An introduction to working in property management

Property managers are hired to oversee and carry out the daily operations, acting as an intermediary between the tenants and property owner.

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What property management involves day to day

Property management focuses primarily on managing operations, overseeing and controlling:

– Property finances: set, adjust and collect rent from the tenants.
– Managing tenants: deal directly with tenants and manage tenant screenings, complaints, evictions and management of leases.
– Property integrity: maintenance and repairs to the property.
– General operations: such as overseeing vacant properties.

Benefits

There are good job opportunities within property management. More companies have started to hire both new and seasoned professional property managers, such as businesses specialising in property management in Dublin. You can gain experience in a wide range of tasks, strengthening your skills and employment value.

Knowledge of real estate can be extremely beneficial, particularly for any future investments and/or employment.

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Types of positions

– Property manager: takes charge of the client’s property by organising tenants, managing rental payment and reporting regularly to the owner of the property.
– Acquisitions manager: arranges purchases of real estate, negotiates and finalises contracts.
– New building site manager: ensures the integrity of the property’s construction and oversees construction projects.
– Architectural manager: develops designs and construction of the property. Coordinates with company staff and those involved in the property’s development.
– Survey manager: supervises the planning of elevations and dimensions of the property, managing data and layout calculations.
– Lettings negotiator manager: working between the property owner and the tenants, they handle tenant applications and references, create advertising material and generate new business.

Where the work is, the skills needed and the pay

Best locations to work

Unsurprisingly, the top location for property managers is London, as it has the highest population in the UK. Other cities have good opportunities, such as property management throughout Dublin. In addition to the residential letting industry, holiday letting can be a lucrative business.

Key skills needed

– Communication: good communication skills are a necessity for liaising with clients.
– Strategy planning: this will help you to efficiently manage properties.
– Organisation: dealing with multiple properties – both paperwork and interactions – you must be efficient and well organised.
– Negotiation: you must be a good negotiator to get the best deal for your clients.

Salary

The average salary for a property manager in the UK is £32,500.

Summary

This article introduces property management as a career, covering the core duties of collecting rent, managing tenants, maintaining properties and overseeing operations. It outlines the job opportunities and real estate knowledge this work can build, lists different positions such as acquisitions, site and lettings negotiator managers, notes London and Dublin as locations, and covers the key skills needed and the average UK salary of £32,500.

Questions this article raises

  • How does the £32,500 average salary vary between entry-level and senior property manager roles?
  • Which of these positions offers the best long-term career progression?
  • How much does experience in one property type transfer to another?
About Tom Whitfield 290 Articles
Tom Whitfield is a business owner and adviser who has spent two decades working with companies ranging from ambitious start-ups to established independent businesses. He writes about the realities of running a business, the people behind them and the ideas and decisions that shape them.