Topic: What would you tell your “younger self” about your career in property management?

What would you tell your “younger self” about your career in property management?

It’s a brutal industry but I love it

Attend all educational opportunities you can and if you work for a company who doesn't allow this, make a change!

Run. Run like the wind!

If you’re brave enough,and good enough, and weird enough, you can enjoy a long career where no two days are the same, you learn a little bit about everything and you hang out with other people who “get” your inability to stop moving and desire to talk to strangers

You cannot make everyone happy and that is okay.

Get out!

These people will become your friends for life...

You will meet the best drinking buddies in your life

Enjoy every minute, always be learning, don’t take things personally, build solid relationships and be engaged within your team and the industry.

veryone has a story

once you get in you'll never get out

Kidding. I’d tell myself to learn to balance work with home much sooner!

Not to work so many hours to succeed.

I wouldn’t listen even if I did.

1. You’ll never be short of a great story. 2. Nothing will ever shock you.
3. You will learn that you thrive in emergencies & chaos.
4. You will get to help grow people from residents, teams and peers.
5. You will make an impact on people’s lives, so take it seriously.

It’s easy to get too involved where you make too many personal sacrafices. Work/life balance is important.

Wonderful career. I started in the 80’s and am still in PM and love it!!

No matter how much I thought I knew at 28, I knew nothing!

And join the vendor side sooner.

RUN!! lol

Do it sooner

aha plenty of alcohol waiting at home

Take notes, you will have the makings of a really good book. Plus life long friends.

Have a psychologist on call

Working on saturdays is not the end of the world
Don’t believe everybody
Your job can be gone from one hour to the next
Listen more
Never assume

It’s not what you know it’s who you know.

Always remember the value of providing people their homes. It’s a wonderful industry and we provide millions of people homes where many memories are made!
Don’t take things personally. Always try to see the lesson even in the hard situations.

Buy your own multifamily property and buy it now. You'll be happier and wealthier.

Take a few more risks.....and don't always do what your company wants you to do... very few think outside the box. Find creative ideas and go for it!

Don't violate policy...but there are so many restrictions on everything...beg for some exceptions to try things that will work on your property/market.

Keep your resume updated, listen to opportunities, and let God lead the way in your career.

They are not your friends....

As the leasing agent, let the manager handle the big stuff.

Buy a 4-plex, live in it, manage it, and then buy another one next year. Rinse and repeat!

Stay away from gossipy people! And don’t allow someone’s opinion of you hold you back from pushing yourself

You have no friends in "the business" just acquaintances. Do your job, trust YOURSELF.

BUY, do not make the mistake I made and spend 25 years making a couple owners wealthy. If you love to manage then manage for yourself the best person to invest in PERIOD.

There are so many job variations serving this industry. Be open to find that which suits you best. And don’t burn bridges - people recirculate in this industry and stay for a long time. Build relationships and networks. They’ll take you far.

It is bigger than you think it is......and translates into many career opportunities.....unlimited options

Advance your education. Learn the financial side of the business, to grow into a regional manager role. I was told by my first boss back in 1992 the following..."Don't think your college degree is going to get you ahead sooner". She was dead wrong.

Patience and kindness will see you through all difficult times and if you develop a keen sense of listening you can overcome any obstacle. All Residents want are two things, 1. someone to listen to them. 2. someone to fix what they need fixed right and the first time. You can follow all the company rules and lease requirements and still be firm enough to enforce them, but doing it with patience and kindness....most of the time...will make a difference.....to most people. There will always be exceptions but never drop to the level of anger and always be your true self.

Don’t do it, lol go back to school

Do not trust anyone! Be true to yourself, do not let fear stand in your way of progressing. After all your superiors are only people.

will it matter 5 years from now....

Don't take anything personal. It's all numbers and money. Take your PTO as needed don't let it roll over, work will still be there. Don't let work kill you because a replacement is always there. On the upside there is never a dull moment, you are not stuck at a cubicle, and you meet great people along the way and it makes everything ok lol.

Get get out! Lol like Friday the 13th...

Don't do it!

Should have started sooner

Buckle your seatbelt.

Breath

Relax and drink wine, lots of it.

Don’t take it personal .... and drink lots of wine

RUN like Hell... too many headaches and gray hairs!!

1. Think like an owner not a resident.
2. Residents are only your friends until it doesn’t benefit them.
3. It is all in the numbers, they do not lie.
4. If the job makes you cry regularly, you are working for the wrong people!
5. Every one has a story, follow policy not your emotions.
6. Those kids or residents that are causing havoc on your property, make them your “helpers” and they will clean up the chaos.
7. If you hire family and friends,hold them to higher standers or be prepared to fire them.
8. A great property manager will make an emergency or tough property look easy... fake it till ya make it.
9. Always think outside the box and don’t be afraid to share it.
10. Hire people who are as good OR better than you! You will learn and grow! You will also work smarter not harder!
11. Cross train your people and involve them. The.l more they know, the better they will be and the more invested they will become in your goals!
12... there is so much more but.... work for someone who values your family time and values you.

