How to write a property management job description that attracts top quality staff

The real estate industry isn’t for everyone, especially when it comes to the fast-paced world of property management. Dealing with tenants, chasing down overdue rent, and managing maintenance emergencies - all before lunch - takes a certain blend of skills and experience.

If you're looking to expand your team, it can be a challenging, time-consuming, and frustrating exercise. After all, weeding through unqualified or unsuitable applicants is nobody’s idea of a good time.

That’s why it’s essential to start with a job description that’s specially designed to attract the best applicants. Finding your dream property manager definitely isn’t impossible. It just takes a little careful consideration.

Here are our five top tips to write Property Management job descriptions that attract top-quality talent.

1. Be clear about the role

Property Management is one of the most popular careers in real estate. Write an unclear job description, and you’re likely to be overwhelmed by unsuitable applications. So think about what your ideal prospective property manager looks like. Then, create an ad that’s tailored to attract their attention.

What to include:

• The right job title: Property manager isn’t exactly the most glamorous job description in the world, but it’s clear and it cuts through. Don’t undersell or oversell the role, and you’re more likely to get applicants who can do the job.
• A clear role description: Be as direct as possible about the responsibilities you’re hiring for. If you need someone to primarily deal with tenants, handle rent payments, manage maintenance issues, or inspect properties, say so.
• The right skill set: Make sure to include the skills you value most (more on this later). If there’s something specific you’re looking for, again, it’s best to just make it clear from the outset.
• Experience and qualifications: Flagging a certain level of experience or a particular accreditation can help thin the field. Just don’t be too demanding, especially when hiring for entry-level Property Management roles. 

2. Look for the skills that matter

Every real estate agency and property manager's job is slightly different. So every property manager job description should be too.

That means it’s worth considering what your ideal candidate’s skill set will look like. Do you need familiarity with a particular sort of Property Management software? Experience screening tenants, perhaps? Or a history of seamless management of property maintenance?

Whatever you’re after, there are a few core skills you should always think about when writing a property manager job description.

Must-have property manager skills:

• Time management: Working as a property manager can be a high-pressure role. It’s important that candidates are able to effectively prioritise and work through tasks efficiently.
• Strong communication: Property managers spend most of their day dealing with people, whether tenants, owners, tradies, or colleagues. That means the ability to communicate clearly is a must.
• Assertiveness: Having difficult conversations with tenants about rent collection is a regular part of being a property manager. In these situations, being a little assertive is all but essential.
• Diligence: Property managers are responsible for handling someone else’s investment, so there’s a lot of pressure to get everything done. It’s no good dropping everything to organise those emergency repairs if your new hire forgets to receipt rent payment.

3. Set reasonable expectations

While it’s important to include plenty of detail in your job description, try to avoid going overboard. Research has shown that including more than seven role responsibilities in a job description can serve as a deterrent to applying.

Similarly, unrealistic requirements can discourage job-seekers just as easily. “Entry-level role: requires ten years experience” has become a common joke in recent years, but with good reason. Asking for too much will turn off candidates and lengthen the hiring process.

Instead of listing every skill and qualification you want, just pick your top five. Not only will this speed up your search for talent, it will also help you clarify what you’re really looking for.

Remember that many Property Management skills can be taught on the job, and the ability to learn quickly can make up for minor shortcomings. Similarly, lack of experience in one aspect of the job can be offset by unexpected talents in others.

4. Sell your workplace

When writing a property manager job description, it can be easy to only focus on what you want from applicants. But employment is a two-way street, and everyone that reads your ad will have their own list of requirements.

That means that alongside a clear, accurate job description, you’ll also need to put some effort into explaining why a top-quality property manager would want to work for you.

Include these in the job description:

• Work-life balance: Being a property manager can be a hectic career, even for the real estate industry. If you offer added flexibility, such as the option to work from home, make sure you mention it.
• Company culture: Why do people enjoy working at your agency, and what sort of people thrive there? The more information you can provide about your office culture, the easier it will be to attract a property manager who fits in.
• Office location: Be as specific as possible, particularly if you’re posting your ad online. The more detailed the location, the easier it will be for applicants to search for.
• Career advancement: Property manager roles, especially junior ones, are often seen as a stepping stone into the real estate industry. Highlight if there’s the potential for promotion, training, mentoring, and other learning and development programmes.

5. Don’t forget formatting

Hiring high-quality staff is a competitive market, and some clever formatting can help your Property Management job description cut through.

Make use of big, bold, and concise subheadings to make it easy to scan, and bullet points to break down chunks of information. Remember that your audience is likely reading tens - if not hundreds - of ads per day, so yours needs to stand out.

The easier your job description is to read, the more likely it is to hold attention. And that’s key when it comes to convincing your next Property Management hire to submit their application.