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.

JUDGES SCORING DEADLINE: 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST!

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, 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
Interviews to conduct, 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.

When you enter the Judging Platform, please do the following:

On the toolbar at the top, click "Judge" to see your judging assignments.
Click on the "ID number" or the "Nomination" name to open the nomination form.
The submitted information and uploaded materials will be on top for you to review. Websites, Videos, and Documents are active links for viewing the materials.
The judging scorecard section will start with the image header, "Judges Scorecard Form"
Select the button that is applicable to the question and provide a required comment/explanation for your selected score. Click the "Save" button to record the comment.
1. For interviews, you may use the required comment box to record the nominee response and/or your explanation for your selected score.
At the bottom, click "Save + Close" if you are finished judging OR "Save + Next" to move on to your next judging assignment.
Scrolling up to the top of the page, you will see the "Close" button. That will take you back to your Judging Nominations dashboard.
Review the "Status" of each assignment to ensure they are all completed by August 21st.
1. If the nomination is listed as "In Progress", the judging process is not complete and the nomination has not been submitted for consideration.
2. If the nomination is listed as "Submitted", the judging process for that nomination is complete.

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, and/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.

UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT PROPERTY CLASSES & TIPS FOR JUDGING PROPERTY AWARDS

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 features
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 features, 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.

Property Classification Guide

INTERVIEW GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS

Categories that include required judge interviews:	Categories that do not include required judge interviews:
Corporate/Property Office Team Member	Groundskeeper/Porter
Customer Service Excellence	Maintenance Technician
Rising Star	Leasing Professional (mystery shopped)
Assistant Property Manager	Curb Appeal
Property Manager	Green Building & Retrofits
Regional Property Manager
Maintenance Supervisor
Excellence in Property Management
Supplier Rising Star
Supplier Customer Service Excellence

Scheduling Interviews

Don't delay emailing to set up your interview. Schedules fill up quickly.
Schedule interviews within the assigned interview period.
Use the NJAA scheduling templates linked below 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.

Interview Scheduling Email Template Excellence in Property Management Interview Scheduling Email Template

QUESTIONS?

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

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.

JUDGES SCORING DEADLINE: 11:59 PM ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 21ST!

Click the plus sign to expand each category for the required nomination materials!