Excerpt from Chapter 1, The Big Picture  

The term big picture has come to denote a comprehensive understanding of any situation.  It is generally used in the context of being a requirement for insight - to not get the big picture is to not understand the complexities of an issue fully.  Understanding of the big picture applies uniquely to the site management of assisted housing.  Few occupations require such a wide range of knowledge and skill: Business transactions, governmental compliance issues, and interpersonal communications are just a beginning.  This chapter presents an overview of the guiding principles which are key to understanding the big picture.

Author's note:  This chapters covers the importance of four fundamental management principles that serve as a sound foundation for property management in assisted housing.  They are: original understanding, follow-up, timely penalties, and control.  This book emphasizes these basic requirements and add several that are unique to assisted housing: the value paradox, ethics and income-based rent, and tacit conspiracies. Together, they establish a strategy that is applied consistently throughout the book.