Real-Life Communication
You are a property manager of an apartment building. The building
has many common areas that are available to all tenants. You are beginning
a big project to renovate the laundry room. The washers and dryers will be
updated with new energy-efficient models. You know the tenants will be happy
with the new machines.
However, the renovation project involves more
than just replacing the old machines. You will have a wall knocked down and
the room expanded, taking over an unused storage area. You will add two additional
sets of machines and a bigger counter for folding laundry. All the floors
will be replaced with tile. You're also having the room painted and new lighting
fixtures installed. The project will take one month to complete.
During
the month-long renovation process, the apartment's tenants will have limited
use of the laundry facilities. You know this will be an inconvenience. You
want to clearly communicate the new laundry schedule to the tenants.
To
ease the inconvenience of the limited laundry services, you have worked out
a deal with a local laundromat, Wishy Washy Laundry Services. Tenants can
show an ID card with their current address and receive a discount on self-service
laundry. The laundromat is two blocks away at 1150 Newton St.
The
renovations will begin March 1. You want to make people aware of the work
that will be taking place and the schedules during the renovation project.
Here are the facts:
Weeks 1 and 2:
Three
washers and three dryers will be available 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends.
Work will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
weekdays.
There will be noise from knocking down the wall and ripping
up the floors.
There will be dust and debris.
Weeks
3 and 4:
One washer and one dryer will be available 5 p.m.
to 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends.
Work will take
place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
There will be fumes from the paint
and floor tile cement.
There will be noise from installing lighting
fixtures and new laundry machines.
Write a memo to the
tenants of the building. Include the details of the project and your main
concerns. Make sure to tell tenants about the deal with the local laundromat.
Try to emphasize the good points about the project. Also, make sure the tenants
know to contact you with any questions or concerns.
"Most of the questions
or complaints that come in are in regards to noise or smell," says Kristy
Ludwar. She's an on-site property administrator at a large office building.
Her department is in charge of building renovations.