Why this matters:
Before renting to a prospective tenant, property owners will want to make sure they have sufficient income and a strong track record as a renter. Leasing agents have an obligation to thoroughly vet prospective tenants and ensure they are qualified to lease a property. This reduces the likelihood of problems down the line and gives the property manager peace of mind.
What to listen for:
- Comprehensive process for evaluating tenant eligibility, including credit score, income, and reference checks
- Careful review of all documents provided in rental application
- Verification of income based on bank statements and employment
Why this matters:
Potential tenants don’t find properties for rent in the newspaper anymore. Most of the time, they start their search on Google, which leads them to sites where they can view rental properties and send messages to owners or leasing agents. Leasing agents are most often the ones responsible for maintaining these listings and using them effectively.
What to listen for:
- Use of rental listing platforms like Zillow, Avail, or Trulia, as well as social media channels
- Ability to write a comprehensive and enticing listing
- Understanding of how new technology has altered the real estate market
Why this matters:
Just as technology has changed the way leasing agents advertise rental properties, it has also changed the way they work from day to day. With the proper software, leasing agents can track agreements, monitor problems with rental units, and easily communicate with landlords and tenants. Candidates who use cutting-edge technology are often more efficient and perform better.
What to listen for:
- Familiarity with tools like AppFolio, Innago, or Leasecake
- Strong organizational skills enhanced by technology
- Desire for continuous professional development
Why this matters:
Even after thoroughly vetting a tenant, problems can still arise, requiring leasing agents to engage in difficult conversations. In these cases, it’s essential that they remain courteous, respectful, and attentive to the tenant’s concerns — while at the same time not acceding to unreasonable demands.
What to listen for:
- Ability to keep calm and maintain a professional demeanor
- Capacity to negotiate with an upset or angry renter
- Willingness to problem-solve and address tenant concerns
Why this matters:
At the end of a lease term, many tenants will, for various reasons, choose to leave their living situation behind. But for leasing agents, losing a tenant means having to go through the difficult process of finding and vetting a new one, which most would prefer to avoid. In these cases, leasing agents can demonstrate their skill by convincing a tenant to renew their lease.
What to listen for:
- Willingness to provide incentives to tenants and negotiate lease terms
- Respectful treatment of tenants who wish to leave
- Ability to present a convincing case about a property or neighborhood’s perks
Why this matters:
While ideally tenants and property owners have the same interests, there are times when they will come into conflict. Leasing agents, as intermediaries between owners and tenants, are responsible for promoting a civil relationship between the two parties. They must bring all their skills to bear in addressing these conflicts when they arise.
What to listen for:
- Strong conflict resolution and listening skills
- Effort to understand both sides’ perspectives
- Capacity to formulate mutually beneficial solutions
Why this matters:
Prospective tenants are understandably curious about the places in which they’ll be living and often have many questions. Ideally, leasing agents will prepare for all meetings with prospective tenants, but they may at times confront a question where the answer is unclear or outright unknown. Strong candidates will know how to handle these situations to maintain tenant trust.
What to listen for:
- Willingness to admit when they are unable to answer a question
- Instinct to follow up with tenants when more information is available
- In-depth preparation for tenant interactions
Why this matters:
Leasing agents almost never focus on a single property or tenant. They have to keep track of numerous properties, perhaps hundreds in the most extreme cases, and be able to address concerns with any one of them. This requires leasing agents to develop strong multitasking abilities and organizational skills.
What to listen for:
- High performance under pressure
- Ability to prioritize tasks according to urgency and importance
- Organization skills and self-motivation
Why this matters:
Writing property listings and advertisements requires a sense of a property’s surrounding community, from the average age to school rankings to restaurants. As this is a key part of their role, leasing agents must understand the communities in which they work beyond the numbers: the overall personality of a neighborhood can be just as important as competitive pricing.
What to listen for:
- Deep understanding of the communities in which they work
- Methods for gathering on-the-ground research, like speaking with current residents and business owners
- Communication skills to accurately represent neighborhoods to renters
Contact a sales consultant.