You can treat it as a job, but if you let it, it will be a wonderfully rewarding career full of lots of twists and turns along the way. Stick it out until you find a company that values your efforts, one large enough to have room for advancement, but not too large so you can help with changes. Keep your head down, focus and don’t sweat the small stuff. There are very, very few things you can’t fix, just step back and think through your decisions. Enjoy the ride !!

Don’t settle for less than your worth

Get a degree in accounting and Social services

Buckle up! It’s going to be a wild ride!

To always leave people better than you found them!!

Finish law school instead.

Get yourself to the investor/owner side fast!

Learn to find the Life Balance ASAP- then know that your life will never be boring if you stay in property management! After over 30 years of PM, I wouldn’t change anything with the exception of time spent away from my family- and that you can never get back.

Don’t forget what you first loved about the business. For me it’s about the people

Don’t believe anything anyone says! Particularly residents

Don’t take it personally, don’t become friends with residents but be friendly. And You will always cross paths again later in your career with the industry folks so don’t burn bridges!

Go over to the developer side - make some $$!

Learn the financials better and move up quicker on the success path

If you have a good sense of humor then this is definitely the right career path

You will need thick skin! But it will be the perfect fit for you! (Still believe that after 23 years)

Not everyone is unkind and everyone has a story to tell. Don’t take things personal and always wear your smile

Don’t do it!!! Choose a less stressful career path that allows for life balance. After 27 years in property management I would definitely recommend a different path. It’s quicksand ... you can’t get out.

A new day everyday. Enjoy the ride.

Absolutely the best career ever. Never a dull moment. Learn something new every day. Opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. Gives a good feeling knowing you could help someone. There are downsides to everything. Live for the joys work thru the unpleasantries. 30 years and still living it!

Focus on the income side, ie, take care of your customers and quit cutting expenses that impact customer service.
I saw increases of NOI of 30% in bad markets doing this, but it is hard to do with so many short sighted owners or bosses. I guess I have been blessed to work for owners who get it.

If you don't want to work 70 hours a week it's not for you.

Be firm, fair and just. Have thick skin but not callous.

You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. Lol

Don’t be scared to take another job in another state! Use your property management skills to your advantage! Have fun and travel more while you’re not paying rent or a mortgage and while you are getting bonuses. Save for a mortgage!!! Stay professional at all times in both attitude and dress!!! Build relationships, stay customer service driven, stay organized.

Our career has so much opportunity. You have the great opportunity to find people their home and there are endless opportunities if you are willing to be open to change. It’s a career that is ever changing and plenty of personal growth. It’s always a challenge so you don’t get stagnant or bored unless you allow yourself to be stagnant. I love my career. It is a great path.

After 28yrs it hit me hard Dr said 6ft down or find another career. Realize your value to yourself because the next day you can be replaced. Owners don't care how you make them their money especially when they don't put into their properties. Find a company that cares about you and values your hard work. Don't be afaid to move to another company. Don't trust all in the work place. And if someone wants your job so bad let them have it and move to a better company. And please take care of you and know when to say enough is enough.

I started my career in property management about 3 years ago after decades in health care. Best thing I ever did. I was lucky enough to land this job as simply being a good tenant who helped out the owners when one of them was going on a month long trip so i learned the billing, then they hired me to do leasing on the east side, and then, as they were about to leave for a week long trip out of the country, our building manager up and quit and I just said 'don't worry, i got it' and when they came back they offered me a full time job. Sometimes things work in mysterious ways. I have learned soooo soooo much and yes, it's a 24/7 job a lot of the time, but so rewarding despite some of the crazy stuff tenants do. It's taken my customer service to a whole new level. I"m grateful for the opportunity and for knowing that my bosses trust me to run the show without them for periods of time knowing it's in good hands.

Pray for the best outcomes but plan for the worst. Don't believe everyone, but don't become too afraid to trust the right people. Don't want things for people worse than they want them for themselves. Start a gratitude journal and write down the things that make you thankful each day. No matter how many distractions arise and no matter how loud the noise around you becomes, be present in the moment and cherish the people who make your job worthwhile.

Don't take anything personally. Don't make anything personal.

It's a job. Do it right. Go home at the end of day.

RUN?

On-site management has its perks; and attractive benefits.
However, there’s no free lunch! Management is 24/7 and constant issues and demands. Excellent customer service is key. So, if you’re willing to make that level of commitment, then go for it!