WHY HIRE A PROPERTY MANAGER?She just sits in the office and collects rent, right?

How do you picture an apartment manager?

Sitting around waiting to collect rent? Gabbing on the phone? Writing up work requests? Taking occasional complaints? Sitting back in a cushy job? Reading a book or magazine?

Summarizing experience

I think I got into property management 18 years ago because I was “Sam Panda” at World’s of Fun…it is all we talked about at the interview. I was not hired for my vast photography, waitress or cashier experience.I decided to summarize everything I do as an apartment manager. It fills three full pages of college rule notebook paper and I am sure I probably forgot a few things. Many skills would transfer over to other careers but may not come across in a resume. There are many “hats” involved with property management!

Accounting and Bookkeeping Accounts Receivable: Ledgers by hand and

computer software. Accounts Payable: Track vendors and

payments according to budget. Oversee bidding process.

Budget Analysis: Predict year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year income and costs.

Extensive mathematical and algebraic ability. Advanced Excel: Wrote several integrated

worksheets to track accounts payable and receivable.

Human Resources

Established and wrote property/company policies and procedures.

Hiring and firing Payroll Employee relations and evaluations Account representative for insurance

policies. Selected the best agency and policy for all employees. Interpreted policy information to employees.

Increasing Sales

Always expand leasing techniques and practices. Use phone screening and listen to prospects.

Marketing: Find what works and expand; what isn’t working and fix it. (A lot of trending research)

Advertising: Use market research to write and place advertising. Be adaptable to change.

Community Relations: Word of mouth is free! It is also a good way to develop symbiotic relationships.

Write and rewrite marketing plan.

Resident/Customer Relations Develop a rapport: Keep them happy

and paying rent. Less turnover means less expense.

Party Planning: Show appreciation Event Planning: Open House, speakers,

community Monthly newsletters: Done by hand, in

Publisher, and outsourced. Interview residents; they like to share. Calendars, recipes, crosswords, community coupons. Great to share with prospects.

Government and Its Policies

City Council Meetings: Attend whenever neighborhood or property is in discussion.

Develop a relationship with police officers. Fair Housing and ADA Laws and practices. State Landlord-Tenant Law. HUD rules and

regulations for Section 8, Section 42, 811 PRAC. A lot of changes in the last few years.

Prepare evictions and attend court City, Fire, EPA and OSHA codes and

regulations

Office Work

Keep resident records and files Answer phones, use fax, scanner, printer Write up and follow up on Work Requests Type up and deliver notices and flyers Computer operation, training, and light

maintenance Screening prospective residents Collections: notices, phone calls,

knocking on doors Incident reports

Emergency and Disaster

Murders, suicides, and natural deaths Health: HIV, elderly, mental issues,

drugs and alcohol Evacuation diagrams and instructions in

case of fire and tornado HAZMAT coordination for meth lab and

blood cleanup Extensive research on bedbug, termite

and roach control. Presentations and wrote company policy.

Organization & Planning

Schedule maintenance, painting, contractors, and all facets of make ready and building maintenance.

Coordinated up to eight employees Maintained logs and records of

maintenance Oversaw permits for: elevator,

sprinklers, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, etc.

Coordinated all leasing, marketing, budgeting, and training efforts.

You SHOULD hire an apartment manager!

As you can see, apartment managers are well-rounded and have a lot of knowledge and experience in many different areas. They are often told to “run it as if it were your own” so they are used to being entrepreneurs.

I am creative, diligent, logical, analytical, and progressive. I work great alone or in a group. I tend to be a leader. I would love the opportunity to discuss your opening with you.