Managing properties can be a rollercoaster ride. It's a job that demands long hours, constant communication and juggling multiple tasks. It's no wonder that burnout is common among property managers — but don't hit the panic button yet.
If you're teetering on the brink of property manager burnout, sit back, relax and keep reading. This blog will give you some key strategies that you can implement to reignite your spark and get back to being the superstar property manager that you are.
Common Signs that Point to Property Manager Burnout
Property management can be stressful and the symptoms of burnout can manifest in different ways. Some common signs of property manager burnout include:
- Feeling exhausted and drained, both physically and emotionally.
- Decreased motivation and interest in work.
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
- Increased cynicism or negativity towards work or colleagues.
- Loss of enjoyment or satisfaction in work.
- Feeling unaccomplished or ineffective in your role.
- Increased irritability or impatience.
- Increased forgetfulness or disorganization.
Burnout can also impact your physical health, leading to headaches, insomnia and other issues.
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, taking a break and prioritizing self-care is important. At the same time, you can implement some key daily strategies to help avoid or minimize these feelings.
1. Prioritize Self Care
As a property manager, you're expected to put other people's needs above your own all day. While this may be part of your job, it can get tiring without the proper balance.
So, it's essential to prioritize your well-being by taking care of yourself when you have the time. This means getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. It's also important to take time off work to recharge and do activities you enjoy.
2. Set Boundaries
Property management can be demanding and requires a lot of time and effort, but setting boundaries is crucial to avoid overworking. While it's true that emergencies can happen at any time, it's important to establish clear work hours and stick to them as much as possible.
One way to set boundaries is to establish specific work hours and communicate them clearly to your residents and colleagues. Let them know when you're available to answer calls and emails and when you're off the clock. This can help manage their expectations and reduce their likelihood of contacting you outside of work hours.
Of course, there may be times when you need to be available outside of your regular work hours, especially in the case of emergencies or urgent situations. In these cases, communicate clearly with your residents and colleagues about what constitutes an emergency and how they can reach you if necessary.
Remember, setting boundaries is not about neglecting your responsibilities or being unavailable to those who need your help — it's about maintaining a healthy work-life balance and avoiding property manager burnout, so you can continue doing your job effectively and enthusiastically.
3. Lean on Technology
Technology has revolutionized how we work and communicate. As a property manager, you can leverage these advancements to streamline your work processes, saving you time and unnecessary stress that can result in property manager burnout symptoms.
One area where technology can be beneficial is turn management — a simple task that can become disastrous in minutes without the proper plan. With the right tools, you can easily and quickly communicate with vendors, reducing the time and effort required to coordinate and resolve issues.
For example, turn management software allows property managers to submit work requests to vendors, which can then be automatically assigned to the appropriate personnel for completion. This not only saves time but also improves transparency and accountability.
Not only will you reduce your likelihood of property manager burnout, but you will also gain a competitive edge in the market as you now have more time to focus on the growth of your business, like implementing that marketing strategy you've been working on.
4. Delegate Tasks
As a property manager, you have multiple responsibilities. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work that needs to be done. However, delegating tasks can effectively manage your workload, reduce stress and ensure everything gets done efficiently and effectively.
One way to delegate tasks is to outsource responsibilities to third-party service providers. For example, it may be time to let someone else take care of your turns process.
Here are some common tasks that property managers can delegate:
- Accounting and financial reporting.
- Marketing and advertising.
- Resident screening and background checks.
- Lease drafting and administration.
- Maintenance and repairs.
- Property inspections and evaluations.
- Collections and rent payments.
- Legal compliance and regulatory filings.
- Insurance management and claims handling.
- Data management and analysis.
How Rent Ready Can Help
We may not be able to remind you to eat your vegetables and get eight hours of sleep, but we can make your life easier with our playbook for property managers.
Our Saving Time and Money Playbook shows you how to work more efficiently and avoid that dreaded property manager burnout. Download your copy by clicking below.
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