In the commercial real estate industry it can be hard to establish a property management portfolio as part of your commercial real estate business.  It is hard for the simple reason that most property owners see the change of manager or agency just too difficult to implement.

In simple terms the property owner or landlord wants to protect their cash flow and consequently will not disturb their tenant mix.  Many a property owner will put up with a poor property management service to keep stability in their property.  That being said, a poor property management service will eventually self-implode and the property will suffer.

If you want to win new property managements from clients that are using another agent, it is best to create the relationship with the client and stay in touch for the time that the property owner is ready to move.

So now let’s look at some other strategies to take matters forward and help you establish a good property management portfolio.  The stability of fees and clients produced from the property management process will help you when the sales or leasing market becomes slower or more difficult.

Here are some ideas for you:

1. Sales activity will always be an opportunity to pitch for a property management appointment.  This then says that every property you sell to a property investor is a great opportunity to present and pitch for the property management.
2. The sales activity of other agents will also be a good opportunity to pitch for a property management.  If another local property is sold publically (such as at auction), it is quite easy to find out just who the buyer may be.  Make the contact and see if they will take a proposal from you to manage the property.
3. Leasing activity will be a similar opportunity to pitch for the management of the property.  If you served the client well in the leasing appointment, they should take a proposal from you to manage.
4. New property developments are great opportunities for management.  Check out the upcoming developments regularly at the local planning office.  Most property developers require a professional property manager to help them, simply for the aspect of perception.  It helps them lease the property to new tenants; that being said you should also pitch for the leasing appointment.
5. Portfolio owners in your local area may own a number of properties.  They may use a number of property managers, however they will have a preferred manager that stands out as ‘professional’ and of ‘high quality’.   Get to know who these portfolio owners are and connect with them on a regular basis. Eventually they may let you pitch on some new management requirement.

The property management part of the industry is quite special and requires the right people.  Do not employ ‘juniors’ for the process without having some other ‘experienced’ managers in the team.  It is the experienced managers that can win the business given their market awareness and property management skills.