At Bay Property Management Group, we are property management professionals focused on customer service. Furthermore, our goal is to make property ownership both a pleasurable and profitable experience for our clients. We know that our success is due to our awesome team members, and how they each contribute something special to our property management company.
Therefore, we are initiating our Employee Spotlight to help you get to know more about our talented employees, and how their unique backgrounds and expertise help us stay a “cut above the rest.” Today, we are proud to introduce James Kruse, Property Manager. Read on to discover all about James, his professional background, and what he enjoys most about working here at Bay Property Management Group.
At Bay Property Management Group, we are property management professionals focused on customer service. Furthermore, our goal is to make property ownership both a pleasurable and profitable experience for our clients. We know that our success is due to our awesome team members, and how they each contribute something special to our property management company.
Therefore, we are initiating our Employee Spotlight to help you get to know more about our talented employees, and how their unique backgrounds and expertise help us stay a “cut above the rest.” Today, we are proud to introduce James Kruse, Property Manager. Read on to discover all about James, his professional background, and what he enjoys most about working here at Bay Property Management Group.
James Kruse, Property Manager
James is currently transitioning into the property management department after spending time as a maintenance coordinator and maintenance tech. After building the maintenance department into an established sector of Bay Property Management Group’s business, he’s moving into a property management role to learn that aspect of the company. He plans to stay with BMG and hopes to continue to climb the ladder to success.
How James Came to Property Management
James worked in the restaurant industry for about 17 years, working every job from host to bartender to manager. After gaining exceptional customer relations skills in the foodservice industry, James opened his own handyman business, which gave him firsthand knowledge and presented him with the opportunity to become a vendor for BMG. Shortly after that, he interviewed with Nick Stone and was offered his first position with Bay Property Management Group.
A Day in the Life of James Kruse
James is still training in the property management department and learning the ropes, but he’s catching on quickly. He currently oversees properties in their entirety, making sure rent is paid, and the units are being properly cared for. When maintenance issues arise, he dispatches the proper people to fix the problems. If rent is not paid on time, James begins the filing process and works to resolve the issues to get the money collected.
James’ workday begins at 8:00 am, immediately handling maintenance issues that have occurred overnight. He answers emails to owners and tenants, making sure all activities involved with rentals and lead licensing are up to date. His job is to answer any, and all questions owners or tenants may have. He does his best to stay on top of the workload and keep everyone happy.
Why James Loves Being Part of the BMG Team
James loves the staff at BMG. He says the property management industry is very similar to the restaurant industry in a lot of ways, especially concerning public interaction. James says that having a strong staff is the only way to survive. Interacting with his coworkers is his favorite part of the job, but he jokingly says that having no emails in his inbox would be a close second.
James says the best part of working for BMG is the fact that the company is willing to do a lot more than other companies. Over the years, he’s seen firsthand the lengths management and staff are willing to go to in order to ensure the owners and tenants are happy. He loves the fact that Bay Property Management Group treats its employees well and says his story is proof of that. He says you wouldn’t really see the kind of movement through the ranks that he’s been able to make if the company didn’t believe in its people.
James’ Advice for Those Considering Entering the Property Management Field
Start in foodservice. You learn how to take complaints and grief when a customer is right in front of you. In property management, there is a barrier in the sense that you rarely meet the tenants. Thus, being able to solve problems and talk down situations is a great asset. Also, leave your work at work. Don’t take it home with you.
Outside of BMG
James is a self-proclaimed gym rat. He’s up at 4:00 in the morning every day to work out. He plays in a competitive flag football league on Sundays and loves watching the Ravens. He also enjoys target shooting, and above all, he enjoys spending time with his family. Those are the people who keep him going.
Here’s Eight Fun Facts About James:
- Favorite thing to do in my office?
Lift weights.
- What’s one little known fact that most people don’t know about you?
I love to sing, not great but I love it.
- Name something off your bucket list.
Fly a plane.
- If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?
Speak multiple foreign languages.
- Describe your dream vacation.
Indeterminant amount of time at a beach house with my extended family. I’d love to have a fire pit and grill on the beach, plus that means full-time free babysitters!
- If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be?
Twitter
- Pick three words to describe yourself.
Goofy, Tall, Friendly.
- If you were guaranteed to be successful in a different profession, what would you want to do?
Defensive End in the NFL.
