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Property managers are responsible for overseeing rental properties and ensuring that tenants have an optimal experience. Consider taking a property management course to learn more about what the role entails. Or you can take a property management course that will teach you how to build a company from the ground up.
Quick Look: The Best Property Management Courses
Take a sneak peek at our top picks:
- Property Management 101 by Udemy
- Fundamentals of Residential Property Management by Udemy
- Commercial Property Management by Udemy
- Successful Tenant Screening in 5 Easy Steps by Udemy
- Marketing for Residential Property Management by the National Association of Residential Property Managers
- Developing Rewarding Owner Relationships by the National Association of Residential Property Managers
- Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 1 by Udemy
- Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 2 by Udemy
- How to Start a Profitable Property Management Company by Skillshare
What Makes a Property Management Course Great?
Property management courses come in many different skill levels, formats and price points. Look for these essential elements when you evaluate course options.
Starts with an Overview
Choose a course that begins with a primer on what will be covered so you’ll know what to expect. This is especially beneficial if you’re an experienced property manager and it’s been a while since you completed any form of continuing education.
Includes Real-Life Scenarios
You may run into problems with properties and tenants as a property manager. If the course involves real-life scenarios, you’ll learn best practices to effectively deal with these situations when they do arise.
Taught by a Reputable Instructor
It’s pertinent that the instructor has property management experience. But it’s equally vital that the instructor’s teaching style is engaging — some components of property management can be dull or hard to understand. You can learn more about the instructor by reading course reviews from past students.
Our Top Picks
We’ve researched property management courses from around the web to bring you the best options. Our top picks are from Udemy, Skillshare and the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM).
The courses are organized by skill level — beginner, intermediate and advanced — and included a description and price point to help you make the right choice.
Property Management Course for Beginners
Consider these courses if you want to familiarize yourself with the basics of property management.
1. Property Management 101 by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $44.99
If you’re new to property management and want to start off on the right note, this comprehensive course from Udemy is for you. It teaches the fundamentals of property management and how to avoid difficulties in the role. You can also discover critical strategies that can boost the likelihood of success in the field.
Led by RYJA Design, the course includes 16 lectures condensed into 1 hour of on-demand video. It begins with a brief video on what to expect from the course. The next lesson explains how to prepare a property for rent. Other core topics covered include lease components, qualifying tenants, move-in and move-out inspections, collecting rents, repairs and maintenance, security deposits and evictions.
Enrollment is $12.99 and the class comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re unsatisfied for any reason.
2. Fundamentals of Residential Property Management by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $24.99
Just $24.99 gets you a seat at Fundamentals of Residential Property Management from Udemy. This bestselling course gives you the foundational elements of residential property management from the landlord or property management perspective.
Property management professional Jacqueline Carrington offers insights from her experience in the field on a host of topics, including the Fair Housing Law, leasing management, maintenance management and staff management.
This course is ideal if you’re interested in launching a career or business in property management. It’s also a good fit for current property managers, real estate agents and landlords who need a refresher on the fundamentals of residential property management.
3. Commercial Property Management by Udemy
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: $19.99
Does a career in commercial property management sound more appealing? Commercial Property Management will introduce you to best practices for managing commercial space.
Course material is delivered through 31 minutes of on-demand video and contains the following lectures:
- Commercial building participants
- Managing cleaning, landscaping and security
- Managing technical operations
- Managing bookkeeping, financial reporting and invoice approval
- Tenant management
- Time management
- Working with the leasing team
You will also have access to Excel spreadsheets that supplement the material introduced in each lesson.
The cost to enroll is only $19.99. You can receive a full refund within 30 days of enrollment if the course doesn’t quite meet your needs or live up to your expectations.
Intermediate Property Management Courses
Do you have the foundational knowledge and want to delve into more advanced property management topics? Consider these intermediate-level courses.
4. Successful Tenant Screening in 5 Easy Steps by Udemy
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: $99.99
As a property manager, you want to attract well-qualified tenants that won’t stress you out. Or maybe you’re relatively new to property management or have had a string of bad luck and are looking for ways to revamp your screening techniques? Look no further than this 1-hour course from Udemy.
