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Jacqueline Carrington

The "Fundamentals of Residential Property Management" course is a peek into the world of property management. The course will specifically dive into residential property management and the various aspects of running an apartment complex or rental property as a property manager, landlord or for someone interested in starting a residential property management business.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • 1. understand the leasing process from showing the apartment to a resident moving in.
  • 2. understand the importance of preventative maintenance and handling ongoing maintenance requests.
  • 3. establish a foundation of policies and procedures to help manage property operations, residents and maintenance.
  • 4. understand the concept of fair housing laws and how they affect the way you manage a property.
  • 5. develop the ability to manage and set goals for the various departments of property operations.
  • 6. understand the importance of service excellence in a property management career, business or operations of a property as a landlord.

Syllabus

Understand the overall impact of a property manager.
Introduction
What is a Residential Property Manager?
What Skills are Needed to be a Property Manager?
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores Fair Housing Laws, which are crucial for ethical and legal property management practices
Covers preventative and ongoing maintenance, which are essential for preserving property value and tenant satisfaction
Details the leasing process from start to finish, providing a practical guide for securing and managing tenants
Establishes a foundation of policies and procedures, which are vital for consistent and effective property operations
Focuses on residential property management, which may not cover the nuances of commercial property management
Teaches vendor management, which is important for maintaining properties and controlling costs

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Reviews summary

Fundamentals of residential property management

According to students, this course offers a solid introduction to the fundamentals of residential property management. Learners find it provides a clear overview of key areas, including the leasing process, property maintenance, establishing policies and procedures, and understanding Fair Housing laws. Many reviews indicate the course is particularly helpful for beginners and new landlords looking to grasp the essential aspects of the field. While generally positive, some students with prior experience mention that the course lacks the depth needed for more advanced topics, suggesting it is best suited for newcomers. Overall, it is seen as a valuable starting point.
Feedback on presentation style varied
"The instructor was knowledgeable and easy to listen to."
"Some parts felt a bit dry, but the information was good."
"Found the pace was just right for absorbing the material."
Clear and useful section on law
"The explanation of Fair Housing was crucial and well done. Very clear."
"Liked how they broke down the Fair Housing requirements simply."
"Understanding the legal aspects was key, and this course delivered on Fair Housing."
Covers essential, practical management tasks
"The modules on maintenance and leasing were very practical and easy to follow."
"Really appreciated the sections on policies and procedures. Very applicable."
"Gave me actionable steps for managing day-to-day operations effectively."
Provides a solid foundation for beginners
"As someone new to property management, this course gave me a great starting point."
"Found it very helpful as an absolute beginner. Covers the necessary basics."
"This was perfect for getting a foundational understanding of the job."
May be too introductory for some
"If you have any prior experience in property management, this might be too basic."
"Found the content was mostly review for me, having worked in the field briefly."
"Wish it went into a bit more depth on complex issues or different property types."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Residential Property Management with these activities:
Review 'Property Management for Dummies'
Gain a foundational understanding of property management principles and practices before starting the course.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Property Management For Dummies'.
  • Read the sections on leasing, maintenance, and legal compliance.
  • Take notes on key concepts and best practices.
Review Fair Housing Laws
Reinforce your understanding of Fair Housing Laws to ensure ethical and legal compliance in property management.
Show steps
  • Research federal and local Fair Housing Laws.
  • Identify protected classes and prohibited discriminatory practices.
  • Review case studies of Fair Housing violations.
Practice Tenant Screening Scenarios
Develop your ability to effectively screen tenants while adhering to Fair Housing Laws.
Show steps
  • Create hypothetical tenant applications with varying backgrounds.
  • Evaluate each application based on objective criteria.
  • Identify potential Fair Housing concerns in each scenario.
  • Document your decision-making process for each application.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a Property Maintenance Checklist
Solidify your understanding of preventative and ongoing maintenance by creating a comprehensive checklist.
Show steps
  • Research common maintenance issues in residential properties.
  • Categorize maintenance tasks by frequency (daily, weekly, monthly, annually).
  • Develop a checklist with specific tasks and instructions.
  • Include a section for documenting completed maintenance.
Develop a Sample Lease Agreement
Apply your knowledge of leasing policies and procedures by creating a sample lease agreement.
Show steps
  • Research standard lease agreement clauses and provisions.
  • Adapt a template lease agreement to fit a specific property type.
  • Include clauses related to rent, security deposits, and maintenance responsibilities.
  • Ensure compliance with local and federal laws.
Design a Resident Communication Plan
Enhance your service excellence skills by creating a plan for effective communication with residents.
Show steps
  • Identify different communication channels (email, phone, text, in-person).
  • Develop templates for common resident communications (e.g., rent reminders, maintenance updates).
  • Establish a schedule for regular resident communication.
  • Outline procedures for handling resident complaints and concerns.
Review 'The Complete Guide to Real Estate Management'
Expand your understanding of real estate management principles and practices.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Complete Guide to Real Estate Management'.
  • Read the sections on financial management and risk management.
  • Compare and contrast different property management strategies.

