Thirteen Things a Top Property Manager Will NEVER EVER Do

Quality property managers will do a lot of things, BUT will also refuse to do only a few real important things.

We asked our Facebook audience this question ‘What’s ONE thing a Quality Property Manager will never ever do’. We thank everyone that participated with ideas.

Things a quality Property Manager will never ever do:

#1- Compromise on the Entry Report.

When completing the first inspection upon tenancy start and entry, always assume the bond will be disputed and end up in tribunal/court. With that in mind, write up a thorough report with detailed and comprehensive photos and top it off with a quality video recording the property’s condition.

Sure, the video may not be permissible in court/tribunal, but you can still submit still-shots from the video. Also, if your tenant is given a Youtube link (set to ‘unlisted’) at the start and end of tenancy with the video footage, it’s highly likely your tenant WILL NOT WANT to dispute the issue.

#2- Accept an applicant if they’re unsure or ‘take a chance’.

Every tenant should be thoroughly screened and if their tenancy history doesn’t make sense and something doesn’t feel right, then you need to reject the applicant. A good property manager never compromises on this even when the property sits vacant and over time they will develop a sixth sense and should be able to tell a bad tenant a mile away!

#3- Reveal to an applicant the reason they got rejected.

In Australia, we don’t have to give a reason why an application for tenancy was rejected. We should always stand by this. The moment you let a tenant know (for example ‘bad tenancy history’) then the rule that ‘everyone in prison is innocent’ comes out and the applicant will fire at you all the reasons why it wasn’t their fault and you have a firefight!

#4- Tell an applicant what the other agent said.

When you receive a reference from another agent, do not share that information with your applicant, especially as the reason they got rejected. There are just some unwritten rules in property management and sharing what another agent disclosed to you should not be shared (unless under the Privacy Act you’re forced to).

#5- Give a false reference to another agent.

Between property managers, there should be openness and honesty, especially when it comes to references and sharing tenancy history on applicants. When a property manager gives deliberate, false information (for example, gives a good reference just to get rid of a bad tenant) then this breaks every integrity rule in the book! It should never, ever be done!

#6- Talk down another agent and competitor.

As much as it is tempting sometimes, a good property manager will never talk badly about another agency even when all the evidence is there. It looks unprofessional in the client’s eyes.

#7- Sugarcoat anything to a client.

We all know that property management does not always run smoothly (if it did we would be out of a job!). When it comes to communicating with our owners we must always tell the truth and not water down what we say or talk it up. We should paint a worst-case scenario with the promise we will do our best and assure the client we are working in their best interests. If it goes bad and they were informed, it should cause little shock and trust will be maintained. Sugarcoat what you say and it goes bad, then distrust and upset may follow resulting with the loss of the business.

#8- Poach another agent’s management.