest, hard-working, and professional, and always makes sure residents and staff are taken care of. Everyone loves the community events she organizes, and she really makes sure that The Valley feels like home for everyone." Nominated by Mariah Paolucci-Dougherty, Ryan Irr, Nicholas Troisi, Lindsey Scott
Jordyn has been a rock star since day one! We are so proud of the way she led her team to 100% occupied this past year and has already crushed it on this new leasing season roll out. Thanks for all you do for us Jordyn!
Employee Spotlight: Dustin Holskey
Name: Dustin Holskey
Job Title: Ops Manager
Community: Home Office
How long have you been with Homestead? 6 years
What were you doing before Homestead? Property Manager
Where are you originally from? Barnesville, Ohio
What are your favorite hobbies? Traveling & Hiking
What would you most likely tell your 13 old self? Be yourself!
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be? My Grandparents, Britney Spears, Elvis
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Arnold Schwarzenegger
What is your dream vacation? Traveling through Italy
What is the one THING, you can't live without? Music
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Being a part of the family and making operations magic happen
What is on your retirement bucket list? Travel the world
October Anniversaries
Deandra Boll, Home Office, 4 Years
Del Baker, Appian Way, 5 Years
Cory Ratai, Home Office, 7 Years
Tracie Greene, UV, 3 Years
Sara Yaros, Home Office, 1 Year
Dakaven Townsend, Helix, 1 Year
Shaun Kastner, Home Office, 1 Year
Aaron Meadows, Home Office, 1 Year
November Anniversaries
Penny Ritz, Home Office, 6 Years
Ronnie Bolin, River Park, 4 Years
Steve Wright, Georgetown, 11 Years
Emily Wiltrout, The View, 2 Years
Kasen Hobson, 2818 College Station, 1 Year
Maggie Purdy, Home Office, 2 Years
Andrew Burson, Home Office, 1 Year
Terri Myers, Home Office, 1 Year
Ann Spencer Cunningham, Helix, 1 Year
September Blog 2022
Work has officially begun at an eight-acre site on the northern edge of Italian Village. The property will soon transform from an industrial lot to “Lusso”, a 255-unit apartment and townhome community!
In The News: Construction Begins at the Lusso Site in Italian Village
Work has officially begun at an eight-acre site on the northern edge of Italian Village. The property will soon transform from an industrial lot to “Lusso”, a 255-unit apartment and townhome community. The project is a collaboration between local development firms Homestead Companies and The Lykens Company.
“Lusso will bring a new energy to Italian Village,” stated Dave Anderson, Founder, and CEO of Homestead. “Residents will be within walking distance to notable dining and nightlife destinations including Budd Dairy, Fox and the Snow, and 7th Son Brewing. It will cater to young professionals but also have offerings for established professionals who want to continue downtown living.”
The developers boast that the project is located on the largest remaining plot of undeveloped land in the neighborhood, and will include the largest clubhouse amenities with over 3/4 of an acre dedicated to interior and exterior community space that includes a fitness center, sauna, pool and lounge.
Lusso was first announced back in September of 2020 and the first phases received conditional approvals in March of 2021. The project is the latest to break ground along Fifth Avenue with several others currently under construction nearby, including 4th & 5th, Crossline, and the second phase of Crossline. Once fully completed, these development projects and others nearby will add over 3,000 new residents to Weinland Park, Italian Village, and the University District along this 1.5-mile stretch of Fifth Avenue.
Leasing at Lusso is expected to begin in early 2023 with the first units available for move-in during the fall of 2023.
Monthly Trivia - National School Photo Day!
We took a trip down memory lane for National School Photo day! All photos were hung up in the home office for everyone to view and guess who’s who. Winner received a Starbucks gift card!
Congrats to Qian Zheng for winning September’s Trivia!
Left to right: Donna Stage, Doug Falor, Emily Jones, Garry Kimber, Greg Burchwell, Jennifer Radcliffe, Love Proctor, Marykate Kramer, Matt Canterbury, Penny Ritz, Qiletha Caston, Qian Zheng, Ryan McGahan, Steve Wright, Leisha Maynard, Sandra Millwater, Steve Turner, Lisa Mosley, TJ Manfrass, Dave Anderson, Eve Detter, Halle Hunter, Makenzee Green, Megan Williams
OSU Food Truck Tailgate
The Home Office kicked Labor Day weekend off with an Ohio State vs Notre Dame tailgate with the Paddy Wagon food truck, backyard games, and some famous chocolate Buckeyes. We had a great time getting all the departments together for some fun team bonding!
Columbus folks - If you’re hungry for some delicious food, we highly recommend checking out Paddy Wagon!
