03 Jan Day in the Life of a Property Manager

There is a common – and incorrect – perception that a Property Manager collects rental payments and deals with the queries of Landlords. There is so much more to the job than simply this, though, and the role of a Property Manager is varied and complex.

When a property owner doesn’t have the ability to manage an investment, they will hire someone else to do it for them and this is where the expertise of a Property Manager comes in. They serve as the go-between who manages the relationship between tenant and property owner and there are many different responsibilities that come with the role.

If you have superb problem-solving skills and you enjoy dealing with people from all walks of life, then a career as a Property Manager could be very rewarding for you. Not only is it a busy and varied job, but it’s also got great earning potential with bonuses on top. You can also expect not to be stuck at a desk every single day; you might be out on the road doing inspections or meeting with property owners!

As with any career, it does come with its set of challenges. Let’s take a look at a day in the life of a Property Manager and answer some of those important questions you might have.

Property Manager: Roles & Responsibilities

Understanding the demands of the role of a Property Manager is much easier when you understand the duties and responsibilities involved in the role itself. As we’ve said, the role has many different elements to it and some of the duties include the following:

• Liaising with landlords to determine the price and frequency of expected rent
• Scheduling and attending routine inspections
• Screening and approving tenants applying for properties
• Enforcing and preparing lease agreements
• Handling complaints
• Handling repairs and property maintenance queries
• Manage the processes involved with moving out of the property
• Keeping records and writing reports

As you can tell, there are a lot of plates to spin but that means that no two days are the same and there is very little risk of boredom in this position. When you consider that a Property Manager has many properties on their list to manage themselves, this becomes a much bigger responsibility.

Property Manager: Skills & Qualities Needed

Real Estate is a competitive industry and Property Managers get to be in a competitive and ever-changing environment. There are plenty of skills needed for a Property Manager to be successful in their position and you might not expect to need certain skills. Some of the skills required for candidates to do well in their roles include:

• Good Communication. When you spend your days liaising with tenants, property owners and co-workers, you can expect to need to be able to coordinate. No one can have steady coordination skills without solid communication skills. From maintenance teams to prospective property owners, your skills have to be solid here, especially where conflict resolution occurs.
• Organisational Skills. You saw the list earlier, so you know you have a lot to juggle at once. Being efficient and highly organised is important for the smooth handling of each property and all tenant queries. There are always deadlines to be met and when you handle several tasks simultaneously, you will find you are readily able to meet them.
• Market Knowledge. Having a good knowledge of the local market is a must for property managers. Knowing the local scene not only helps you to understand the value of a property, but it helps you to understand any regulations enforced by local councils.
• Technical Understanding. It’s important that while you don’t have to have the same knowledge as an Architect, it can help to know how buildings work. You will be inspecting properties and it helps to understand where expected problems can come up. When you have this knowledge, you can resolve issues promptly and prioritise maintenance worries.

These skills are just the basics of what Property Managers need to possess. There are other skills you’ll build in time and sometimes that also means strengthening those nerves of steel. Difficult conversations happen in the course of this role, whether it’s assisting with an eviction or chasing late rent. A level of assertiveness and confidence will help!

Property Managers: In High Demand

Now you have a feel for the role itself and what’s expected of you, why should you become a Property Manager? Well, it’s an industry with high demand, which means there are opportunities aplenty.

Property Managers are expected to have a wide skillset. The importance of the role in the Real Estate industry and the demands for properties across Australia means that there is a good demand for Property Managers.

Those with experience are sought after, especially in populated areas such as Sydney and Melbourne. It’s a role with excellent career potential because of the high demand so if you are looking for a long-term career, you’re in the right arena.

How to Become a Property Manager in Australia

If you are aiming to be a Property Manager in Australia you need to have a Real Estate Certificate of Registration or a Real Estate Licence. This can be done through your home state or territory and you need a completed Licensing Program. You will also need to be a minimum of 18 to qualify and then you can take your step into this role.

You can enrol in a course at any time, even if you aren’t currently in the Real Estate industry. Once your training and registration is completed, you are ready to make your mark as a Property Manager.

Summary

Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Becoming a Property Manager could be the move you need to make to broaden your horizons and add variety to your day.
Here at Real Estate Career Developers, we are best placed to help you to find your next great role and as we know a few things about Real Estate jobs in Australia, you should give us a call today. We’ve worked hard to build a team of Real Estate Recruitment specialists to work alongside our candidates and achieve exceptional outcomes and you can be a part of that, too.