Leasing Specialist
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Residential Communites | Full-Time, Non-Exempt
Location: La Mesa, CA - 144-Unit
About the Role
Are you a people-focused professional who enjoys creating great first impressions, building relationships, and helping people find a place they are excited to call home? We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, and dependable Leasing Specialist to join our property management team and support four residential communities conveniently located within approximately one mile of one another.
This is a single Leasing Specialist position supporting all four communities from two leasing offices. The Leasing Specialist will work from each office according to an established schedule, providing consistent leasing coverage and support across all communities.
The Leasing Specialist plays an important role in the success of our communities and is often one of the first points of contact for prospective residents. This position combines leasing, sales, customer service, marketing, organization, and property operations to create an exceptional experience from the first inquiry through move-in and throughout the resident relationship.
This position is ideal for someone who enjoys both independence and teamwork. The Leasing Specialist must be comfortable independently managing day-to-day leasing responsibilities from either office while working in close partnership with the Community Manager. Initiative, organization, sound judgment, communication, and follow-through are essential.
Success in this role means more than filling vacancies. It means understanding what makes each of our communities unique, connecting prospective residents with the right apartment home, providing exceptional service, and contributing to strong occupancy and resident retention.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leasing support for four residential communities located within approximately one mile of one another, working from two leasing offices according to an established schedule.
- Independently manage day-to-day leasing responsibilities while maintaining regular communication and working in partnership with the Community Manager.
- Create a welcoming, professional, and engaging experience for prospective and current residents.
- Respond promptly and professionally to telephone calls, electronic inquiries, and in-person inquiries.
- Actively follow up with prospective residents throughout the leasing process and maintain accurate records of prospect communications and leasing activity.
- Conduct property and apartment tours for all communities, confidently presenting each property's features, available homes, amenities, and overall value.
- Build rapport with prospective residents, identify their housing needs, and assist them in selecting the community and apartment home that best meets those needs.
- Maintain a thorough working knowledge of availability, rental rates, floor plans, promotions, community features, policies, and leasing opportunities across all four communities.
- Accurately document prospect traffic, follow-up activity, applications, and other leasing information in the company's property management and leasing systems.
- Screen and process rental applications in accordance with established rental criteria, company policies, Fair Housing requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Complete required applicant screening and verification procedures and communicate application status appropriately.
- Prepare lease agreements and related documentation, ensuring that information is complete, accurate, and properly executed.
- Collect and accurately document authorized application fees, deposits, rental payments, and other payments associated with leasing and resident services as required.
- Coordinate upcoming move-ins with the Community Manager and Maintenance Team to help ensure apartment homes are ready for occupancy and required lease and move-in documentation is complete.
- Maintain accurate and organized resident and leasing records.
- Assist with the preparation and distribution of approved resident notices, community communications, renewal information, and other property correspondence.
- Receive resident service requests, accurately enter work orders into the property management system, and communicate urgent or significant matters to the appropriate team member.
- Partner with the Community Manager to support lease renewal and resident retention strategies.
- Provide exceptional customer service to current residents and assist with questions, concerns, and general property needs in partnership with the Community Manager.
- Professionally address customer concerns, helping to resolve issues when appropriate and escalating matters to the Community Manager when management involvement is needed.
- Conduct periodic market surveys and competitive property comparisons to maintain knowledge of local rental rates, concessions, amenities, and market conditions.
- Assist in monitoring advertising, online listings, and other leasing information to help ensure property information, pricing, availability, and promotions are current and accurate.
- Participate in marketing and outreach efforts designed to generate qualified traffic and support strong occupancy.
- Maintain professional and inviting leasing offices, model apartments, tour routes, and other areas viewed by prospective residents.
- Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor consistent with company standards.
- Maintain confidentiality of applicant, resident, employee, and company information.
- Follow company policies and procedures, Fair Housing requirements, workplace safety practices, and applicable laws and regulations.
- Assist with special projects, operational responsibilities, and other property-related duties as assigned.
- Assist at other company properties when requested and reasonably necessary.
- Maintain flexibility to work Saturdays or adjusted schedules when required by the established leasing schedule and business needs.
