Episode Summary:

In this inaugural episode of Work Order Nation, co-hosts Sherrod Hunter and Fred Tomlin Jr. dive headfirst into the real, unfiltered world of apartment property management. Drawing on nearly two decades of experience working alongside property managers nationwide, the leaders of Accelerated Waste Solutions share why this podcast exists and finally tell the stories from the trenches that rarely get airtime.

The conversation explores the daily unpredictability of property management, where a simple maintenance request can quickly escalate into flooding, system failures, or safety emergencies. Sherrod and Fred blend humor with hard-earned insight, creating a space that reflects both the chaos and camaraderie that define life on-site.

Using research from the National Apartment Association, the hosts break down three of the biggest challenges facing property managers today: rising operating expenses, labor and supply shortages, and increasing fraud and bad debt driven by sophisticated, AI-generated scams. Rather than surface-level fixes, they highlight real-world strategies properties are using to stay ahead—from prioritizing resident retention to building internal talent pipelines and adopting multi-layer verification technology.

The episode also introduces two core segments: The PM Playbook, focused on practical solutions to modern operational hurdles, and Work Order Wows, where outrageous real-life work orders become valuable lessons in documentation, safety, and prevention. The launch episode sets the tone for a show built to educate, connect, and amplify the voices of the professionals who keep apartment communities running.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why rising operating expenses are the top operational challenge for property managers
2. How resident retention can significantly reduce hidden turnover costs
3. Why labor shortages require mentorship, training, and internal growth, not just higher pay
4. The growing threat of AI-driven application fraud and how properties can fight back
5. How multi-layer verification creates a digital firewall around leasing operations
6. Why documentation details can prevent costly vendor and safety failures
7. The importance of proactive safety checks during every service call
8. How humor and storytelling can deliver serious operational lessons
9. Why property management requires both reactive agility and proactive planning

Golden Nugget:

“You’re only ever as good as your last work order, but the small details you document today prevent the big disasters tomorrow.”

Connect with Work Order Nation:

1. linkedin.com/in/fredtomlinjr
2. JunkShotApp.com