00:00 – T. Tran
I started our morning at a property because I had gates that wouldn’t shut. Usually, it’s the opposite problem—we can’t get them open. I was standing there, the wind whipping my hair, thinking, “Why am I doing this? This is not what I signed up for first thing on a Monday morning.” But that’s what property management is.
00:10 – Chris Foti
And so…
00:15 – Skyler Vanderwell
That’s what property management is about! You are out there doing things you never expected to be doing. If you think you know exactly what your day will look like, you’re in the wrong industry.
00:20 – T. Tran
Exactly. If you wake up thinking, “At 10 a.m., I’ll be doing this,” you’re in for a surprise. That’s part of why we launched this show—we work in such a different industry. It’s not glamorous, but it needs to be done, and it takes a certain kind of crazy to do it well. So, welcome to all you crazy people listening! I hope you get some good stuff out of this. Let’s do some quick intros. Foti, you go first because you said you weren’t going to talk.
01:00 – Chris Foti
Okay, well, my name is Chris Foti. I work with T and Skyler. We have our own property management company here in Reno, Nevada. I’ve been in property management for about eight years, and even before that, a lot of the things I did still apply to this industry.
01:20 – Skyler Vanderwell
Alright, well, my name is Chris Foti, I work with T and Skyler. We actually have our own property…
01:30 – Chris Foti
A lot of what we do is sales, marketing, and accounting. Those skills have been really useful to me even before I entered real estate. Like T said, this business is wild—always something new. Before property management, I had a digital marketing agency, and I loved it because I could put strategies in place and watch businesses grow. It’s the same thing with multifamily management. If we manage operations well, implement great marketing strategies, and focus on all the key areas, we can see great results at our communities. That’s what I love about it.
02:30 – Skyler Vanderwell
Yeah, my background is pretty diverse, but everything I’ve done translates into property management. I’ve worked in the mortgage industry, financial sector, and automotive, and all of it has helped me in this role. You really do have to be a jack-of-all-trades in this business.
03:00 – Skyler Vanderwell
Every day is different. You expect things to go one way, and then they go sideways. Being able to adapt and make quick decisions is key. That’s why we started this podcast—to highlight what property managers go through and share stories that others can relate to.
03:30 – T. Tran
I’ve been a real estate broker and property manager for… let’s just say a long time! When I was in third grade and they asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn’t say broker and property manager—I said attorney. But here we are.
04:00 – T. Tran
My background includes new construction, single-family homes, high-rises, Section 42 housing, consulting, and legislative work. At Multifamily Manager Pro, my role is to provide the big-picture view. Skyler is on the ground with operations, Foti has his marketing and financial expertise, and I focus on sales and strategy.
05:00 – Chris Foti
You did it again—said it backwards! It’s okay, Multifamily Manager Pro.
05:15 – T. Tran
Right! But my point is, we all bring different perspectives. We’re not just here to teach theory—we’ve actually done this work. We’ve been on-site, leased apartments, and handled all the day-to-day challenges. That makes a huge difference.
06:00 – Chris Foti
Yeah, and we’re still doing it. We’re always looking for ways to improve, and working together and sharing ideas is what led us to start this.
06:30 – T. Tran
Exactly. And a lot of what we’ll cover depends on you guys. We want input from listeners, suggestions, and ideas. Our industry is tough, and automation is changing things that probably shouldn’t be automated. There’s a human element to what we do—dealing with housing and investments—and we need to stay connected to that.
07:15 – T. Tran
We’ll talk about serious issues, including legal topics. Now, we’re not attorneys, but I’ve been in court a lot. I even assist with law enforcement and code enforcement, helping with eviction processes, which I know is a huge topic for everyone.
07:45 – Chris Foti
T, didn’t you also launch a city-wide eviction prevention program during COVID? I have to call you out on that—it’s a big deal.
07:55 – T. Tran
Yeah, you’re calling me out? Okay. Yes, I launched a landlord-tenant mediation program and helped draft the governor’s eviction moratorium during COVID. But don’t get me wrong—I wasn’t saying people should never pay rent back. I wanted to make sure rental assistance got to the right places efficiently.
08:30 – T. Tran
We helped a lot of landlords and tenants, but we also saw where things broke down. We’ll cover that too—what should have been done differently and what we learned from it.
09:00 – T. Tran
Beyond that, we’ll discuss market trends, best practices, and even bring in experts—vendors, project managers, and safety professionals—so you can learn directly from them.
09:30 – Chris Foti
And remember, this podcast is just one part of Multifamily Manager Pro. We have an entire online community where property managers can join, access resources, training, and connect with others in the industry.
10:00 – Skyler Vanderwell
Exactly! If you have questions, if you’re stuck on something, let us know. We want to bring real-world property management scenarios into these discussions and help you find solutions.
10:30 – T. Tran
Yes, this is a place for real talk. We’ve all had those moments in property management where we wonder, “What did I get myself into?” But we also know how rewarding it can be. We’re here to share, support, and hopefully make your job a little easier.
11:00 – T. Tran
So stay tuned! We’re going to talk about self-guided tours, adding revenue lines to your budget, bulk internet, managed WiFi, and do a market recap. Stick with us, and we’ll see you next time!
