San Diego, CA - The Property Management Boutique



The old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” is hard to refute. In this business relationship we seek to establish with our tenants, as a property management company in San Diego, first impression is everything. If prospective tenants see an office that is messy and disorganized, subconsciously they lower their professional estimation of you. Although they may not be thinking this consciously, in their gut they’re feeling that since you’re a bit lax with your organization, they can afford to be a bit lax in the promptness of their payment and the tidiness of their rental space.

If they ask you about procedures for certain circumstances, such as needing repairs or having a problem with a neighbor, and you as the property manager don’t have a system in place to handle such a problem – sort of making it up as you go along, they will sense your disorganization and lack of preparation. This is likely to carry over to their response to you in many areas, including paying the rent, maintaining the rental space and relations with other tenants.

If your demeanor with them is slap-happy, jovial and overly familiar, you will lose your advantage of control in the relationship. Your demeanor should be that of a police dog – watchful, polite and in control, but ready to take action if necessary. The action you might have to take is to reject their application if there are blemishes on their record you’d rather not accept. Or later in the process, if you’ve accepted them as tenants, you may have to approach them about obeying the rules of the complex or paying the rent on time. Your professional distance allows you to remain objective.

When they notice your police dog personality, they will perceive you as friendly but businesslike. They will know that you are fair but firm, that you apply the same standards to all, and expect the same performance from all.