5 essential skills that make a great property manager

5 essential skills that make a great property manager

The best residential property managers know how to apply a broad skill set to the unique situations they encounter on the job. They move with ease into situations that require strong communication, negotiation, customer service, and organisational skills. Property managers also have the ability to manage more tangible property-related concerns, such as maintenance and repair issues. Here are 5 essential skills that make a great property manager.

5 essential skills that make a great property manager

1. Patience

Property management can be stressful at times. A successful property manager needs to have an innate ability to be patient – with contractors who are behind schedule; with unruly tenants; with investors who can sometimes have unrealistic expectations. When interviewing a potential property manager, look for someone who seems willing to listen. Look for someone who has great customer service skills. Gauge whether a person will be able to handle complaints and stressful situations with grace.

2. Professionalism

The ability to be patient at times and aggressive at others requires a property manager with the utmost professionalism. A candidate must be able to get along well with residents, contractors, and others in a kind but firm manner – especially when dealing with sensitive business matters. We always look for someone who speaks professionally, treats others with respect, and dresses for success.

3. Strong communication skills

Good communication is one of the most important factors of the relationship between property managers, owners/investors and tenants.  An excellent property manager will keep in regular contact with landlords as well as keep lines of communication open with tenants. A strong property manager should have exceptional communication skills, both written and oral. They should be able to convey to you and tenants what’s happening at the property at any given point in time. Clear, precise communication helps to reduce the incidence of disputes and ensures that everything runs like a well-oiled machine.

4. Accountability and reliability

Although this should go without saying, being accountable for your actions must be a top priority. Honesty and transparency are the cornerstones of accountability. Displaying these traits is the best way to earn a solid reputation as a Property Manager with integrity. A Property Manager should be someone that landlords and tenants can trust. One of the best ways to earn that trust is to practice rigorous honesty and transparency.

5. Proactive and not reactive

A property manager must be prepared to respond quickly to unexpected challenges and situations that may arise. However, maintaining a proactive stance can help to avoid these unwelcome surprises. Therefore, a good property manager always looks at preventative measures to avoid tenant impact or costly consequences for the property owner. These measures may include regular maintenance, upgrades, or safety checks.

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