5 Essential Skills for Multifamily Managers

There are various housing options for people living in cities and suburbs. As a property manager, you know about single-family homes, condominiums, and other housing types. Another popular option is multifamily apartments, which are great for families who want to live close to other tenants.

In 2021, the multifamily lending market value reached more than $487 billion, and with the growing popularity of multifamily apartments, the role of property managers is becoming increasingly important.

Reaching your goals as a property manager requires the right skills. You must possess and hone your skills to excel in this role, from communication to tenant relations. Let's explore five top must-have skills you can use to ensure your success as a property manager in multifamily apartments!

Why Multifamily Apartments Are a Hit

Multifamily apartments offer a good return on investment because they can generate more income. For example, an apartment complex can have 12 units of two bedrooms each. That's 24 income streams compared to the one stream generated by a single-family home!

Multifamily real estate is also an excellent option for property investors aiming to build an extensive portfolio. It puts investors in a position where property management makes financial sense, enabling them to benefit from economies of scale. Ultimately, many investors are attracted to multifamily real estate for its favorable return on investment and the ability to manage multiple units simultaneously.

For renters, multifamily apartments provide an opportunity to live in a safe and secure community. The added convenience of living close to multifamily apartments offers a community atmosphere, with common areas such as playgrounds and swimming pools.

The Challenges of Managing Multifamily Apartments

Property owners focus on ROI, while the renters enjoy their community living. It's a different ball game for the property manager. Managing multifamily apartments requires a specific set of skills and a high level of commitment to ensure a smooth operation. Here are some of the many challenges for a property manager.

Separating Utilities

In multifamily housing, tenants often share utilities. It can be cost-effective for the property owner, but challenging for the manager to keep track of the bills. As a property manager, you must separate the utility payments, ensuring each tenant pays their fair share.

Scaling Property Management Systems

The same property management system must accommodate multiple tenants. Keep in mind that each tenant may have different needs or requirements. The property manager must be able to scale the system as needed, updating and configuring it based on each tenant's needs.

Tenant Noise Complaints

Different tenants may inevitably have different lifestyles and preferences. As a property manager, you must manage all complaints, especially noise complaints, quickly and effectively to ensure a harmonious living experience.

Turnover Rates

In any given year, multifamily apartments may have a high turnover rate. Renters of multifamily apartments usually look for a temporary place to settle down. The property manager should be prepared to handle the inflow and outflow of tenants as needed, especially because multifamily apartments deal with higher turnover rates than single-family properties.

Increased Showing Volume

With more units, the demand for rental showings is higher. Property managers must keep up with the increased showings volume and give prospective tenants a good impression. You must always have at least one empty model unit to show, and marketing becomes an even more critical task.

Property Management Skills You Need

Managing a property is demanding, regardless if it's single-family or multifamily. However, the challenges of multifamily apartments are unique, and property management skills must be tailored to the specific needs of this type of real estate. If you're wondering how to drive yourself as a multifamily property manager, here are the five skills you need.

1. Strong Communication

Multifamily apartment property managers go beyond just communicating with tenants and owners. They must also be able to communicate with vendors and other service providers to ensure the property is taken care of efficiently.

A property manager cannot effectively solve problems or handle disputes without strong communication skills. Property owners also have expectations, so you must communicate with them to appropriately address their needs. Most importantly, tenants depend on your professionalism for many things, and you must be able to keep all parties informed.

To hone your communication skills, practice active listening, speaking clearly and concisely, responding to inquiries on time, and being open to criticism.

2. Excellent Organization

An organized property manager is an effective one. Managing multifamily apartments has many moving parts, so staying organized and on top of things is important. Property managers should be able to keep track of all the documents and paperwork related to the property and the individual tenants.

Organizational skills also come in handy when scheduling and tracking maintenance work orders. Multifamily apartments require more maintenance work than single-family properties, and property managers must be able to keep the workflow organized.

Yes, you will need patience and dedication to accomplish this. Having a system for tracking maintenance requests and scheduling workers is essential. Keep all paperwork in an easily accessible place, and create a system that allows you to refer to any quickly.

3. Effective Marketing

Marketing is vital to being a successful property manager. To best market your multifamily apartment, you must be able to assess the local marketplace and find the best ways to attract prospects.

You should be familiar with social media marketing, website optimization, and other digital strategies to get your property out there. Additionally, having good relationships with local vendors can also help you market your property more traditionally. Word of mouth is still powerful. If you can establish partnerships with local businesses, they may be more likely to refer your property to their customers.

The multifamily market is competitive, so stay current on new trends and strategies. Always focus on what makes your property stand out and strive to be the best in your area.

4. Tech-savviness

Speaking of marketing, you also must be tech-savvy in today's day and age. Understand the different marketing channels, their uses, and how to manage them properly. Moreover, having a good handle on the various property management software options and using them efficiently is vital.

Tech-savviness helps automate some of the processes and makes your job easier. Knowing how to use technology to assess data related to property performance enables you to make informed decisions. Also, having the ability to troubleshoot technical issues is essential.

For younger property managers, tech-savviness may not be an issue. However, if you're experienced, it's a great skill to develop.

5. Outstanding Customer Service

A property manager must be able to handle tenants' inquiries, requests, and complaints effectively and professionally. Tenants look to you as the representative of their property and expect prompt and polite responses. It goes beyond responding to emails or phone calls — exceptional customer service requires empathy, patience, a good attitude, and a satisfactory tenant experience.

Moreover, customer service skills can help you detect tenant issues before they become big problems. A customer service mindset helps you understand what tenants need and how to best provide for them, as well as allows you to build strong relationships, benefiting both parties in the long run.

Multifamily Apartments Property Management with ExactEstate

Property management is no joke. Add the factor of multifamily apartments, and it can become overwhelming. But with the right skills, you can stay on top of your property management responsibilities. To further streamline property management, ExactEstate brings all your systems together in one place.

ExactEstate is an innovative property management software that provides solutions to simplify your multifamily apartment property management processes. From maintenance requests to applicant tracking and tenant payments, we help you take your business to the next level.

ExactEstate recognizes all the challenges that come with property management. That's why we offer the best tools, features, and support every property owner, manager, and tenant needs. Hone your skills and get your multifamily apartments under control with ExactEstate. Schedule a demo now!