When it comes to property management, your leasing team really is at the forefront of your business and operations. They are who create the first impressions, drive occupancy rates, and influence resident satisfaction. So, it makes sense to build a high-performance leasing team. To do this, you need some strategic focus on recruitment, onboarding, and retention.

Finding the Right Fit

The first step is recruitment. Start by defining the qualities that lead to leasing success. A strong candidate will typically have a mix of sales ability, customer service skills, emotional intelligence, and a proactive mindset. You want to look beyond just experience. You will find that attitude and cultural fit are just as important as everything else.

Use behavioral interview questions to uncover how the candidate handles objections, manages stress, and builds rapport with the residents.

Set the Foundation Early With Onboarding

Effective onboarding is more than just some paperwork. You want to make sure your new hire understands your mission, values, and service standards. To do this, provide them a structured onboarding program using technical training (like CRM software and leasing compliance) and soft skills development (like relationship-building and communication). A strong start like this can improve performance and reduce early turnover.

Invest in Growth and Recognition

Make sure your new hire sees a future with your apartment community. Offer regular coaching, clear career pathways, and opportunities to learn new skills along the way. Recognize and reward any outstanding performance and conduct stay interviews. This helps keep them engaged and shows you opportunities for improvement.

All of this creates a positive, growth-oriented culture that lets you retain top performers for longer and avoid the costly cycle of having to rehire.

The Importance of Employee Retention

Did you know that high employee turnover can drain your resources, hurt resident relationships, and even lower leasing performance? Each time you lose a skilled team member, you lose valuable knowledge, rapport with prospects, and momentum. Investing in these strategies protects your team's experience, strengthens morale, and reduces recruiting and training costs.

Bring It All Together

A high-performing leasing team doesn't happen overnight. There needs to be a fair amount of deliberate effort on your part, from recruiting those with the right potential to training and supporting them in all the right ways.

With a strong team in place, you can boost occupancy rates for your apartment community, improve resident satisfaction, and build a stronger reputation and long-term success in your community overall.

Ready to build a stronger leasing team? At Occupancy Solutions, LLC, we can help you strengthen your team, boost occupancy, and help ensure you achieve lasting success. Contact us today to learn more.