HU Portfolio Hits a Record 96% Preleased
It was another successful year for the HU teams! Move-ins are now in the rearview mirror and the teams begin to focus on leasing for 2023.
The portfolio had a 96% preleased average for the fall of 2022.
Shannon Latsko, Regional Manager for HU stated "this was one of the most successful leasing seasons we've had and we owe it all to the onsite teams. Providing a fantastic resident life experience throughout the year has paid off and has set us up for success in 2023."
A few notable communities that hit the 100% Club. Shout-out to...
SkyGarden - Charleston, SC
The View - State College, PA
The Valley - State College, PA
River's Edge - Athens, OH
River Annex - Athens, OH
University Village - Columbus,OH
HU August Champ Chain Winner: Todd Jessup
Please join us in congratulating our August "Turn" Champ: Todd Jessup, University Village, in Columbus, Ohio! Go BUCKS!
"Todd has not only stepped-up during turn to make sure his team is organized in leasing, shuttle, and Maintenace, but he has also stepped up tremendously this past year. He was able to overcome a HANDFUL of changes within all departments. In the midst of move-ins and move-outs this month, Todd and his team were able to hit and exceed budgeted occupancy goals for Fall 2022. They are well on their way to hitting 100% which is PHENOMENAL in the Columbus Ohio market. It has been amazing to watch the way Todd has adapted his leadership style to ensure his team is as successful as possible. I have loved working with Todd over the years and watching him from afar this past month and year and think he is ever so deserving of The August Turn Champ Chain. " - Nominated by Shannon Latsko
We are so happy to have Todd as part of our Homestead Family. He truly illustrates what it means to be a CHAMP!
Employee Spotlight: Cindy Toler
Name: Cindy Toler
Job Title: Community Manager
Community: Helix Starkville
How long have you been with Homestead? Since June 2022
What were you doing before Homestead? I was a Community Manager for a different management group at a property in Oxford, MS.
Where are you originally from? Red Banks, MS
What are your favorite hobbies? Horseback Riding and cruising with the doors off in my Jeep on favorable evenings ❤
What would you most likely tell your 13 old self? Stay future-focused. Don't let any outside people influence your dreams! You got this!
If you could have coffee with three people, dead or alive, who would it be? Jesus Christ, (I mean, who wouldn't wanna chat over coffee with Him?!) Albert Einstein, My Mom's mother - I never had a chance to meet her since she passed away before I was born.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met? Christopher O'Donnell
What is your dream vacation? Bora Bora
What is the one THING, you can't live without? Sweet Tea!!! (NO LEMON!!!)
What is your proudest moment at Homestead? Seeing how well my team really came together at Turn and rallied to me in support during the situations that arose.
What is on your retirement bucket list? Travel! Go scuba diving with my son, be totally debt free by retirement so I can breathe easy and enjoy life with my family.
Lindsey Scott, The Valley, 1 year
Nicole Geer, UV, 1 year
Chris Hagaman, River Park, 1 year
Sarah Schaffner, Georgetown, 2 years
Wilbur Taylor, UV, 3 years
Tommy Carter, College Station, 4 years
Terry Kellenberger, UV, 5 years
Leisha Maynard, Clintonville Commons, 6 years
Ed Rutter, River Park, 8 years
August Blog 2022
Homestead America came together for the annual HA Summer Outing at the Scioto Mile in Columbus, OH for an afternoon of Hoggy's BBQ, giveaways, and some competitive ladder golf competitions! Within HU move-ins creeping up on us, check out some tips for a successful move-in experience!
BBQ and Babies at our HA Annual Summer Outing
Homestead America came together for the annual HA Summer Outing. The event was held at the Scioto Mile In Columbus, Ohio, and included Hoggy's BBQ, giveaways, and some competitive ladder golf competitions which ended up with TJ Manfrass from Development closing out a win and running to the hospital to welcome the newest addition to his family. Congrats on the baby, TJ, and we hope everyone enjoyed this year's HA Summer Outing. We look forward to next year and thank you for all of your hard work.
Tips For a Great Move-In
Why is a smooth move-in process important?
Moving ranks amongst the top most stressful life events. So, streamlining the tenant move-in process for your residents will ease their stress, in turn increasing their satisfaction. The days leading up to move-in day are your chance to make a great first impression on new residents.
After all, you’re the face of their new home!
Critical move-in day procedures you must follow:
Arrive early. This’ll ensure that you have time to prepare your welcome packets and go over your checklist before you greet your new residents.
Complete your move-in checklist. Don’t rush this step — it’s better to be over-prepared than to forget an essential item.
Review the welcome packet with your resident. Make sure they understand how to fill out their inspection form and where to submit it.
