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What Is a Senior Property Manager and How to Become One


What Does a Senior Property Manager Do?

As a senior property manager, your job is to manage all aspects of one or more properties assigned to you. This usually includes residential areas like homes and apartments, but some senior property managers focus on commercial real estate. Significant components of this job involve finding and supervising staff, ensuring financial solvency, addressing problems like delinquent renters, and working to maintain or improve the current levels of occupancy. Senior property managers often participate in budget discussions, decide which contractors to hire for maintenance, inspect units to ensure compliance with the property's rules, and help develop and implement resident services. Senior property managers typically report to a supervisor or the property's owner.

How to Become a Senior Property Manager

The primary qualifications for this position include certification in any form of property management and experience in some aspect thereof. Senior property managers also require a working knowledge of all relevant housing laws, experience generating property budgets, and strong time management skills. Other aspects of this job vary based on factors like the neighborhood, the age of the property, and the personalities of tenants. To fulfill the duties and responsibilities of this job, you may need to learn how to manage the property's cash flow, determine what lease provisions you're allowed to change, create a plan for emergencies, or fill out insurance claims if part of the property is damaged.

Senior Property Manager Job Description Sample

With this Senior Property Manager job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Senior Property Manager role.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Property Manager to oversee our commercial real estate properties. In this position, you will handle duties like showing properties to prospective tenants, getting signatures on lease agreements, and invoicing tenants every month. You will also handle vendor management for construction and maintenance contractors. You should have experience with budget management, collection management, and financial reporting. Our primary qualification is experience in property management, but professional certification is also beneficial.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • List available units on real estate platforms
  • Show units to prospective tenants
  • Meet with tenants to get signatures
  • Schedule maintenance
  • Handle invoices from vendors

Requirements and Qualifications

  • A high school diploma or GED certificate
  • Property management certificate (preferred)
  • Several years of property management experience
  • Strong communication and budgetary skills