Dealing with property damage, assessment, repairs, and replacement are just some of the actual tasks property management services perform on a regular basis. While a lot of people can be successful performing these individual tasks, it takes a lot more time, skill, and effort to be the manager in charge of it all. Whether you’re dealing with commercial property development or residential property maintenance, there are certain qualities that every professional in property management services should have.

There were an estimated 297,000 Americans working in some sort of property management services, in 2012 alone. If you are, or are planning to be, one of them here are a couple of the most important qualities you need to have.

1. Communication With Tenants: There’s a reason this is first on the list. Getting along with tenants is probably the easiest way to make your job in property management service easier. By having a good relationship you can avoid countless situations just by having open lines of communication. Not to mention, when you have a good relationship with someone they’re much less likely to lose it over small matters that you might have missed or not had the time to deal with at a given time.
2. Communication With Employees: As important as communication with tenants is, communication with employees both underneath and above you is crucial too. For workers that may be employed under your direction, you need to be able to trust them as a lot of the work they will be doing on their own without your direct supervision. In terms of your superiors, it’s much easier to discuss potential problems you may run into, or general business matters if you’re open and honest with the condition of your properties and temperament of the tenants.
3. Resourcefulness and Quick Thinking: As any homeowner knows all to well, any number of things can go wrong at any given time and as the property manager it’s your responsibility to take care of them. Sometimes this can be something minor, replacing a smoke detector every five years or so, but if not tended to quickly and efficiently can spiral into a much larger, more serious mess. Being able to come up with solutions at the drop of a hat can go a long way in property management services.

Overall, the property management industry raked in about $69 billion in the U.S., in 2014. If you’re interested in getting a piece of that pie, or looking for ways to improve your position in the role you currently have focus on these three qualities first.