Real estate investor Sarah Larbi pulls back the curtain on a 5-step approach she’s used over the years to make the tenant screening process seamless. You will also learn how to minimize the chances of attracting bad tenants and ways to legally reject unqualified applicants.
A seat to this course is $99.99, and there are no prerequisites to enroll.
5. Marketing for Residential Property Management by the National Association of Residential Property Managers
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: $165 (members), $265 (non-members)
Offered by the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM), this 6-hour course will help you develop an effective marketing strategy for your property management business.
This class is very hands on and will require you to create or define your mission statement and narrow down your top marketing goal to steer your business in the right direction. You will also learn how to develop a branding strategy, determine which media and advertising outlets are most effective and how to analyze marketing outcomes for your company.
The cost to enroll is $165 for NARPM members. You still have the option to register for $265 if you aren’t yet a part of the organization.
6. Developing Rewarding Owner Relationships by the National Association of Residential Property Managers
- Who it's for: Intermediate students
- Price: $165 (members), $265 (non-members)
Developing Rewarding Owner Relationships is another stellar course offering from the NARPM. It’s designed for property managers and brokers who want to harness the power of relationship-building to foster growth in their business. Even if you’re faced with demanding clients, you’ll learn how to implement satisfactory solutions for both parties.
This course delves into the following 4 stages of relationship development with clients:
- Stage 1: The owner as a prospective client
- Stage 2: Securing the client and property
- Stage 3: Servicing the client
- State 4: Closing out the client relationship
NARPM members can enroll for only $165. The fee for non-members is $265.
Advanced Property Management Course
Experienced property managers seeking expert knowledge or a roadmap to launch their own firm may find these courses useful.
7. Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 1 by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $199.99
Are you familiar with property management but want to learn even more about the field? Or maybe you’re torn between managing your own property or hiring a company to do it for you. By enrolling in this course, you’ll learn the ins and outs of property management and the methodology to know when it makes sense to take property management into your own hands.
When you enroll for only $199.99, you’ll have instant access to 17 lectures jam-packed into 1 hour of on-demand video. The course also includes 2 downloadable resources to supplement your learning and ensure you grasp the key concepts introduced in the class.
The course is led by Nelius Smit, a property practitioner and business adviser. He’s CEO of the NS Investment Group and has over 20 years of property management experience.
8. Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 2 by Udemy
- Who it's for: Beginners
- Price: $199.99
Once you’ve completed Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 1, consider enrolling in the second phase of this course, also taught by Nelius Smit. It contains lessons that will take your knowledge of property management to an even higher level.
Inside, you will find 1 hour of on-demand video on several pertinent topics, including state law, licenses, contracts, new lease agreements, inspections, handling vacancies, renovations, outsourcing contractors, safety items, general cleaning and so much more.
The enrollment fee is $199.99. You’ll receive a certificate of completion when you finish working through the material.
9. How to Start a Profitable Property Management Company by Skillshare
- Who it's for: Advanced students
- Price: Free
Maybe you have several years of property management experience under your belt and want to take it up a notch by opening the doors to a property management company. If this sounds intriguing, this course from Skillshare may be a good fit.
But you don’t just want a company that earns meager returns. You want to build a company that operates seamlessly and turns a profit. This course will teach you proven strategies for success.
The course is facilitated by Ebonie Caldwell, a real estate investor, managing broker, business broker, mentor and trainer. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry and serves as the president of a boutique real estate firm, REI Investment Society.
Choose the Right Property Management Course for You
Now’s the time to learn the skills needed to pursue a career in property management, improve your skills in the field or start your own firm. These online course options can get you started with a small investment.
Before you commit to a course, do your homework to confirm it’s a good fit and is within your budget. The course should be taught by a reputable instructor with industry experience and an engaging teaching style so you can get the most out of your online learning experience.
Southern New Hampshire University Online
SNHU Online Offers:
- Flexible schedules
- Affordable tuition
- Online tutoring
- Access to electronic research materials
- Specialized academic advising
- Supportive online community