When you decide to hire a property manager for your home, you want to make sure you're leaving your house in the hands of a reliable person. There are countless firms and professionals that offer property management services, so how can you distinguish which is the right one for you? The easiest way is to get a recommendation or check out what other clients have to say about that agent. While you are doing this research, you should know what to look for in a potential property manager. From our personal and professional experience, we've learned that there are several features that typically differentiate a good property manager from a great one.
1. Honest
Honesty is one of the most important traits to look for in a potential property manager. There will be a fiduciary relationship between you and your agent. You are entrusting your property and considerable amounts of money to this person so he or she should inspire trust and show integrity.
2. Knowledgeable
No matter how charismatic a property manager is, you probably won't be tempted to work with them if you feel that they are not competent enough. Your future property manager should have solid knowledge in this field, which implies that:
- they are always updated with the local and national property laws
- they can manage your property efficiently and transparently
- they're aware of the real estate trends in your area
- they're prompt in answering your property-related questions
3. Organized
In property management, it's important to be extremely organized in order to maintain a high standard of quality. This job involves a lot of paperwork, you have to meet various deadlines and the financial records keep piling up each month. It's highly important to choose a manager who can neatly organize their work to make sure that no omissions or delays occur.
4. Calm
Managing a house is not easy and when that property is not yours, the pressure and the responsibility that come along are sometimes hard to handle. Yet, a great property manager should never let this show. Customer-support skills are not optional, your future agent should demonstrate good communication abilities, patience, and empathy. If you feel that the person you're about to hire lacks these features, you might not be in the right place yet.
5. Problem solving
Whoever chooses a career in this field, should enjoy working with people. Property management involves solving countless problems, so your agent should have the necessary agility to solve issues promptly. Moreover, he or she should be a people-person because fast solutions are found by interacting with others and asking for help.
Now that you're more aware of what a great property manager looks like, we can only wish you good luck in finding yours. However, if you're located in or near San Diego, seek no more; we work with professional agents who meet all the requirements above and who are ready to manage your property.