2026 GSA Judge Resource Center - New Jersey Apartment Association

NJAA GARDEN STATE AWARDS JUDGE RESOURCE CENTER

Thank you for serving as a Garden State Awards judge. Your role is critical in recognizing excellence across New Jersey's multifamily housing industry.

Please review the information below before beginning your judging assignments.

YOUR ROLE AS A JUDGE

Evaluate each submission fairly, consistently, and based solely on the materials provided.

Judges should assess:

Whether required submission elements are present
How clearly and effectively they are presented
Evidence of excellence within the award category

Submissions may include essays, videos, interviews, documents, mystery shops, or combinations thereof. Not all categories include the same materials.

Score only what is clearly shown, explained, or documented.

If it is not shown, it cannot be scored.
If it is not explained, assume it is missing.
Do not make assumptions based on personal knowledge, prior experience, or reputation.

CONFIDENTIALITY & PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AS A JUDGE

To ensure a fair and credible awards program, all judging activities must remain confidential.

Judges may not discuss nominations, scoring, interviews, deliberations, or award results with nominees, other judges, industry colleagues, or any third party. Nomination materials may not be copied, shared, or used for any purpose outside of the judging process.

Violations of these confidentiality requirements may result in disqualification of scores, removal from the judging panel, ineligibility to serve as a future judge, and possible disciplinary action under NJAA's Code of Ethics, including suspension or expulsion from membership.

By serving as a judge, you agree to uphold the highest standards of confidentiality, professionalism, and ethical conduct.

USING THE JUDGING PORTAL

All judging will be completed through the NJAA judging portal.

Before You Begin

Review the judging instructions and scoring guidelines on this page.
Set aside adequate time to review submissions thoroughly.
Ensure you have reliable internet access and working audio for video entries.

Reviewing a Nomination

Submissions may include:

Job description
Nomination essay or letter
Supporting documents
Promotional video
Interview responses, if applicable

Review all submitted materials before scoring.

Scoring a Nomination

Score each question independently.
Use the full scoring range.
Base scores on evidence provided.

Do not let one strong or weak area influence another.

Saving Your Progress

The Award platform saves scores as they are entered.
If you need to step away, you may return to continue judging later.
You can also navigate between nominations and return to unfinished evaluations before the judging deadline.

Video Submissions

Videos may take a moment to load depending on file size and internet speed.
Watch the entire video before completing the video-related scoring questions.
Remember: judges may only score what is clearly shown or explained.

UNDERSTANDING & EVALUATING DIFFERENT PROPERTY CLASSES

When judging property-based awards, you may review properties of various classes, including Class A, Class B, Class C, and Affordable Housing. Properties should be evaluated within the context of their own class and not compared against properties in different classes.

Property Classifications

Class A:

Typically built within the last 10 years
High end finishes and modern amenities
Prime locations with strong demand and higher rents
Minimal maintenance and capital expenditures required to maintain

Class B:

Older than Class A properties
Good quality construction but fewer luxury finishes
Often includes renovated units and upgraded amenities
Located in desirable, though not premium markets.

Class C:

Typically built prior to 1990
Limited renovations and amenities
Higher maintenance and capital expenditure needs
Often serves lower-income residents

Affordable:

Serves residents who qualify for housing assistance programs
Varies in age, finishes, and amenities
Designed to provide housing for low- and moderate-income households

Judges should focus on:

Safety
Cleanliness
Maintenance
Basic upkeep
Overall presentation
Pride of ownership

Do not penalize based on age, budget, or amenity level.

Example: A Class C property should not be scored lower for older features if it is well-maintained and cared for. Conversely, neglect or deferred maintenance should be reflected in scoring.

Consider environmental factors such as weather, seasonality, and restrictions when evaluating landscaping.

The key to fair judging is identifying pride of ownership. A property with limited amenities or older finishes may still demonstrate excellence if it is clean, safe, well-maintained, and clearly cared for by the onsite team.

Judge maintenance, presentation, safety, and pride of ownership, not age, luxury level, or budget. The goal is to recognize excellence within each property's class, not to compare one class against another.

UNDERSTANDING THE SCORING SCALE

Judges will score each element using the following scale:

Score													Rating
0													Not Applicable
1													Poor
2													Below Average
3													Average
4													Above Average
5													Excellent

EVALUATING VIDEO SUBMISSIONS

Video submissions are an important part of many categories. Nominees were provided detailed video requirements and checklists. Judges should evaluate how well the submission addresses those required elements.

Strong videos are:

Clear and organized
Complete and easy to follow
Specific and supported by examples
Relevant to the category

Common video mistakes include:

Missing required elements
Vague or generic statements
Disorganized content
Failure to explain missing or non-applicable items

Missing or Not Applicable Elements

If a required element is not shown:

Determine whether it was explained.
If clearly identified as Not Applicable, select 0 – Not Applicable.
If neither shown nor explained, select 1 – Poor.

Examples:

The property does not have a pool, but the video clearly explains this and highlights other amenities: score 0.
The property does not show a pool and provides no explanation: score 1.

