Become a Building Manager

Becoming a building manager, also known as a property manager, can be a great career if you’re interested in the operation of properties and like dealing with people. Building managers wear many different hats in order to ensure the properties they manage meet the expectations and requirements of both the tenants and the owners. If you think you might enjoy a career in property management, take a look at the following answers to some common questions people have about getting into the profession.

Steps

What is the role of a building manager?

1. Property managers oversee building maintenance. As a building manager, you’re responsible for everything from maintaining individual apartments to hiring contractors for plumbing repairs, general building repairs, and groundskeeping. Basically, you’re job is to ensure that the building stays functional and well maintained to provide a stable living environment for tenants.
   • Some building managers are self-employed and might only manage a few buildings, while others work for property management companies that manage large portfolios of buildings.
   • Property managers can manage both residential and commercial buildings. The main difference is whether you deal with individual residents or companies that rent spaces.
2. Building managers are also responsible for dealing with tenants. The other big part of being a property manager is to find tenants to fill vacancies in the building as well as collect rent from all the building’s tenants and pay the owner of the property. Your job also involves listening to any problems or complaints from tenants and resolving them in the best way possible.
   • To find tenants for a building, you might have to manage listings on different property rental websites, put listings in local classifieds, or put up signs in the building’s windows.
   • When tenants move out, you’re also in charge of inspecting the units for damages and hiring cleaners, painters, and whoever else you need to fix the units up for new tenants.

What qualifications do you need to be a building manager?

1. At least a high school diploma, GED, or the equivalent. This is the minimum level of formal education you need to become a property manager. While completing your secondary education, take as many courses as possible in things like math, accounting, computer skills, and English to start learning skills that are applicable to property management.
   • In addition, some postsecondary education can be very beneficial in terms of learning relevant skills and getting hired as a property manager.
   • If you choose to continue studying after your high school or secondary education, entering a program in business administration, real estate, accounting, public administration, or finance can help you become a building manager.
2. A property management license. Most places require you to earn some kind of formal property management certification before you can work as one. Research what type of license is required in your area. Sign up for the required courses, pay the fee, attend the classes, and take the final exam to get your license.
   • Google something like “property management licensing near me” or “real estate school near me” to find programs that offer building manager certification.
   • The same programs that offer real estate courses and licenses often also provide property management licensing services.
   • Note that you typically also have to pass a background check to get licensed.

How do you land a job as a property manager?

1. Search for and apply for building manager jobs online. Search general job sites like LinkedIn, Monster, and Indeed with keywords like “property manager” or “property management.” Fill out the online applications for any jobs that interest you.
   • There are also some job sites specific to apartment management that you can check out if residential property management interests you. These include Multi-Family Insiders, ApartmentCareers.com, and the National Apartment Association Career Center.
   • You might also try checking with local or national recruitment and staffing firms who can help you land your first property management job.

What makes a good building manager?

1. Strong people skills and communication skills. Building managers have to deal with all kinds of people from building tenants to property owners. These individuals can sometimes be very demanding, so you have to be able to handle requests and issues professionally to keep all parties satisfied.
   • Tenants or owners may sometimes make uninformed or unreasonable requests that just aren’t fulfillable, so you must be able to politely and clearly explain why you can’t do certain things.
2. An understanding of what different contractors do. Knowing how different tradespeople fit into the maintenance of the buildings you manage is indispensable. If a problem with the infrastructure comes up or if a tenant has a maintenance issue, you have to know who to call and how to explain what the problem is to them. Google different trades or specific maintenance problems to quickly learn what different contractors deal with.
   • To go along with this, it also helps to have an understanding of how the technical aspects of a big building work. For example, you should have a general idea of how HVAC and plumbing systems work.
   • You get bonus points if you have some trades skills yourself! That way, you can handle minor issues as they arise without the need to call contractors.

Is being a property manager hard?

1. It can be a very demanding but rewarding job. If you become a property manager, no two days are the same, which means you have to deal with constantly changing priorities and unexpected issues. This part of the job can be stressful at times, especially if you’re dealing with difficult tenants or property owners. However, you also get the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping people every day, which can feel pretty great!
   • If you become a building manager, remember that your actions affect real people’s lives every day. You should care about the buildings you manage and the people in them.

How much does a building manager earn?

1. Entry-level building managers earn from $30,000 to $55,000 USD a year. This varies depending on factors like where you work and whether you work for a property management company or independently. In the United States, you can expect to earn closer to the top end of that salary range.
   • As you progress in your career and become a senior property manager, you can expect to earn somewhere in the range of $70,000 to $95,000 annually.

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