RPM Careers Spotlight: Lydia Luck

Name: Lydia Luck
Title: Community Manager
Property: Campus Pointe Apartments / StoneCreek Communities

Tell Us About Your Career.
I started my career in 2007 as a leasing agent at another student property. The property hadn’t been built when I first started, we leased at 100% site unseen! While I was at that property, I was promoted 3 additional times from Bookkeeper to Assistant Manager to Property Manager. This property consisted of 439 apartments and 1239 beds. It was one of the largest in my market. I loved the variety from day-to-day and there was always something to learn. I left student housing briefly in 2014, but I returned to my current property, Campus Pointe, in May of 2016. I love Campus Pointe, the property is small at only 84 units and 216 beds. I get to have a very hands on approach with my residents and that’s my favorite part of my job! 

What advice do you have for someone just starting out in your field?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Learn how it works from the inside out. One of the best parts of my job is teaching my coworkers things I have learned throughout the year to make life simple! I love to explain how or why something works the way it does in leasing, because let’s be honest, the field is never ending with changes and learning! Also, no matter how far you go with the company, always be willing to do the small mundane tasks, it shows such comradery with your team!! My last piece of advice is – don’t rely on your software to know your residents, practice remembering where residents have been placed and face memory. I see a huge impact when I have resident walk in for a package and they know that I already knew who they were!

Anything else you would like to share?
Don’t be scared of an intimidating market, look for outside of the box ideas to make your community stand out! My market is oversaturated with student housing, there are not enough students for all of the beds and they’re currently building another property at 804 beds. You have to always be on your toes to keep your name out there. Take pride in reviews, they will make or break you! And when that one resident comes in, the one with all of the questions, take the time to listen to them! It means more than you’ll ever realize.  

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