7 Ways to Be a Better Property Manager
7 Ways to Be a Better Property Manager
As a property manager, people rely on you to make their homes comfortable and safe. Without your assistance, residences could quickly grow dingy and develop problems and safety hazards. You work hard and do as much as you can, and that means your task list can quickly get overwhelming.
To help you tackle your to-do list and keep residents happy and safe, we put together this list of small steps you can take to feel more in control over your task list. Try a few of these resolutions to be a better property manager in 2020 and beyond.
#1) Improve Your Communication
It is better to over-communicate than to under-communicate. Set a goal to provide updates to the tenants you support and the management team that relies on you. And, let them know the status of projects and when they should be resolved.
This communication will also make your work more enjoyable. By proactively communicating with residents, you will have fewer people reaching out for updates about the issues they have. Plus, there are some services (like HOMEE) that update residents when a service technician is arriving or a problem has been solved so they can adjust their schedules accordingly.
#2) Learn to Prioritize Service Calls
One of the hardest parts of property management is balancing your schedule to accommodate an endless list of tasks. Along with scheduled routine maintenance, your day is also likely filled with short-term projects, preventative tasks, and emergency repairs. It can feel almost impossible to balance all of your work.
In 2020, set a goal to better prioritize your work. Learn what can get pushed back a day or two and what needs to be addressed immediately. When you have downtime, you can also identify evergreen projects that you can work on to prevent your backlog of work from getting too long.
You may have residents that try to derail your schedule so you will put them first. However, if you know what calls are actual emergencies and which ones can wait, you can address each problem in a timely manner.
#3) Set Up Reminders for Seasonal Maintenance
If you’re constantly solving problems and addressing short-term needs, you may get blindsided by seasonal requirements. You might reach a deadline to conduct fire safety checks or need to scramble ahead of winter or hurricane season to prepare the property.
In 2020, set a goal to get ahead of seasonal work. Schedule seasonal maintenance a few months out, with reminders for what is coming up. This will block out the seasonal work in your schedule, preventing you from forgetting about it until it’s too late.
Logging regular maintenance tasks in your schedule will also mean you don’t have to think about them, lessening your list of worries that need to be addressed each day.
#4) Utilize Smart Property Maintenance Software
If you want to be a better property manager in 2020, the right tools can help you get organized and manage your time well. Stop manually managing your property maintenance projects. Instead, embrace a tool that makes organizing, assigning, and managing projects easier.
Try HOMEE’s free property maintenance software to see how it can simplify your project management. Use the app to approve work orders, assign maintenance professionals, and even hire outside service professionals when you need them.
See all of the ways HOMEE can help you be a better property manager in 2020. Request your free demo today.
#5) Address Small Problems Before They Become Major Issues
A few wasps floating around a corner of the property can quickly become a full-blown nest and infestation if you’re not careful. Something that starts as a small issue that could easily be overlooked can continue to grow until it demands your attention. If you set any goals in 2020, make sure you work to address small problems before they grow into pressing crises.
The phrase “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” is exceptionally true in property management. If you can set aside 20 minutes each day for small repairs, you can save several hours of work - and money - in the future when these issues don’t grow into big problems.
#6) Look for Long-Term Solutions
Along with addressing small problems, you can also commit to implementing long-term solutions instead of short-term fixes. Putting a bandage on a problem may help get an item off your to-do list, but you are only procrastinating on fixing the real issue.
For example, you may be able to cover up a leak or address a plumbing problem with a little tape and some paint over the water damage. However, that paint will give out eventually, and the damage from the second break could be even worse.
Focusing on the long-term solution will take up more time in the short run. However, these secure fixes will pay off a few months down the line when the repairs and improvements you made hold so you don’t have to fix the problem again.
#7) Share Your Knowledge with Others
If you work with multiple maintenance professionals, make it a goal to up train them on how you manage the property. Upskilling other team members can give them the ability to step in when you’re overworked or stressed. Plus, if you get sick and can’t work, your co-workers can step in and do the job for you.
Some people worry that sharing how they do work will make them vulnerable. However, the opposite is true. The people you work with will better understand why a project requires a certain amount of time or why you need to prioritize one task over another. Plus, your peers might be able to find a better way of doing things, saving everyone time and money in the long run.
Be a Better Property Manager in 2020 and Beyond
You don’t have to make all of these changes overnight, but if you keep taking small steps to get more organized, you’ll be a better property manager in 2020 and beyond.
If you’re ready to make it easier to manage your service requests and maintenance projects, see how HOMEE’s free software can help. Request a demo today and learn how our app can help you complete your projects faster and easier.