A smooth move-in process is the foundation of your relationship with new residents. So, practice efficient, informative engagement before and during move-in day. This allows you to begin the resident retention process before they’ve even arrived!
A great move-in process includes:
Completing necessary repairs to the unit and hiring a professional cleaning crew before your resident moves in.
Maintaining clear, open communication with your new resident.
Following a robust move-in process checklist to ensure you don’t forget any responsibilities.
Good Luck and Happy Move-In!
Rentgrata’s Best Practices
Rentgrata is a platform where prospects can message current residents to get a feel for what the resident experience is like at your community.
When the prospect moves in, both they and the current resident earn a reward.
How do we access the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard?
The Rentgrata Manager Dashboard is accessed via the following URL: manager.rentgrata.com.
You’ll need a login and if you don’t have one or can’t remember it, reach out to your Rentgrata Client Success Manager, Kim (kim@rentgrata.com) for assistance!
How often should we login to the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard?
We recommend logging into the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard at least once a month. If your property is active and you have more than 10 residents signed up and decent availability, we recommend upping that to twice monthly to help you stay on top of pending rewards.
Who is responsible for paying out Rentgrata Rewards?
The community pays out rewards. Your team will pay our rewards 30-90 days after the prospect moves in via either Rent Credit, Gift Card, or Check.
To see which specific method and payout period is in place at your community, hit “Change Amount” on the Property Info tab of the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard or reach out to your Rentgrata Client Success Manager, Kim (kim@rentgrata.com) to confirm!
What is the Rentgrata Link and how can we make use of it?
The Rentgrata Link is a URL unique to each property that leads prospects to a page with the Rentgrata Messenger already expanded to display your active residents. It’s a way to get prospects to engage in conversations quickly and works as a great follow-up tool!
The Rentgrata Link has a corresponding QR code? Where can we find it and is there collateral we can add it to?
The Rentgrata Link’s QR code for your property can be found at the top of your property’s profile in the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard. See screenshot below!
And yes, there is digital collateral where the QR code can be added! You can access Rentgrata’s Digital Collateral Library via this link:
In the Prospect Facing folder, click on the section titled Prospect Collateral with QR Code Space.
What other ways can we use the Rentgrata Link?
Your team can include this link in their follow-up emails - see the linked verbiage above!
Keep a printout of the QR code for your property at leasing desks for prospects who don't look-n-lease to snap!
Stand it up in your models/show units for prospects to grab during tours.
Add links to and a call to action on Linktrees in the community’s Instagram accounts
Have leasing teams strategically provide RG links to any tour who walks out the door without signing a lease. “Why don’t you ask a current resident about their experience”.
What are some ways we can get our residents to engage more with Rentgrata?
Send periodic to your residents that they can earn rewards by chatting via Rentgrata! If you need assistance crafting the communication, reach out to your Rentgrata Client Success Manager for assistance at kim@rentgrata.com!
Access the Resident Facing folder of the Digital Collateral Library for flyers that you can post to common areas. During busy package season, it can also be a good idea to print half-page flyers and slap them onto packages that residents can grab.
Throw a flyer in with renewal offers.
When a resident comes in to compliment your team, ask them if they’re signed up for Rentgrata!
What should we be looking at in the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard when we login?
When you log into the Rentgrata Manager Dashboard, the primary section you’ll want to look at is the Rewards tab.
If there is a red number notification on it, congrats! That means your residents have been influencing prospects through conversations and you now have rewards to process!
The next most important tab is the Leads tab. This tab also has a number notification, but it’s just counting the number of Open Leads (prospects who’ve engaged with the messenger) you currently have.
Since your community has a PMS integration with Rentgrata, you don’t need to do anything with this tab other than give it a once over to ensure that there are no Active Leads (applicants) that haven’t automatically moved over to the Moved In column via the integration.
If they haven’t moved, just click and drag them from Active to Moved In and enter the move-in date. This will get their rewards to populate in the Rewards Tab.
The last tab you’ll definitely want to check when you login is the Residents tab. Peek at this tab to scroll through your residents to see if there’s anyone in the messenger that you might want to remove because they’ve moved out or you feel that they might not be the best community ambassador.
To Report a resident, simply click on their name and hit Report User in the upper right corner.
Have questions and don’t see the answers here? Reach out to your Rentgrata Client Success Manager, Kim Jones Walton, at kim@rentgrata.com!
