Confused...getting mixed signals

I know I have not been around for a while.  I have been keeping really busy with work.  We have had some changes going on at work.  I have been at my job since Dec. 2006.  I got the job thru a friend, who along with her husband own an apt. complex and they were needing a manager and I was looking for a job.  I have never done this type of work before but really enjoy it.  I plan to stay there as long as they own it, then I will move back closer to my friends and family, but that won't be for a couple of years at the least I hope.  They have always told me what a great job I am doing (and yes, I do mess up at times, and they let me know it).  A couple of months ago they decided to contract with a managment co.  I actually work for that co. now, but they cannot let me go.  They are going to take over things such as paying the bills, and handleing the tenant problems and evictions we have.  I am much more comfortable with the owners and I know what they want and expect.  This management co. has contracted out with a maintenance co.  That is another story.  At one of the meetings the owner of the mangement team said I was suppose to deal with them as the owners wanted to get away with some of the minor decision makeing.  I do go over to their house on a regular basis to discuss what is going on.  Last week he was out of town but she was there.  She said she wants me to let them in on what is going on.  Well last week, 2 tenants came in to my office and a fight broke out.  Again another story.  Well, Fri. eve. I was talking to the owners and asked him if he heard about the fight.  I was just telling him what happened, it had already been addressed.  For some reason he got upset and raised his voice and said to all the police, he did not care and did not want to hear about it.  I was in tears.  He is difficult to read at times.  His moods swing.  I personally would think he would at least want to know what is going on.  Now I feel caught in the middle.  She says to keep them informed and he says he does not care and does not want to hear about these things.  I do not know what to do.  Do I just go to work and do the best I can and deal only with the management co. and for the most part have no contact with the owners or do I continue to let them know what is going on?

 

Thanks for listening.

 

Chelsi 

Karen, lets see if I can explain this better.  I am not sure why they took on a management team exactly.  I know alot of apt. complexes are run by management co.  The couple who own this complex both have other jobs.  I know they were on the ground floor of the project when it was built in like 1986 or 87.  My job as resident manager is to show apartments, collect rent, do walk thru's and rent apts.  The management co. gets the rent from me and deposits it in the bank, pay the bills, deal with tough tenant issues, handle evictions ect.  They also oversee the maintenance.  The couple who own it, he is in his upper 70's and I know would like to retire at some point.  She is in her early 60's and is a professor at a community college, which is where I met her.  I had gone back to school to get my 2 yr. degree.  I had gone to school in the late 70's but did not get my 4 year degree.  I think he may have not wanted to bother with the day in and day out aspects of the job.  They still come out every other week now for meetings with the management co.  I usually do not attend those meetings.  What I am confused is that I used to go weekly to the owners house, but don't do that weekly now due to the price of gas.  He said I would still come over and keep them informed, and discuss some things.  Plus the fact that our girls all get along well.  I guess I best explain that our girls are all shih tzu's.  So, this gives them a time to play. 

Anyway what confuses me is that he says I can come over anytime to have a little meeting, but then sometimes when I tell him what is going on he gets upset and says he does not care and does not want to hear about it.  When he said that the other night, he could not have been more serious.  Things are going thru my head.  Are they considering selling the place in the near future?  Are thyey wanting to hold on to it but move on and not be involved?  Does he really not care what is going on?  I understand he does not want to deal with the day by day things, but since they own the place, they have the final decision in everything.  I do not think the guy who runs the management co. wants me to have much to do with the owners anymore.  That puts me in an akward position because I am friends with them (I was with her before I even knew they owned the apts.)  My loyaltiy lies with the owners.  I just get different impressions from all of them. 

Chelsi

Hey Chelsi  

If the owner has hired a management company then he is paying them to take over his responsibilities.  I would deal with the management company. If you find the company is out of line or doing something illegal, I would then notify the owner.

The owner is the one who hire the management company and it is really his job to make sure they are doing what he hired them to do.

I would continue to do the very best job you can and remember you are doing a good job.  Change is difficult but in the end this may be a better situation for all.

Take care

Kitt