Career center

Learners who complete Fundamentals of Residential Property Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Property Manager
A property manager oversees the daily operations of residential properties, ensuring they are well-maintained and profitable. This course will help a prospective property manager understand essential aspects such as the leasing process, maintenance management, and establishing effective operational policies. The course directly addresses the property manager's role in leasing, maintenance, and policy implementation. It also emphasizes areas such as fair housing laws, goal setting, and service excellence, which will help a property manager excel. Individuals wanting to start a property management business should take this course.
Landlord
A landlord manages their own rental properties, handling everything from tenant acquisition to property upkeep. This course is useful for landlords because it provides actionable strategies on leasing, maintenance, and establishing property policies and procedures. The course material includes practical skills such as prospect management, pricing rentals, and handling maintenance requests. The lessons on fair housing and service excellence are also crucial for a landlord to maintain a successful and compliant operation. A landlord will find this course invaluable.
Apartment Complex Manager
An apartment complex manager is responsible for the overall management of an apartment community, including overseeing leasing, maintenance, and resident relations. This course helps an apartment complex manager by providing a comprehensive overview of the various aspects of managing such properties. The material from the course covers topics such as leasing, maintenance, policy implementation, and service excellence. The course's focus on setting goals for property operations and various departments will also be helpful to an apartment complex manager overseeing a community and its staff.
Property Management Business Owner
A property management business owner establishes and operates a company that manages properties on behalf of owners. This course is a great resource for a property management business owner because it provides a detailed understanding of operational aspects including leasing, maintenance, and fair housing compliance. The course covers the ins and outs of team management, goal setting and service excellence all of which are critical to a successful property management business. Understanding policies and procedures will also be invaluable for a business owner.
Leasing Consultant
Leasing consultants play a critical role in attracting and securing tenants for residential properties. This course helps a prospective leasing consultant by covering key topics such as prospect management, property marketing, the application process, and move-in procedures. The course will help a leasing consultant understand the full leasing lifecycle and how to effectively communicate with prospective tenants. It teaches important skills about how to price availability and present a property in its best light. The material on fair housing will also be useful for a leasing consultant to stay compliant with the law.
Maintenance Supervisor
A maintenance supervisor is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of a property. This course will help a maintenance supervisor better understand their role in the maintenance process by outlining both preventative and responsive maintenance strategies. The course also provides insights into vendor management and how to efficiently turn a vacant unit. This course's discussion of policies and procedures will be relevant for establishing effective workflows and ensuring compliance. A prospective maintenance supervisor may benefit from this course.
Real Estate Asset Manager
A real estate asset manager oversees a portfolio of properties to maximize their financial performance and value. Though this course focuses on residential property, the discussions of operational policies, maintenance, and service excellence will help a real estate asset manager understand the day to day on the ground activities they are overseeing. Understanding the property manager's role, as well as the leasing process and maintenance, will help a real estate asset manager make informed decisions on property management strategy and performance. This is a useful course for someone wanting to enter the field.
Community Association Manager
A community association manager oversees the operations of a residential community, often in a homeowner's association or condo setting. Though the focus of this course is on rental properties, the fundamental principles of operational policies, maintenance management, and resident relations can be broadly applied to community management. Lessons about fair housing, which applies to community associations, and service excellence will be especially helpful. The goal setting material will also help a community association manager better run a community. This course may be useful.
Facilities Manager
A facilities manager is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of a building or property, ensuring it's functional and safe. This course will help a prospective facilities manager by providing a strong foundation in maintenance operations, including preventative measures and responding to ongoing requests. This course covers vendor management and turnover procedures, which are all aspects a facilities manager must know. While the course is focused on residential properties, many of the maintenance principles apply more broadly. This is a useful course for someone interested in this field.
Residential Services Coordinator
A residential services coordinator manages and coordinates services for residents in a community setting. Though this course focuses on managing rental properties, the focus on resident relations, maintenance, and service excellence translates well to this context. The course directly covers areas like conflict resolution and maintaining service quality, which are useful skills for a services coordinator. Understanding leasing and move-in procedures will also provide greater context. This course may be helpful to someone interested in this role.
Real Estate Broker
A real estate broker facilitates the buying, selling, and renting of properties. This course serves as a foundation for a real estate broker who wishes to understand the nuances of managing rental properties. While not directly focused on sales, the course will provide a real estate broker insights into leasing processes and property maintenance so they may better serve clients interested in investment properties. An understanding of fair housing law is also directly applicable to real estate transactions. This course may be useful for a real estate broker.
Operations Manager
An operations manager is responsible for the daily operations of a company, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness. The concepts of policy implementation, goal setting, and team management discussed in this course will benefit an operations manager. The course's focus on maintaining efficient property operations, resident relations, and maintenance will provide insights into the importance of these systems. This course may be useful to someone entering an operations management role.
Customer Service Manager
A customer service manager ensures that customers receive high-quality service and support. This course covers the fundamental aspects of managing service standards, directly relevant to a customer service manager. The course material emphasizes the importance of service excellence, conflict resolution, and maintaining a positive reputation, which helps a customer service manager understand how to create a positive customer experience. This course may be useful to someone in this field.
Project Manager
A project manager plans and oversees projects to ensure they are completed on time, within budget, and according to specifications. Though this course focuses on property management, the fundamental concepts of goal setting, policy implementation, and team management discussed in the course will benefit a project manager in any industry. The course's focus on establishing and following through on objectives will help someone in project management be successful. This course may be useful for those interested in this role.
Business Development Manager
A business development manager seeks to grow a company by identifying and pursuing new business opportunities. This course may help a business development manager identify strategic opportunities in the property management sector. The material on property operations, marketing, and understanding market needs can help a business development manager develop strategies for new projects. This course may be useful for someone interested in this field.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Fundamentals of Residential Property Management.
Provides a broad overview of property management, covering topics from tenant screening to property maintenance. It's a great resource for beginners looking to understand the fundamentals of the industry. The book is particularly helpful for understanding the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities of a property manager, providing practical advice and real-world examples. It serves as a useful reference for those new to residential property management.
Offers a comprehensive overview of real estate management, covering various property types and management strategies. It's a valuable resource for those looking to expand their knowledge beyond residential property management. The book provides insights into financial management, risk management, and property valuation. It serves as additional reading for those seeking a broader understanding of the real estate industry.

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