Building a Strong Team: Tips for Hiring Property Management Staff

Being a successful property management company in the Portland area takes more than hard work — it requires a dedicated team of individuals who can help you maximize your profits, keep your tenants satisfied, and maintain your property to the standard that renters in our beautiful area expect. However, managing and hiring property management staff is easier said than done, and it can be difficult to know where to begin. 

At Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew, we’re proud to work with a highly skilled and dedicated team of employees that have helped make our business one of Portalnd’s top property management companies. Here are our tips on how to build a strong property management team to lead your business to success. 

Build Your Team

The first step to building your property management dream team is determining how much you can expand your business. Depending on the number of properties you manage and your payroll budget, you can select the roles that will benefit your team the most. 

Property Managers 

A property manager oversees the day-to-day operations of your business, from setting rental rates in line with Portland’s laws, marketing properties, communicating with tenants, and creating a budget. 

Leasing Agents

 A leasing agent will conduct tours of a rental property to potential tenants, process lease agreements, and answer any questions a renter might have about the property before they agree to rent. They’re a crucial part of your team who can help a potential renter see the best features of your property and make the process of signing a lease as straightforward as possible.

Administrative Team Members

If you have a more extensive property management operation, you might need some administrative assistants to keep business running smoothly. Tenant communication is a crucial part of any property management business, so having someone available to answer phones quickly or respond to emails can make a massive difference for your business. Keeping track of paperwork, maintenance requests, and the veritable landslide of information a property management company faces plays an invaluable role in your organization.

Accountants and Bookkeepers

These team members can help ensure you stay on track to make a good return on investment. The details of managing your income, taxes, payroll, and invoices can quickly get overwhelming without a designated person to handle them. And since issues with your financial structure can quickly cascade into a serious problem for your business, this is certainly one side of your team you shouldn’t hesitate to build out.

Maintenance and Repair Coordinators

No successful property management business can get by without skilled people to handle maintenance and repairs. If you’re a self-managing owner, you know how quickly maintenance can pile up and how challenging and time-consuming it can become. When you hire a maintenance and repair team member, you’ll want to ensure you hold them to a high standard. Remember, the safety and upkeep of your property depend on their work. You should ensure you’re hiring someone with experience and dedication.

Go Deep In Your Search For Talent

Once you’ve identified which team members your business needs, the next step is to find them. You might start by posting on job-hunting websites and connecting with potential talent through LinkedIn. When you start to build a pool of applicants, you can begin to narrow them down by the following essential qualities:

Attention to Detail

Working in the property management business requires a fine eye for detail. You need to be able to keep track of a considerable amount of information across multiple properties and tenants, all without getting things mixed up or letting things slip through the cracks. Your organization will benefit from highly organized people who are motivated to pay attention to the little things. 

Deadline-Oriented

Timing is crucial in property management, so your team members should be able to keep themselves to a tight schedule when necessary. Keeping track of lease renewals and the time frames in which you must give notices of evictions or raising rent is crucial. If new legislation requires updated screening practices or eviction protocols, you need to be sure that your team members will be on top of those dates and roll out any necessary changes before you risk getting into legal trouble. 

Professional and Positive

Any business will benefit from team members with high standards of professionalism and a forward-thinking attitude. With its elements of customer service, these aspects are fundamental in property management. You want to find team members who can give tenants a good experience when they call you for help–and deal with unhappy renters professionally. 

Maintain a Brand That Makes Hiring Property Management Staff Easy

Searching for talent to expand your property management team is a big job. In today’s job market, seekers can often afford to be pickier about where they apply and what offers they accept. That means that as an employer, you have to create a competitive and appealing business to draw those desirable employees to you. As you establish yourself as a property manager in the area, you should hold yourself to high standards and remember that a positive reputation can benefit many aspects of your business. You might want to consider a social media manager to develop a brand for your company that will catch the eyes of renters and potential team members alike. 

Of course, if you’re a self-managing owner, you might not have the budget to consider hiring property management staff. You may find yourself stuck in an awkward position where you want to expand your property portfolio, but you can’t take on the staff to help your business thrive. In that case, you might consider signing on with a property management company with a top-tier staff you know you can trust. In that case, look no further than Rent Portland Homes by Darla Andrew.

During our years in the Portland rental market, we’ve created roots in our community that have allowed us to connect with team members who care. Our people-first business model ensures that we deliver the quality service our tenants deserve, along with a high standard of professionalism. If you’re interested in hearing more about how our team can grow your business, give us a call at 503-515-3170 or reach out on our website’s contact form at any time.