How to succeed in property management and maintenance

If you’ve recently begun your career as a property manager, or are thinking about starting one, you’re probably excited for what’s to come. However, there are some things you need to know before you get started.

A property manager is typically responsible for many different tasks related to the business and maintenance of a property:

CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS

Property management often involves dealing with frustrated renters, as well as communicating with prospective renters. For these reasons, it’s important that a property manager knows how to create and maintain positive relationships with tenants, community contacts, and other staff on the property. They should be focused on making the property look good not just for people who want to rent a property or live there, but also for the renters who already do. This is especially important today, when online reviews can make or break a business.

ADMINISTRATIVE SKILLS

Property management requires a significant amount of clerical duties, such as answering phone calls, managing files and documentation, processing rent payments, managing property finances, and dealing with other office responsibilities. Those interested in property management should have a background or skillset related to office administration.

MAINTENANCE AND LANDSCAPING SKILLS

Property managers may also need to oversee contractors, ensuring they are quickly and adequately responding to maintenance requests. Commercial property maintenance is particularly time-sensitive, as office parks and shopping centers have lots of frequent visitors.

MARKETING SKILLS

When a renter vacates a unit, it’s the property manager’s responsibility to list it for rent or for sale. There are many rental or real estate websites out there that make it easy for property managers to list vacant apartments or commercial properties. However, property managers should have some basic marketing skills in order to make the units sound as appealing as possible to potential renters. After all, the faster a unit is occupied, the more profitable the property will be.

Job titles such as assistant property manager, executive assistant, and bookkeeping often require the skills needed to be a property manager. Some property managers enter the career field after having positions such as those, where they learn the essential skills of money management, customer service, and property maintenance.

However, property management positions may call for educational backgrounds in business, real estate, or even accounting. Prospective property managers could also receive the CPM (Certified Property Manager) or ARM (Accredited Residential Manager) certifications. These accreditations can teach the necessary skills related to property management, and can show employers that you take your career seriously.

If you’re thinking about becoming a property manager, you’re probably wondering how much you could make each year. While the typical salary for a property manager can vary depending on their responsibilities, the state in which they work, and the number of properties under their control, the median wage in the United States is $58,760, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Now that you understand the responsibilities of a property manager, you may be curious to know how a property manager can succeed in their career.

Depending on the type of property you manage, you may have various commercial properties or residential units under your care. It’s your responsibility to know each property inside and out so that you can better respond to and anticipate maintenance issues. It will also be easier to list said properties if you have a good understanding of what they look like, associated amenities, and their rental history.

Additionally, prospective renters might call and ask specific questions, such as the square footage of a property or what color paint is on the walls. You’ll appear much more informed and knowledgeable if you’re able to answer these questions without needing to take a first or second look at a property. It’s also helpful to have a good knowledge of the surrounding area, in case a tenant asks about school districts, nearby restaurants, or freeway access.

However, this doesn’t mean you need to be at the ready at all hours of the day — or that you need to list your personal cell phone number. You can set office hours so that your renters know when you’re available to answer their questions or assist them in any way when you’re in the office. You can also set up an emergency maintenance number so that renters can reach contractors outside of office hours. What’s most important is that renters know they can rely on you if they need anything.

If you manage a large commercial property or hundreds of residential units, you don’t have to tackle everything on your own. You can hire a team to support you in your various property management responsibilities.

For example, you might want to hire a qualified contractor — or a couple of them — to monitor and fulfill all maintenance requests. You can also hire an assistant property manager to be in the office during set hours, so they can answer the phone, respond to emails, and speak with prospective renters.

Anyone you choose for your property management team should have a strong work ethic, a desire to make your business look good, excellent communication skills, and a thorough understanding of all aspects of the property. Learn more about building a superior property management team from the beginning here.

Each state has different rules and regulations regarding rental properties. Renters have various rights that are important for property managers to know and respect. If you aren’t overly familiar with these rights, you might end up breaking the law and opening up your property to potential lawsuits or other conflicts. Here are some laws with which you may want to familiarize yourself.

TENANT PRIVACY

Tenants have the right to privacy, meaning you can’t stop by for inspections or even maintenance work unless you have their express permission — or if there is an emergency maintenance situation that could potentially damage your property.

RENT INCREASES

When a tenant signs a lease agreement, they are agreeing to pay a set amount of rent each month for the length of their contract. In most cases, it is illegal to increase rent unless the lease ends or is up for renewal. Increasing rent outside of the lease terms could lead to legal issues.

EVICTIONS

An eviction may be the best course of action if a renter cannot or refuses to pay the set amount of rent, or if they break the lease agreement. However, the process is very complicated, and property managers should have a thorough understanding of their state’s laws — such as when a tenant’s actions merit eviction, how long the eviction process is, and if a tenant can fight an eviction.

RENTAL DEPOSITS

Many states have restrictions on how much a property can charge in rental deposits, whether that includes security deposits or pet deposits. Usually, this amount cannot exceed the monthly rent. Before you set a deposit rate, be sure you understand how much to charge without getting your business into legal trouble.

To learn about property management laws and tenant rights in your state, click here.

Effectively managing a property can be challenging for any property manager — even if they have a strong team on their side. One thing that can make property management easier and more efficient is property management technology. Here are some game-changing property management technologies that can streamline the way you manage commercial and residential properties.

CLOUD-BASED DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

There are many benefits to going paperless and moving all of your tenant’s and customers’ documents to the cloud. Most importantly, cloud-based software keeps all pertinent renter and property information in a centralized location that is easily accessible to anyone on your team.

SMART IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY

Water can be one of the highest expenses on a property. A property manager’s job often involves keeping expenses in line, and one of the best ways to do this with water and sprinkler systems is with smart irrigation technology. Smart Rain’s automatic water management system provides property managers with a birds-eye view into water usage, potential cost savings, and maintenance needs.

Learn more about saving on your property’s utility costs here.

ONLINE MAINTENANCE TRACKING

Now that you know more about what it’s like to be a property manager and how you can succeed in commercial and residential property management, take a look at some of Smart Rain’s other resources. We have compiled helpful tips on many aspects of property management and maintenance: