How to Hire Your First Real Estate Management Team
If you own a small real estate business, you’ve probably reached a point where you realized: I can’t do this all by myself. It may be time to put together a real estate management team.
Maybe you missed a tenant follow-up, let a maintenance request slip by, or ended up working late again just to keep up. When you're juggling every role—managing tenants, tracking expenses, coordinating maintenance—something is bound to slip through the cracks.
Trying to do everything alone doesn’t just lead to burnout—it stunts your business growth. If you’re buried in daily operations, you don’t have time to focus on long-term strategy. That’s why hiring a real estate management team is a critical step. The right people will help you build a sustainable, scalable business.
So, when should you hire? Who should you bring on first? Should you keep these roles in-house or outsource them? Let’s break it down.
When Is It Time to Hire?
Waiting for the “perfect” time to build your team is a mistake—there’s no such thing. You’ll never feel completely ready. But if you’re constantly overwhelmed with spending all your time putting out fires instead of growing your business—well, that’s your sign.
When my husband Phil and I started, we didn’t think of ourselves as business owners—we were just managing rental properties and raising a family. But as calls increased and maintenance requests piled up, we hit a breaking point. We could either stay stuck in survival mode or invest in the right people to build something sustainable.
If you’re stuck in that cycle, hiring help is your next move. Your business depends on it.
Who Should You Hire First?
Your first hire depends on your budget, but for most real estate businesses, a property manager is essential. A skilled property manager keeps your tenants happy and your day-to-day details running smoothly, allowing you to concentrate on expansion.
A good property manager should:
Have property management experience or strong customer service and organizational skills.
Be detail-oriented and responsive, ensuring quick and professional communication.
Share your company values and understand your business goals.
Handle conflict and problem-solving with professionalism—real estate management isn’t for the faint of heart.
Once you have a strong property manager, consider your biggest pain points. Do you struggle with bookkeeping? Marketing? Maintenance coordination? Prioritize hiring based on your business’s most pressing needs.
In-House vs. Outsourced: What’s the Right Move?
For a growing real estate business, keeping your core management team in-house is ideal. Employees directly invested in your success will provide better service and long-term stability.
However, outsourcing can sometimes be a smart way to supplement your team. A virtual assistant (VA) can take over administrative work, manage tenant inquiries, and process leases, reducing your in-house workload. This keeps your in-house team focused on higher-value work.
What about hiring a third-party property management company instead of building your own team? Personally, I don’t recommend it. You lose control over tenant relations, service quality, and long-term business strategy. Keeping management in-house ensures oversight, stronger relationships, and sustainable growth.
The Team Mentality: Why You Can’t Do It Alone
Real estate management is not a solo act. You shouldn’t—and can’t—do everything yourself. The right hires will help you build a business that doesn’t require you to be “on” 24/7.
Yes, hiring demands patience and a clear strategy—and delegating work is a big step for the average solopreneur. But if you do it right, the payoff is worth it. A strong team allows you to work on your business, rather than just in it. It gives you the freedom to step back and know everything is running smoothly.
If you’re hesitating to make your first hire, ask yourself: What’s the cost of NOT hiring? Are you missing growth opportunities because you’re buried in daily tasks? Is your personal life suffering because your business demands too much of you?
It’s time to stop waiting for the “perfect” moment and start building the team that will take your real estate business to the next level.
Final Takeaways
It’s time to stop waiting for the “perfect” moment and start building the team. Before you take the leap, let’s review what it takes to build a well-managed, sustainable real estate business.
Recognize when it’s time. If you're constantly in crisis mode, struggling to keep up, it's time to bring in help.
Start with a property manager. They are the foundation of your business.
Keep management in-house. You’ll have more control, better service quality, and a stronger team culture.
Consider virtual assistance. A VA can help streamline administrative tasks while keeping costs manageable.
Adopt a team mindset. Real growth happens when you surround yourself with the right people.
Hiring your first management team is a big step, but it’s one that will pay off in the long run. Your future self—and your business—will thank you.