HU July Champ Chain Winner: Will Clark
Please join us in congratulating our July "Pride" Champ: Will Clark, 2818 and Parkway Leasing and Marketing Manager, in College Station, Texas! GIG EM'
"Will has been the heart-and-soul of 2818 since our acquisition. Will has made the leasing team everything that we are and is adored by all of our residents. He has dedicated everything to his leasing team and the 2818 community. He has made 2818's renovations run better and faster than ever. Without Will, 2818 wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today. Speaking on behalf of the 2818 team, we love Will unconditionally and appreciate everything he has ever done for us. He has trained all of us to be the best that we could ever be, made the best out of the worst situations 24/7, and treated the 2818 community as a family. Will is our diamond-in-the-rough and the saving grace of our renovation process. He is the whole embodiment of every single Homestead Value and has instilled that in his team every day. We couldn't imagine 2818 without Will -- he wholeheartedly earned a place on the podium for everything he has done for us since Day 1. " - Nominated by Kasen Hobson
Will moved across Texas from Lubbock to College Station when the previous property he worked at with Homestead sold, to stay with the company. Talk about commitment, dedication, heart, and PRIDE. We are so incredibly thankful to have Will as part of our College Station team and he deserves a HUGE shout out from the rooftops!
HA Q2 Medal of Excellence: Jeremy Gray
Please join us in congratulating our 2nd Quarter Medal of Excellence Winner, Jeremy Gray, from Worthington Commons! He proved this quarter that he can "SUPPORT IT", one of our most important Homestead Core Values! We are so lucky to have you on the Homestead Team, Jeremy.
Jeremy's teammates gave multiple nominations! Read below to see what they had to say:
"Jeremy has gone above and beyond to make Worthington Commons a better and nicer community. His work ethic is phenomenal. He will take the time to train and explain how things are supposed to be done the correct way, and let's management know how his work is progressing to be able to stay on track with move-in dates. He has stopped to take care of urgent work orders many times and then will let management know so everyone is on the same page. He is not only a great asset to Worthington Commons, but to Homestead America!"
"I can't sing the praises of Jeremy and our "Support It" core value enough! He always goes out of his way to make sure that everyone he works with feels and is supported. He has helped train me and become the maintenance supervisor that I am and I don't think I've ever heard him say no to a request for help. He has always been available to answer a question on property during the workday or when I have been on call."
Thanks for all your hard work!
Will Clark, 2818 College Station, 3 Years
Jordyn Kitko, The Valley, 2 Years
Garry Kimber, Home Office, 2 Years
Tom Reitz, The View, 2 Years
Rafael Rodriguez, Harlow, 1 Year
Gregg Penczak, N 4th St, 1 Year
Andre Norrils, River Park, 1 Year
Chris Beardman, Home Office, 1 Year
John Lamb, Blacklick-HSL, 1 Year
Jeremy Gray, Worthington Commons, 1 Year
Andy Bowers, Farber House, 1 Year
Sam Wilson, UV, 1 Year
Mariah Paolucci-Dougherty, The Valley, 1 Year
Christopher Walter, River Park/River Gate, 4 Years
Homestead Helpers Donates $40,000 to Huckleberry House
This past month, we worked with Huckleberry House, Inc. to help build a brighter future for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth in Franklin County. We partnered up with a few of our vendors and, collectively, donated $40,000 of materials and labor to the renovation project.
The Homestead Helpers brightened landscaping, painted interior and exteriors, repaired fences, provided TV’s, new beds, and more. Those are just a few of the many ways Homestead gave back.
Our story was featured on ABC 6 WSYX-TV. Click the link to hear more from Donna Stage, Homestead U Regional Manager, about the impact we are making together as a community.
If you are in a crisis situation and need help, call the 24-hour crisis hotline - (614) 294-5553.
Ben Franklin 2022 Winners
BEST CURB APPEAL: OLDE TOWNE
BEST TEAM EFFORT: SCHROCK PARK
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: HOMESTEAD VILLAGE GROVE CITY
Since 2006, teams of judges have traveled around to all our Homestead America properties to determine the best curb appeal, best team effort, and rookie of the year. The annual Ben Franklin has been a testament to the commitment of providing the best resident life experience possible and this year, we were nothing but impressed. We are so proud of the hard work from the on-site teams!
Congratulations to this year’s winners!
In The News: CBF Power100
We are excited to announce our own Dave Anderson, CEO and Founder of Homestead Companies, was named on the Columbus Business First 2022 Power 100 as one of Columbus' most influential leaders! Congratulations to Dave and all the other leaders on the Power 100 making an impact in Ohio.
Construction Round-Up
Construction continues to stay busy with 6 projects in development and several more slated in 2022/2023. Follow along to see the transformation!
LUSSO / STELLA - Italian Village, Columbus, Ohio
HSL MIAMISBURG - Miamisburg, OH
HSL BLACKLICK - Blacklick, OH
HAYDEN PARK - Huber Heights, OH
N 4TH ST - Italian Village, Columbus, OH