Minimum Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- Previous experience in leasing, property management, sales, hospitality, or a related customer service position.
- Working knowledge of California leasing requirements and applicable landlord-tenant regulations.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills with the ability to establish positive relationships with prospective and current residents.
- Strong organizational, time-management, and follow-through skills.
- Ability to manage multiple prospects, applications, resident needs, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, prioritize responsibilities, and complete assignments with limited direct supervision.
- Ability to maintain effective communication and work collaboratively with the Community Manager, Maintenance Team, and other company employees.
- Ability to work from either of the two leasing offices according to the established work schedule and business needs.
- Ability to learn and effectively use property management software, leasing platforms, computers, and other business technology.
- Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
- Reliable personal vehicle and active automobile insurance.
- Ability to complete required pre-employment screening, including a background check and drug screen. A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous multifamily residential leasing or property management experience.
- Familiarity with Fair Housing requirements and multifamily housing compliance standards.
- Demonstrated success meeting leasing, sales, occupancy, resident retention, or customer service goals.
- Experience working independently in a leasing, sales, property management, or customer service environment.
- Experience with Entrata property management software is strongly preferred.
- Experience with online leasing, lead-management, and digital marketing platforms.
- CALP, CAM, or other relevant property management certification is a plus but is not required.
Skills & Competencies
- Exceptional customer service with a sales-oriented mindset, initiative, organization, and personal accountability.
- Clear and professional verbal and written communication; ability to build rapport, explain lease terms and community features, and address resident concerns.
- Ability to take ownership of the leasing process, recognize priorities, consistently follow up, maintain accurate records, and complete responsibilities without continuous direction.
- Ability to independently manage responsibilities from either scheduled leasing office while maintaining proactive communication with the Community Manager.
- Strong attention to detail when processing applications, preparing leases, accepting payments, maintaining records, documenting communications, and handling confidential information.
- Adaptability and a team-oriented approach as priorities shift based on leasing activity, appointments, move-ins, resident needs, and property operations.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment
The physical requirements described below are representative of those an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of this position successfully.
- Ability to regularly travel between the four assigned company properties, located within approximately one mile of one another, and the two associated leasing offices.
- Ability to work from either leasing office according to the established work schedule.
- Ability to drive between assigned properties and travel to other company locations when required in connection with job responsibilities.
- Ability to regularly walk throughout apartment communities, including buildings, common areas, parking areas, model apartments, vacant apartments, and exterior grounds.
- Ability to regularly navigate multi-level buildings and climb and descend stairs while conducting property tours and performing other job-related responsibilities.
- Ability to stand and walk for periods of time while conducting tours and assisting prospective and current residents.
- Ability to move between indoor office environments and outdoor property environments throughout the workday.
- Ability to perform job responsibilities in varying outdoor weather conditions and temperatures.
- Ability to sit, stand, bend, reach, and perform routine movements associated with office and property operations.
- Ability to operate standard office equipment, including computers, telephones, printers, scanners, and other business equipment.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, electronically, and through other standard communication methods.
- Ability to occasionally lift and carry items weighing up to 20 pounds.
What Success Looks Like
A successful Leasing Specialist takes ownership of the leasing experience across all four communities and provides dependable, consistent coverage from the two leasing offices in accordance with the established schedule. You are self-motivated, responsive, organized, energetic, and comfortable working independently. You recognize priorities, take initiative, maintain accurate documentation, and follow through on commitments.
At the same time, independence does not mean working in isolation. You build a strong partnership with the Community Manager, communicate proactively, ask for guidance when appropriate, and collaborate with the entire property team. Most importantly, you understand that every phone call, email, tour, application, move-in, and resident interaction represents our communities and our company.
We offer a competitive compensation package that includes: - Performance Bonuses and 401(K)
- Regular full-time employees who work between 30-40 hours a week are eligible for medical, dental, vision, other voluntary benefits, paid holidays and vacation accrual.
- LifeMart: Discounts on travel, hotel, tickets, electronics, auto, pets and food & grocery
- Sick Time is provided in accordance with the law.
- LifeCare: 24/7 Professional Support
