More than 40,000 people work in the property management business in Australia. The number of workers is increasing because more people are renting properties in Australia. While most of these workers are property managers, some are assistant property managers.
An assistant property manager supports the property manager, often performing behind-the-scenes tasks such as marketing and bookkeeping. Although hiring an assistant property manager is an investment, a real estate business can recoup the investment quickly.
Duties of An Assistant Property Manager
A real estate business can write an assistant property manager's job description to include any duties that will complement those of the property manager. However, assistant property managers generally focus on routine, back-end tasks so that the property manager can spend more time in direct contact with clients. Computer tasks, research tasks, processing and receiving rental payments, and scheduling maintenance or repairs are typically included in the job description.
Recouping Your Investment
An assistant property manager can help you grow your business by freeing the property manager to interact directly with clients and potential clients. They can also improve your marketing, which can result in more inquiries. An extra team member can also enhance customer service, resulting in more referrals and business. The increased business can pay for your investment in hiring an assistant property manager.
If you hire a virtual assistant property manager, you can recoup your investment more quickly. The average salary for an assistant property manager in Australia is 62,500 AUD. However, a virtual assistant property manager in the Philippines earns 20,700 AUD. Even if you gained only one small property to manage annually due to giving your property manager more time, you'd more than recoup your investment.
Because most of the assistant property manager's duties are back-end functions, the employee can easily complete them virtually. If this is your first time having a real estate virtual assistant, you'll need to assemble the proper technology to allow you to communicate and manage tasks remotely. You'll also need to gain the support of your team.
Outsourcing to the Philippines
The Philippines is an excellent outsourcing location for Australian businesses. The time zone is compatible. English is an official language of the Philippines, and almost every Filipino speaks it fluently. Because outsourcing is such an essential part of the economy, the Philippine government supports it through infrastructure, training, and other favorable policies. The government also offers incentives to encourage its citizens to pursue education beyond high school, creating a well-educated workforce.
Hiring an assistant property manager in the Philippines is easy if you work with a real estate staffing solutions firm located in the Philippines. When choosing a firm, be sure that the firm understands property management and has a network to recruit qualified assistant property managers. The firm should present you with a short list of qualified candidates to interview. It also should provide ongoing training and coaching for the employee and coaching for you in integrating them into your team.
The Bottom Line
An assistant property manager handles many of the routine, back-end tasks of property management, freeing up your property manager for other tasks. The property manager can use this extra time to foster one-on-one relationships with current and prospective clients. The assistant property manager can also help you improve your marketing and customer service, further increasing leads and, ultimately, the number of properties you'll manage. The role pays for itself, especially if you've hired a virtual assistant property manager from a low-cost country such as the Philippines.