TIPS FOR EVALUATING INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

When reviewing individual award categories, focus on how well the submission demonstrates the nominee’s:

Daily responsibilities
Impact on residents, customers, team members, or the property
Leadership or initiative
Pride in their work
Professionalism
Customer service
Specific examples of excellence

Avoid scoring based on general praise without evidence.

TIPS FOR EVALUATING PROPERTY AWARDS

Replace this text with the accordion content.

TIPS FOR EVALUATING SUPPLIER PARTNER AWARDS

Supplier partner roles and services vary significantly.

Focus on:

Customer service
Responsiveness
Client or property impact
Relationship building
Professional growth
Results, feedback, or testimonials
Specific examples of going above and beyond

Do not penalize nominees simply because their role does not involve direct resident interaction, formal metrics, or onsite daily work. Instead, evaluate how effectively they explain and demonstrate their impact.

INTERVIEW GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS

Award categories such as INSERT THE CATEGORIES HERE include a required judge interview as part of the evaluation process.

Scheduling Interviews

Schedule interviews within the assigned interview period.
Use the NJAA scheduling template and copy the nominator on your email, so that both the nominee and nominator are aware of your outreach.
Make reasonable efforts to accommodate the nominee’s schedule.
Notify NJAA staff after three unsuccessful contact attempts or if other scheduling issues arise.
Interviews may be conducted by phone or virtual meeting platform.
Recommended interview length: 15–20 minutes.

The purpose of the interview is to:

Verify and expand upon nomination materials
Gain insight into responsibilities and accomplishments
Evaluate professionalism and communication skills

Professional Conduct

Be respectful and professional.
Start and end on time whenever possible.
Maintain confidentiality regarding nominations and provided materials

To ensure fairness:

Use the NJAA-approved interview questions.
Ask consistent core questions across all nominees in that category.
Avoid leading questions or coaching.

Appropriate follow-up questions include:

"Can you tell me more about that?"
"What was the outcome?"
"How did you measure success?"
"Can you provide an example?"

Scoring Interview Responses

Use the interview criteria provided in the judging portal.
Evaluate the quality, relevance, and completeness of responses.
Do not allow personal rapport to influence scoring.

Final Scoring Reminders

Score each criterion independently
Use the full scoring scale
Judge only what is provided
Do not compare property classes
Do not assume missing information
Reward clarity, evidence, and impact

Strong submissions clearly demonstrate requirements, provide specific examples, and make it easy to understand why the nominee deserves recognition.

QUESTIONS?

Contact NJAA at events@njaa.com and a member of our team will be happy to assist you!

Click the plus sign to expand each category for the required nomination materials and a sample nomination form!

Groundskeeper/Porter - $150

Required Nomination Materials

Job Description (mandatory)

Upload a copy of your job description that clearly outlines your role and responsibilities.

Nomination Short Essay/Letter (mandatory)

From the person nominating the individual, upload a short essay or letter addressing the following:

Outline why you are nominating this person.
Describe how this person impacts the property and takes care of the residents.
How does this person make things easier for their fellow team members?
How does this person demonstrate pride in what they do?
If applicable - provide any positive reviews/feedback received.

Promotional Video Submission (mandatory)

Videos can be completed from the side of the nominator or nominee -- however you feel captures the nominee the best!

Video Submission Checklist/Requirements

Don’t Overthink This — Follow This Checklist!

Your video is the heart of your nomination. Judges can only score what they can see. If it’s not shown or explained, it cannot be scored and will count against you because judges will think directions were not followed.

What Your Video MUST Include:

QUICK INTRO
- Nominee name
- Property/Company
- Award Category
SHOW THE WORK THE NOMINEE DOES ONSITE:
- Building exterior
- Grounds & landscaping
- Amenities/common areas
- Parking areas & walkways
SHOW/EXPLAIN WHAT MAKES THE NOMINEE STAND OUT
- Daily responsibilities
- Interaction with residents/team
- Leadership or impact
- What makes them exceptional (2–3 real examples of excellence)
SHOW PROOF - Don’t just tell us, show us:
- Results, metrics, or outcomes
- Before/after examples
- Real evidence of success
REQUIRED: ADDRESS MISSING FEATURES:
- If something does not apply, you MUST say so in your video. If your property does NOT have something (example: pool, fitness center):
- “Our property does not have a pool, however…”
  - State missing items/features
  - Provide context or alternatives
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
- 5-10 minutes max
- Clear audio and steady footage
- Organized clips
PRO TIPS!
- Follow a clear structure
- Show, don’t just tell
- Make it easy for judges to score
- Have fun! Creativity makes you stand out!
FINAL CHECK - Before submitting, ask yourself:
- Did I SHOW everything on the checklist (not just talk about it)?
- Would a judge or someone unfamiliar understand this without explanation?
- Did I clearly explain anything not applicable?
REMEMBER: Judges score ONLY what is clearly shown or explained.

Note: There are no judges interviews for Groundskeeper/Porters!