Property managers are truly the “jacks of all trades” in the multifamily world. They must be able to market their property, analyze finances, speak with residents, plan events, and even scrub toilets! Finding someone with so many skills can be a hard task. You want to be able to trust this person with the success of your property, so what are some of the best traits a successful property manager should have? Here are some of the best things to look for when interviewing candidates for your next property management position.
Positive Attitude
Being able to approach each day with an optimistic view is an important characteristic in a property manager. Some days they will be acting as a quality inspector, other days they will be like a counselor to upset residents. It can be exhausting needing to switch gears every day or even several times a day, so finding someone who enjoys the intellectual challenge of acting as many people at once will be a good fit for your property manager.
Creative Thinking
The multifamily world today is highly competitive. More residents than ever before are looking to rent, and more properties are popping up all the time. In order to excel, your property manager will need to always be thinking ahead about how to stay on top of resident satisfaction and retention. They will need to think outside the box about how they can set your property apart from your competitors. If you have a candidate who can combine their creative side with the ability to approach problems from an analytic point of view, they may be perfect for the job.
Good Teamwork Skills
In order to keep things running smoothly in any industry, your team needs to be able to communicate and work together effectively. This is especially true in the multifamily industry, where you may have dozens of issues popping up in one day. Make sure you find a property manager who can delegate well, prioritize issues, and work with their team to tackle issues quickly. A good property manager understands that they are part of the team and sometimes that means having to get your hands dirty. Employees will not want to work for a property manager that isn’t willing to do the same work that they dole out.
Flexibility
Again, as any property manager will tell you, it’s important to wear multiple hats in a day. The ability to switch tasks, sometimes in the middle of a task, is a must-have for your candidates. Finding someone who has experience in many different areas of work is likely a great candidate, as they are familiar with taking on different responsibilities. To be flexible as a property manager is to be able to address a multitude of concerns in a single day. Can your candidate speak well with residents as well as repaint the walls of a unit to get it ready for another lease?
A property manager can make or break your property. This person will be the face of your company to dozens or even hundreds of residents and applicants. They will also be the person overseeing a team of maintenance workers, office assistants, and landscapers, just to name a few. Finding someone who will represent you well and take care of operations is a must. It may take some time to find the perfect property manager for your property, but be patient — the right candidate will come along.