Property Management is like being the mayor of a small city... Property management involves the daily operations at the individual property level and can include marketing and promotion, tenant screening and selection, managing rent, coordination of the maintenance and repair function, optimizing building efficiency and acting as liaison between owners, investors, vendors, and tenants. The duties and expectations of property managers have grown over time especially with the advent of enhanced technology tools and owner expectations. The position increasingly involves a comprehensive understanding of the asset or assets in a real estate portfolio and the responsibility to lease and management to maximize returns and insure the real estate's long-term viability.
Looking to the future
Property managers will always have a place in real estate and the role will continue to evolve. Every asset needs someone to manage expenses, collect rent, and provide customer service. The ever-evolving increased focus on optimizing operating efficiency will require future property managers to provide an even higher level of service to owners. Wall Street has become a major player in the real estate industry and its ownership has increased the level of scrutiny and sophistication required at the property management level. Based on experience, property managers can assist in development by suggesting layouts and plans that maximize efficiency and lower replacement costs. They can provide detailed financial analysis of the property and forecast trends in the market as well. As property management becomes more sophisticated, barriers to entry will increase but it will always serve as an appealing entry point to the real estate industry.
