Pros
Opportunity to advance. Company is growing
Cons
I can't speak to other markets, but the company's core values and the way the properties operate in Houston are incredibly different. One of MAA's core values is operating with integrity, but when it comes into practice this is not the case. In the Houston market employees are consistently undervalued. They seem to have the mentality that everyone is replaceable. In 2019 there was turnover of at least 8 property managers for various reasons, but most stemming from poor leadership. Many of these managers had been with the company for 5 years or more and one going back over 10 years. When an employee asks for help you are consistently asked to consult the ever growing online database of policies and procedures. If you make a judgement decision that contradicts something from this online database you are berated by your superiors for not knowing the policy. But if you ask too many questions you will be pegged as someone not able to be independent, and forfeit any chances of being promoted. In addition to their lack of employee appreciation, MAA also actively and openly employees shady business practices when it comes to their vendors. Vendors who are willing to adjust invoices to read something different than the work that was done are able to continue working for MAA. Vendors who will not employ these shady business practices will be turned away, and replaced with vendors who will. This is all done so that work can be done and coded as a capital invoice when in actuality the work being done is a regular business expense. This is done because bonuses are based on your expense budget, and GOI. Capital expenses are completely separate, and are not part of the bonus structure for the managers. This is all being done with the knowledge of senior leadership. This type of company culture only seems to continue to get worse with each year. As more pressure is put on the markets to balance occupancy and rent growth. This constant struggle is exceedingly difficult when your direct supervisor tells you to focus occupancy over rent growth, but the company COO and CEO are constantly telling you not to give up rent growth for high occupancy. Leaving MAA was one of the best decisions of my career.
