Dear Editor:

The June 2001 issue of Units had an article "Property Management Software" by Kim Fernandez. Although the features and benefits of the various software were discussed, I think one critical point was overlooked. As an example, one of the software manufacturers listed serves our fee managed properties. A department of real estate audit revealed that their software was incapable of capturing and reporting information that state law requires. This was not good for me, a real estate broker.

I requested that the software provider certify that their product met the requirements of the laws of the State of California. They had no idea what the laws were and asked me to send them a copy. My requests that they make simple modifications to meet those requirements have been ignored. The only recourse is to now change software vendors. The lesson here is that it is imperative that before you decide on a property management software product, that the vendor certify that it will capture and report the information necessary to comply with state laws.

This is an important message to all computer software users in our industry. It should also be a wake-up call for those vendors to do their homework.

Bill Lawrence
Regional Vice President
GMS-San Diego

Dear Editor:

I just wanted to respond to an article in Units Volume 25, Issue 6 regarding the "Competition Cooperation In Soft Markets" article by Sondrah Laden, CAM, and Sheila Pennington, CAM.

I just wanted to mention that this article also applies to vendors. I have been selling to the multifamily housing industry for the past 13 years and I cannot quantify how many times over the years that I have referred and received business from other product service members--and even direct competitors.

We are all in this business together. There are times when price and/or availability are better served for my customer from another supplier. My customers deeply appreciate my honesty, which generates trust and future business. And other competitors are always willing to exchange leads and business with those that ultimately want the best for the customers and communities we all service.

Competition combined with cooperation between vendors is win/win/win! Our customers receive the best service available, shared cooperation drives business to our participating vendors and, most importantly, residents are best served as a result!

I hope all associate members respect and understand that power of competition with cooperation.

David Evans, CAS
Maintenance Warehouse/
Home Depot
Vice-president of Product
Services Apartment Association
of Southeast Texas