3 Ways to Be An All-Star Property Manager

By Tamiera Vandegrift on September 8, 2017

When you are a property manager working within the vicinity of a college town, college students are bound to be your new best friends and a rapidly growing source of residents. After all, the number of students that ditch their dorms for off-campus housing every semester only grows and grows.

Such a plethora of business seems almost too good to be true … because it is! You will be in competition with all of the other property managers in the area and students will be sizing up all of the competition in search of the best fit for their living needs. There is only one way to keep your current residents happy while keeping as many residents coming through the door as possible: go the extra mile.

The only way to guarantee that you are meeting the expectations of your customers is to constantly exceed those expectations. Keep reading to learn how you can exceed the expectations and desires of your collegiate residents.

Image via: www.pixabay.com

Be Fair

In terms of finances, things aren’t looking so great for college students. Every bill and coin grows in worth once they are living on their own so they will be very careful with their money and invest it in the right places. Rent can be horribly expensive for a student living on their own, so it is your job as the property manager to value every payment and make sure that the money is going towards the right place.

Make sure that there is always a maintenance crew available to keep the building in perfect shape and individual spaces in good condition. Take pride in the appearance of your complex. Keep the landscaping neat and attractive. Make sure that the students have access to everything promised on the brochure or website of your complex. Just as you would hate to be scammed by a flaky client, your renters would hate to be scammed by a red herring of an apartment.

Put in the time and the work to be above and beyond the glorious images on your flyers, websites, and brochures. Your residents will thank you in the long run.

Image via: www.pexels.com

Be Friendly

The term “landlord” or “property manager” among college students seems like such a vague, distant term. To college students, these terms just describe a shadowy figure that deducts money from their bank account on the first of every month. In order to exceed the expectations of your fellow student renters, you will need to step out from the shadows and replace those terms with your first and last name.

For many students, this will be their first time living on their own without the support of their family. It is easy for a student to feel alone, especially when isolated from the hustle and bustle of campus. Say hi to your tenants every now and then. Ask them how their semesters are going and if there is anything you could do to make their stay more comfortable.

Return their calls as quickly as possible if you couldn’t answer them right away. Make sure to learn as many names as you can, if possible! Keep track of birthdays and send a Happy Birthday greeting to each resident. By actively getting to know your residents, you’ll be putting a friendly face on some seemingly unfriendly terms.

Image via: www.pexels.com

Be Festive

If there is anything that college students love best, it is the opportunity to escape from their stressful college careers and enjoy some leisure time. With some creativity and elbow grease, you could provide your renters with some excellent vibes and entertainment.

Host a “tenant appreciation” ceremony lasting anywhere from a day to a week. During this event, offer free treats, host games and activities, and hold lotteries for free prizes. Encourage the entire community to join in the fun by posting flyers on residents’ doors or by posting on social media. Make the event exclusive to residents to give the outsiders something to envy.

If your complex has a swimming pool, host pool parties regularly for the residents and their friends to enjoy. During midterms and finals, students will be up to their eyeballs in stress. Go above and beyond to help them out by offering up a quiet space to work, whether that space is in the common area or a clubhouse. Send motivational emails or letters to your residents around this time. They will definitely appreciate it.

When it comes to the holidays, students might be feeling a little melancholy if they are far away from home. Have treats and small, inexpensive gifts dropped to their doors around that time. For instance, send little themed candies around Halloween time, or peppermints around Christmastime. Little things like this will make your residents feel warm and fuzzy inside, especially during the holiday season.

By doing these things, you will turn a room into a home.

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