How We Are Adapting
Raise your hand if you’re tired of all the businesses you’ve ever given an email address to that are now sending a generic email about our current pandemic. (Okay, us too.) While we do know how to take this situation seriously, we also want to make sure this one is a bit more personal and worth your time.
Like everyone, all of the brokers and staff at Sturges Property Group are learning more each day about the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). This has not only impacted the physical health of humans, but also the health of the US economy. Though no one knows the true impact yet, we do know that COVID-19 should be taken seriously.
The Commercial Real Estate industry is no exception. We need to focus on practical solutions to slow this disease and implement preventative measures for future crises. While we are doing our best to ensure the wellness and safety of our employees and clients, we do want to share some insights on how we are adapting our operations during this time.
Virtual Tours
Property tours are at the core of Brokerage, and also what our brokers love to do! Tours lead to letters of intent (LOI’s), purchase agreements, and leases. With the recent Indiana Stay-at-Home order, our daily tour regimen has required some creative solutions. Virtual video tours are the new standard for any prospect interested in one of our listings. In just one week of social distancing with video tours, we have delivered multiple LOI’s to property owners.
Staying Connected
With “Group” in our name, it should come as no surprise that we have always believed that we are most successful when we collaborate in a team environment. We continue to hold our weekly team meetings, brokerage meetings, and property management meetings; however, they now take place in a virtual conference room. While this is a great short-term solution, we sure do miss the daily buzz of office chatter and especially our office snacks.
Communication with Tenants & Property Owners
Our Property Managers have always prioritized clear and frequent communication with both tenants and property owners, and during this time they are working on delivering a thorough report to each property owner on each tenant’s status. Which ones are partially shut down? Who is temporarily closed? Each situation is different, and we want to ensure that our managed properties and their 200+ tenants are tended to with care and compassion. Like each tenant, each property owner has their own unique set of circumstances. Our leadership team is researching the latest information for Federal and State programs recently set up to help small businesses, such as SBA disaster loans and the paycheck protection program.
Additionally, the Property Management team has implemented systems to ensure that we are notified if a staff member of a tenant is diagnosed with COVID-19, so we can provide appropriate notice to others affiliated with the property. Our team has also instructed our vendors to implement disease control measures, such as more thorough cleanings of frequently touched surfaces with disinfectants.
Our Affiliates Are Staying Busy
Nexus Technology Partners
Work From Home... What used to be a dream for many office workers has now become an abrupt reality. Even companies who never considered remote work prior to the pandemic are finding they need to implement more flexible work options. Whether it be ensuring networks are secure or troubleshooting any technical issues that arise, Nexus has been instrumental in identifying the best remote access solution based on individual company needs. If you need a boost in this area or anything IT-related for your company, we highly recommend giving our guys at Nexus a shout.
Maintenance Management
The trucks are still rolling! The maintenance technicians at Maintenance Management remain committed to keeping buildings healthy and ready to operate at full capacity when the current crisis is behind us. While taking extra precautions in and around buildings and washing their tools as frequently as possible, the technicians have been handling HVAC issues, making sure building air quality is at its peak and making sure properties are in tip-top shape for spring.
Ultimately, we want you to know that we are still working very diligently for you and our normal hours of operation have not been affected (even though our Friday happy hours have). At Sturges Property Group, our avenues of delivery may have slightly changed, but our integrity, passion, and resourcefulness have not. We plan to continue creating industry-leading innovative solutions to be utilized during both the best of times and the worst, and we truly appreciate your trust in us.
We’re all in this together, and if you or a loved one has been affected by COVID-19, we are thinking of you.
