When your business grows and it is time to hand over the day to day operations to a new employee, you may not know what to look for in a great apartment manager. When drafting your job listing and interviewing potential candidates, there are some key skills to find. Here are the seven most important skills that any apartment manager should have:

 

1. Strong Written And Verbal Communication

 

At least 90% of an apartment manager’s job is communication. Between talking to existing residents, answering questions from prospective renters, and communicating with maintenance staff, you need someone who has clear communication skills.

 

2. Excellent Customer Services Skills

 

Your apartment manager will be the primary person your residents and future prospects speak to about any problems, so it is important that they are friendly and have great customer service skills. It is recommended that you look for someone with a job history in customer service.

 

3. Negotiation Skills

 

Negotiation skills is a really important part of the business. You want someone who can identify the areas where negotiating the lease agreement can not only fill vacancies and keep your valuable renters but can also successfully negotiate an agreement that works for all parties.

 

4. Mediation Skills

 

One of the roles of an apartment manager is to resolve conflicts between residents. Good mediation skills can help find solutions and keep your residents happy.

 

5. Highly Organized With An Attention To Detail

 

There are a lot of business functions that an apartment manager will be in charge of every day. So you need someone who can organize, prioritize, and make sure nothing is forgotten.

 

6. Sales And Marketing Skills

 

Another important part of the job is sales and marketing skills. Sales skills are important during showings, follow-ups, and renter retention. Marketing skills help attract prospective renters.

 

7. Accounting Skills

 

Finally, you need someone with basic accounting skills to handle everything from rent payments to paying invoices for maintenance to balancing the books.

 

A great apartment manager has all these skills and more. When it’s time to hire someone in this role think about all the functions they will take on and what skills beyond these will help them succeed. At Occupancy Solutions, we understand how important this role is to the success of your business. So we offer a variety of services to help you hire and train an apartment manager so you will both be successful. Contact us today to learn more.