05 Aug Week 2: Learning the Details That Make a Difference
Estimated Read Time: 4 Minutes
By: Alessia Morante
It’s hard to believe I’m already wrapping up my second week at Miller Diversified. In just a few days, I’ve gone from nervously picking up calls at the front desk to building massive spreadsheets and tagging along on property inspections. This week wasn’t just about tasks, it was about gaining a deeper understanding of what makes this company thrive: the people, the systems, and the attention to detail.
Inspection Ride-Along with Tom Schreiber
I started the week off strong with an inspection ride-along alongside Tom Schreiber. He first showed me around some properties, explaining the role Miller Diversified plays in maintaining and supporting multiple sites along that street. Then we headed to a property in Perrysburg, where I got my first real look at a property inspection in action.
We walked the entire exterior, checking for any cracks or issues to document. But what stood out most to me wasn’t just the physical inspection, it was the conversations. Tom made a point to speak to every tenant. He asked if they had concerns or feedback and genuinely listened. He took notes for the report and handed out business cards to ensure they knew who to contact. It was clear that tenant happiness is a priority here, and seeing that commitment firsthand showed me what tenant-first property management looks like.
The Reception Desk Takeover: A Humbling Start
With Emma out on vacation, I took over the front desk responsibilities for the week. Let’s just say… it was a bit of a rocky start (I may or may not have hung up on a few callers thinking I was transferring them… Oops!). But once I got into the rhythm, I felt more confident. By the end of the week, I was answering and transferring calls like a pro. It definitely gave me a new appreciation for how important, and how tricky, being the first point of contact can be.
The Excel Challenge: Turning Paper into Data
Midweek, I was assigned a project by Kurt Miller to convert information from 14 physical sheets into a functional Excel document. With help from Michelle Hohman (who tackled the first 10 pages with me) and Chris Workman (who helped with the trickier last 4), I learned how to scan paper documents and convert them into Excel-readable formats.
From there, I reformatted everything, entered the data, and built out the formulas to make it usable. It took me two full days, but it gave me solid experience in Excel organization, formula writing, and double-checking for accuracy. It was one of those tasks that challenged me but left me feeling super accomplished afterward.
The Extremely Tedious Mailing List Project
Between Excel tasks and reception duty, I worked on what’s easily been my biggest (and most tedious!) project so far: updating the company’s mailing list. The original list had 1,372 names, and my job was to verify and update each one.
Using some research tools, I looked up each last name and compared the results. If someone wasn’t listed, I marked the row in red. If they were, I highlighted them in green. And if the site had a name that wasn’t on our list, I added them in by city and address, then marked them in yellow.
So far, I have highlighted a total of 1,030 names and added over 200 new contacts, and I still have about 600 names to go!
Let’s just say… I’ve become very well acquainted with Realtor search tools.
The Dress Code Surprise (In the Best Way)
One thing that pleasantly surprised me is the business casual dress code here. On my first day, I wore slacks and a formal blouse, only to see coworkers in Miller-branded t-shirts and jeans! Of course, some still wear button-downs or skirts, but it’s great to have that flexibility. I’ve been loving my flowy skirts and blouse combos and even jeans on some days. It’s casual but professional, and I appreciate the balance.
Four-Day Work Week?!
Another fun surprise? Miller Diversified runs on a four-day work week. While I still came in on Friday this week (just a half day), it’s nice to know that most of the office gets to enjoy longer weekends. The most surprising part is that some people still come in on their day off! Which I think speaks volumes about the company culture, productivity, and well-being go hand in hand here.
Takeaway of the Week:
Whether it’s a tenant concern, a spreadsheet column, or a single missing name on a mailing list, attention to detail matters. It’s those small things that build trust, improve operations, and keep everything running smoothly.
I’m loving every minute at Miller Diversified so far. Between the people, the pace, and the projects, I feel like I’m not just learning, I’m growing. And I can’t wait to see what Week 3 brings!