Property managers occupy one of the most important positions at any rental management or property management company. They are the first contact for tenants for many different issues while also overseeing the upkeep and management of the property and other employees. It is by no means an easy job and requires a combination of experience, commitment and people skills. This combination of hard and soft skills can be hard to define which can make finding the right employee a challenge.
Top Five Traits of Successful Property Managers
Open to learning: nobody can know everything and the best property managers are those that are willing to learn. The rental market can change very quickly and an ability to think on your feet is important. For example, new properties could be constructed in the market that draws away tenants with better amenities and a more modern design. A good property manager reacts to events such as this by not only trusting their own judgment but also seeking out the advice of other successful property managers, doing research, asking questions and delegating work to employees knowledgeable about the situation.
Acts in good faith and sets ego aside: in any business your reputation is one of your most valuable assets and it cannot be bought. The only way to build a good reputation is to act fairly and focus on tenant satisfaction. A good property manager will know how to act in good faith by dealing honestly and directly with tenants and trying to help them the best they can. Part of building a good reputation is done by acting humbly because many people value being right over being fair. A good manager leaves their ego aside when dealing with tenant conflicts.
Uses technology effectively: technology can greatly enhance the renting experience and make a property a more desirable place to live. One of the best ways for a property manager to use technology is with a renter portal. This tool allows renters to create online accounts where they can pay their rent, review lease information, ask questions, create maintenance requests and pay utility bills, depending on the rental agreements at the property.
Responsiveness: one of the most common tenant complaints is that their requests are ignored. A good property manager should respond to tenant needs quickly and decisively. Things such as rental agreement extensions, needed repairs or disputes with neighbors are not just minor inconveniences to the person having one of these issues. A successful property manager knows that all problems are important and should be taken seriously.
Committed to success: a successful property manager will be committed to what they do and have a real love for the job. Very few people succeed at a job they hate or lack the drive to improve at. When hiring a property manager, owners should look for someone who wants to use creativity, technology and people skills to do a great job. Find someone who wants to be there because they will put in more effort to succeed.
As the above information shows, hiring a good property manager is important to the success of the management company and requires the right person with the right attitude and set of skills. The time and effort required to hire the right person will be well rewarded with satisfied tenants and a well-run property.
Son-Rise Property Management has been serving the property management needs of Bellingham and Whatcom County since 1996. Contact us today to see how we can help you find a rental property for your family or manage your rental properties.
