How to Get the Best Out of Your Property Manager: A Guide for Residents & Owners
Property managers are often the unsung heroes of the housing world—juggling repairs, rent collection, legal compliance, and communication between people with very different needs (and often, competing priorities). We’re here to help, but the truth is: this relationship works best when we work together.
Here are a few tips to help both residents and owners get the most out of their partnership with their property manager:
1. Be Nice. Really.
We know—things break, timelines shift, and sometimes frustration creeps in. But kindness goes a long way.
Yelling, passive aggression, or condescension doesn’t speed things up—it just makes problem-solving harder. We’re more responsive, creative, and solution-oriented when we’re treated like humans, not punching bags.
2. Understand That We Balance Both Sides
Property managers don’t work for owners or residents—we represent both. Our job is to enforce the lease, advocate for fairness, and ensure the property is maintained within legal and contractual boundaries.
This means:
-
Residents might not get every request approved
-
Owners may not always hear what they want
-
And no one wins when we’re caught in the middle without civility
We do our best to find reasonable outcomes—but we can’t bend rules just to keep the peace.
3. Don’t Panic—Things Will Happen
Appliances fail. Pipes leak. A neighbor’s dog barks. Life happens—even in well-managed homes.
What matters most isn’t perfection—it’s how we respond. If you call us calmly, provide good information, and stay open to solutions, we’ll move mountains to help. If every hiccup is treated like a catastrophe, it slows everything down.
4. Everything Is Negotiable… Until It’s Not
We welcome questions and creative ideas. Want to paint a wall? Curious about an earlier lease break? Interested in adjusting terms? Great—ask.
But remember: some things are governed by contracts, local laws, or owner instructions. If we say no, it’s not personal—it’s just the structure we’re required to work within.
5. The Customer Isn’t Always Right
Let’s retire that myth. The customer is important, always. But being “right” isn’t as useful as being collaborative.
We don’t measure success by who wins the argument—we measure it by long-term results, lease compliance, and the health of the property and the people who live in it.
6. Be Proactive, Not Reactive
-
Report maintenance issues early
-
Ask questions before acting on assumptions
-
Review your lease before making demands
-
Communicate changes in plans ahead of time
The more we know, the better we can plan—and avoid emergencies.
Final Word: We’re On Your Team
Property management is complex. Emotions run high because homes are personal. But the best results come when we operate with mutual respect, patience, and shared goals.
We’re not here to “manage you”—we’re here to support a safe, fair, and functional rental experience. So be honest, be kind, and let’s make it a partnership worth keeping.
