A job interview can be a nerve-wracking experience for a building Superintendent.  That's because saying the wrong things or wearing the wrong kind of clothes can derail an interview unnecessarily and cause the interviewer to focus on things that may not really be about your experiences, skills or work ethic.  This episode is about preparing for a job interview, whether it's for a part-time super building or any other position. It's about the simple things to watch out for before and during the interview so that you start off on the right foot and stay on the right path.   We often forget that we are being interviewed to see if we can solve a problem they have, something which keeps them up at night. I'll show you the secret to flipping the script on the interview process so that you can take control of the interview, become confident and come off as the expert they're looking for.  I'll show you the tips to keep improving your interview skills with every failure or success.  So, after you listen to this video/ podcast, you'll know the answers to such questions as: What should I wear to the interview? What do I do if I can't answer a question? What are two small things to bring to an interview to appear professional? A "notepad" is one of them!  

In this episode, we'll examine the complex relationship between the Building Superintendent and: Property manager Board of Directors (with multiple people to answer to) Shareholder / Unit Owner Subtenant / Renter Being a building superintendent a Co-op or Condo building in NYC requires a savvy understanding of the rules of "who's the boss," or who holds the ultimate authority in the building. Building Supers are often considered the boss because they carry the responsibility to prioritize the needs of the building and the authority to carry these objectives out. But, this chain of authority can become very confusing and frustrating to follow for a Building Super because everyone - including the property manager, the shareholder, a board member, a renter or subtenant - can seem or act like the Boss. And breaking from this chain, no matter how well-intentioned you may be, can cause a host of problems that can get you into a heap of trouble with the manager or Board, and even cause you to lose or forfeit money. This podcast aims to show you when to defer (say YES) and when not to (say NO), and whose authority should take priority at any given time. This episode will also guide you to confidently navigate any conflict between the parties when it comes to the question of "Who-is-in-Charge." Learning to do this correctly will help you preserve your time and energy, as well as to keep your efforts and hard work properly compensated. For this episode, I'll use a whiteboard to help illustrate the points. Feel free to see the Youtube version of this podcast by clicking the image below. Sit back, grab a Friday drink and enjoy this podcast. Cheers to a great weekend!🍻🍺  

In NYC, there are Co-ops, Condos, multi-family rental buildings, single family homes and many other types of residences  (or "dwelling") where superintendents are needed. Do you know which type is better to work in - or, are all of them the same? I'm sure you know, the short answer is no. It actually depends upon where you are in life and what your short and longer-term goals are. Each type of dwelling has its pros and cons when it comes to your: Earning potential Job security Career advancement General happiness... and so forth. In this episode, we start off and introduce the basic concepts of a Coop, Condo, rentals, and the other types of dwelling you find in NYC.  We explain the differences and relations between such terms as the "Unit Owner," "Landlord," "Shareholder," "Subtenant," etc. and discuss what Building Supers should know about them.  We help you understand these terms through examples, such as a pizza and Ferrari sports car. Your ability to understand these terms and to navigate the rules that govern them will give you the tools to make the right decisions that earn you higher income, land bigger job opportunities, and lead a more rewarding path as a Building Super in NYC.  Sit back, and get ready to elevate yourself to new heights of building maintenance professionalism.  ------------------------------------------------ To help you while listening to this podcast, we created a "cheat sheet" for you here (click here).    

Being a Building Superintendent in NYC often means knowing the laws and regulations of HPD (Housing Preservation & Development), DOB (Department of Buildings), DSNY (Department of Sanitation) and many other city agencies.  Not only are there many laws and regulations from many different agencies to remember, they are often updated annually! It can get confusing and frustrating for the Building Super to keep track of and implement year after year.  The good news is that you can find all of these laws and regulations together in one place - a book called the NYC Apartment Management Checklist.   In this episode, we take a look inside this book and its chapters to see how reading it can help set you apart in the Building Superintendent industry and give you the knowledge to elevate yourself to become THE go-to professional source for your customers.  This book covers everything from questions such as "how far do I need to clean out from the curb" to describing the steps needed to comply with recently minted laws, such as the Local Law 152 (gas testing). Sit back, enjoy and get ready to elevate yourself to new heights of maintenance professionalism.

Congratulations! You've made it to your first interview and building walk-through for your part-time building position.  Meeting a potential client face-to-face can be nerve-racking. There are many interview pitfalls to avoid which could give your client the wrong impression of you and your experience, skills or capabilities. Worse, you could be leaving money on the table. There are some mistakes that you can make during the interview process that could leave you with less money in your pockets later on if you pass the interview process and move on to being hired. This podcast is about the things you should watch out for during your first interview with a property manager, board member or building owner. Dressing well, being respectful and speaking properly are the first steps, but there are other tips that we discuss in this podcast that can raise your chances of being hired and help keep your value high in the eyes of the client, which can translate to better pay.  I've gathered this list of Dos and Don'ts from my experience of having gone through countless interviews for part-time super buildings throughout NYC. Over the years, this list has become the bedrock to my system for acing my interviews with clients. I'm happy to share this with you.      

Taking on Super careers can offer great perks. For one, it can mean that you potentially have a lifetime's worth of customers right inside your building. Residents may need repairs, painting, caulking, and other tasks that make you, the Super, the perfect option for them, rather than having them call in an outside handyman or contractor. At the same time, your customers may not only expect your services to be offered at a fair, market price, but at a discount compared to these outside vendors. This can make great sense to you because happy customers who benefit from quality work at a discount price will become repeat, long-term customers. In this podcast, you can learn how being a Building Super and having the perks that come with it can give you a pricing advantage over any outside contractor or handyman.  We also discuss the common pitfalls in the pricing strategy of a Building Super, such as overspending on materials, and the various ways to avoid them.

There are many ways for a building super to make additional income in a part-time building. But, there are also many ways to lose profits, too. Preventing this problem requires knowing just how much you're actually making from each job. In this episode, we look at pricing and right ways to do it, such as by looking at all of the expenses that go into your jobs. We also look at the wrong ways to do it, for instance, by letting your emotions, such as fear, guilt or pride, get in the way of your pricing.  Learn how you can start pricing more effectively by looking at the business of sandwich-making. So, go run to the corner deli, grab your favorite sandwich and sit back and listen to this podcast!

Part-time Building Supers are often seen as the "one-stop" shop and the main "go-to" person for getting repair work and other odds-and-ends done at a building.    It can be a perfect match for the Part-time Super, who may be looking to make additional income at his building, and also for the residents, who need someone they can trust and rely on for such work.   But, it comes with a caveat: doing this the wrong way can hurt your reputation and trust that you built up, not to mention your pride and wallet!     In this episode, we describe the four dos and don'ts of additional work as a part-time super work. They are:    Don't overpromise or take on too much work Stay inside your comfort and skill level  Be honest with your customer whenever that you've made a mistake. Think about your reputation. Don't get tunnel vision with pricing. Be flexible.   I also describe some types of additional work you can usually take on as a Part-time Super and earn you a rewarding income.   Follow this as your basic road to success as a Part-time Super!   

Being a part-time super can offer great opportunity to make additional income. These roles include cleaning the building and handling the building's trash and recycling on a regular basis. It can also include season tasks, such as snow clearing and the occasional light repair work.   But many part-time supers end up in a building where they are losing money or not making as much as they should.   This topic is about being profitable as a part-time super. We'll look at various factors that affect your profits, such as the location of the building, and the  importance of writing things down. We'll consider ways that can make your agreement with the building more favorable to you, while still being fair and reasonable to your customer, the building.