The 6 Biggest Property Management Challenges

Being a property manager isn’t the easiest job, especially if you have many houses and apartments to look after. It is certainly a career that keeps you on your feet, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Of course, there are challenges like with any other job, but if you are aware of them and stay on top of them before they become a bigger problem, you will experience a lot of success. 

If you’re a new property manager or are thinking about going into the field, we’re here to help you. We have researched and found six of the biggest property management challenges that people in the field tend to experience and ways you can fix them. 

Hiring and maintaining quality staff

No matter what field of work you’re in, without quality staff maintaining the flow of things within your organisation, you’re bound to see a certain level of failure. As a property manager, you can’t get everything done yourself, so you will need to hire other people, such as cleaners and maintenance workers, to help.

Finding the right people can be the biggest challenge when you first start your property management career. It may be difficult to find people with the range of skills you need to succeed. Sometimes most of the best candidates have already been hired by another organisation, and the demand is high. The best things to do are to look for referrals, visit some of the top talent sites, and don’t give up. 

Lowering operating costs

Once you have your property management business set up, the thing to focus on is ensuring you’re receiving stable profit. This is done by increasing your revenue by picking up more clients, but you can also do it by lowering your overall costs. However, this is a challenge for property managers because it can be difficult to find what to cut back on that won’t affect client satisfaction. 

You are able to lower operating costs by brainstorming a few ideas and potentially hiring an accountant to help you out. Sometimes you need to get a little bit creative, but once you’ve figured out the perfect formula for reducing operating costs, you’ll see your revenue soar at the end of the next year. 

Inadequate communication

Communication is key to any successful business, and the same applies when you’re a property manager. Not only do you need to have effective communication with your staff, but you also need to find the best way to keep in touch with your clients and guests. Many property managers suffer from inadequate communication, which affects how their staff work and they are often left with dissatisfied guests and clients. 

It may take a little bit of time to find the best way to communicate with everyone, but once you have found it, then you will be sorted for most of your career. Sometimes the best solution for this problem is to install property management software, like Hospiria, where you can set up a number of different communication channels. You can keep an eye on them on your dashboard and reply as quickly as possible. 

Time management

It always feels like there is never enough time in the day, and this is often true for a property manager. There are often a number of problems that arrive throughout the month, and it can be difficult to try and resolve them all in time. When you have to spend time sorting out any challenges at the property, it takes away time that you could spend looking after your staff and finding ways to grow your business.

The only solution for this property management challenge is effective planning. By setting up a digital diary, like on Hospiria’s software, you can prioritise tasks and ensure you have enough time each day to complete them. You can also place some of the duties onto your staff to free up time for clerical tasks. 

Growing revenue

As mentioned, ensuring your business is growing, and succeeding is the main goal of most property managers. You know you’re successful when your revenue is growing at least a little bit each year. However, it can be difficult to find ways to ensure this happens, and without moving in an upward direction, you may find your business doomed to fail. 

The most successful strategies for growing revenue will depend on each individual property manager and what you’re offering your clients. You should research your competitors and see what they have been doing to succeed. At the same time, you don’t want to be the same as them, so it’s always a good idea to find your unique selling point and focus on that in your marketing. 

Risks

Every property comes with risks, and it is challenging to figure out what they are before they turn into a problem. Due to this, property managers often deal with unexpected occurrences which they will need to fix quickly. It can be costly and affect your business's overall growth and client satisfaction. 

Proper maintenance is the best solution to minimising risks and reducing any chance of them turning into a problem. You should regularly check on your properties and any safety hazards, such as electronics and locks. It doesn’t guarantee that there won’t be any unexpected occurrences in the future, but it reduces the chance drastically. It saves you time and costs and ensures your clients don’t come across any issues. 

Final thoughts 

Every job comes with its challenges, but you shouldn’t let them stop you from pursuing the career you desire. Property managers are high-paid jobs and can be rewarding in the long run. Luckily, every property management challenge comes with its own solution, so you just need to ensure you plan ahead of time and look for the right staff to experience high levels of success.