New Assistant Property Manager: Tips!

I am a new Assistant Property Manager, and while the PM is extremely supportive (the whole company is, in fact ... I've rarely, if ever, felt more welcomed into a work community than with this job!) and frequently tells me she thinks I'm doing a great job ... I think I can do better. Call me an overachiever or a perfectionist, but every day I go into work thinking, "What could I be doing that I'm not?" The trouble--or, I should say, "trouble"--is that I'm new to this ... as in, my experience in housing was as an RA in undergrad, plus a lot of other jobs that had some crossover but not so full as to really give me the experience of being an APM!

So I thought I'd come to the experts to simply ask: What makes a great Assistant Manager? If you're a Property Manager, what do you look for from your Assistant Manager? If you're an Assistant Manager, what do you do that makes you great at your job, or what tips can you give me that you wish you'd known when you got into your job?

Thanks for any tips/feedback!

Think like a PM answer her questions before she asks and be a relationship builder. Really hone your resident relation skills and own delinquency (meaning be responsible for the bottom line when it comes to collecting rents. Also ask for more projects so you will become well rounded. As a PM we may not lease apartments all the time but the fact is we need to know how many to lease in order to stay stabilized. See the bigger picture because when you get your property you will want your APM to do the same thing.

Good luck.

I am a property manager and what I expect from my APM is that he manage the property in my absence. This means he must be familiar with and capable of performing all of the functions of my position.

Fortunately for me, he does, and he very rarely calls me on my days off. He is not afraid to make mistakes, but has no problem accepting responsibility and learning from them.

I dread the day he accepts a promotion and takes on his own property, but I know he will succeed.

I think the proper question to ask is what your PM thinks about the role of a great APM. Like in any profession your responsibility is to make your boss look good by doing outstanding work. It sound like you have the right attitude to make it happen.

I suggest getting to know your PM's short-term needs and long term strategic objectives for the property. Then think how you can go the extra mile to support your PM. What makes a great APM and a candidate for a PM is someone who can anticipate the needs of the property and the PM.

Constin Tenko

I am a new Assistant Property Manager, and while the PM is extremely supportive (the whole company is, in fact ... I've rarely, if ever, felt more welcomed into a work community than with this job!) and frequently tells me she thinks I'm doing a great job ... I think I can do better.

Khara, you have just described what this website is all about - always striving to improve and learn more. I want to say thank you for joining us and good luck!

Thank you all! You've given some great advice! I think the best thing I've picked up over the past week or so is that part of my own problem is stepping out of my own shell, ha-ha ... It's become easier to see what the manager might want or need from me as I've become more comfortable just talking with her about things, having conversations about what's happening in the office, etc. You've all been a great help with that, and I thank you again for it!