| Cottonwood Residential is seeking an experienced and energetic Leasing Specialist for a community in Pinellas Park, FL.
Job Title
Leasing Specialist – Residential
Property
Runaway Bay Apartments
4701 88th Avenue North
Pinellas Park, FL 33782
Reports to
Community Manager
FLSA
Exempt
Employment Type
Full-time
Job Summary
If you’re upbeat, positive and want to make a real difference in people’s lives, then you’ll be on fire as our leasing professional – who does much more than simply sell. This diverse role combines sales, customer service and marketing to lease apartment homes to interested prospects. You will lease incredible apartments in our amazing communities through product demonstration and strategic marketing. Making residents feel at home is another aspect of your position, with responsibilities that include maintaining high levels of resident satisfaction and retention. You’ll also get to demonstrate your marketing prowess through web advertising and inquiries as well as keep tabs on competitors through telephone surveys and onsite visits. While many sales jobs require lots of paperwork, Cottonwood’s proprietary online community management systems make lease paperwork and leasing reports an easy task. Service-minded individuals thrive in this position, as do those who enjoy selling a product that they can truly be proud of representing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Create and maintain ongoing superior customer service relationships with potential and current residents.
- Maintain a courteous and helpful attitude to residents and potential residents.
- Adhere to Cottonwood’s Standard Operating Procedures.
- Sell the value of community features as they relate to the customer needs to close the sale.
- Respond to internet leads, answer prospect calls and conduct property tours following the guidelines outlined in the mystery shop forms.
- Work to optimize occupancy while maximizing effective leased rent.
- Utilize established sales and marketing strategies to increase property traffic, maintain closing ratios and work to achieve and exceed budgeted occupancy percentages.
- Maintain thorough product knowledge of the property and that of major competition.
- Accurately prepare and be thoroughly knowledgeable about all lease-related paperwork.
- Maintain prospect traffic and leasing data; assist with other computer data entry as necessary.
- Deliver resident gifts; inspect units to ensure readiness for move-ins.
- Respond to resident request promptly and courteously and to help resolve resident issues.
- Plan, schedule and organize resident functions as needed; assist with planning and hosting of others.
- Audit all lease and renewal files for key controls and bonus submission to the community manager.
- Assist in developing and maintaining a resident retention/renewal program in order to achieve optimum increases and conversion ratios.
- Assist in monitoring renewals and distribute and follow-up on renewal notices.
- May be required to assist in special projects or activities including due diligence, property acquisition/disposition, serving on or participating in company sponsored or sanctioned committees, organizations, functions, etc.
- Assist in preparing the competitive market survey report as needed.
- To participate in the coordination of community sponsored events.
- Attends and participates in Cottonwood’s training programs as required.
- Attendance is an essential job function.
- Other tasks or duties as assigned by supervisor.
Additional Skills & Competencies:
- Leasing, sales, and/or customer service experience is desired.
- Sales-minded individual with strong attention to detail.
- Strong customer service/satisfaction philosophy.
- Able to meet/exceed sales objectives.
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Excellent follow-up skills via email and phone.
- Positive attitude, strong work ethic and self-motivation.
- Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license.
- Telephone at home or cell phone.
- Handle stressful, urgent, novel and diverse work situations on a daily basis.
- Exceptional multi-tasking and communication skills, both oral and written.
- Ability to accept and learn from constructive criticism.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret all forms of information.
- Ability to work standard community hours with capability to work and additional fifteen (15) minutes daily prior to office opening.
- Team oriented with ability to work independently on occasion.
- Leaderships skills and coaching ability.
- Demonstrated tact and diplomacy.
- Expanded knowledge of Internet marketing.
- Ability to learn and operate company software programs.
Physical Requirements
- Stand or walk or sit alternatively depending on the day’s needs. Estimate 70% of time is spent standing or walking and 30% sitting at a desk.
- Bending, stooping, and squatting for filing frequently needed.
- Ability to climb stairs frequently needed to inspect the property.
- Pushing and pulling doors/cabinets to inspect the property frequently needed.
- Reaching above the shoulders for inspecting the property frequently needed.
- Writing/typing for communication frequently needed.
- Grasping/turning for telephone and doorknob use frequently needed.
- Dexterity to complete paperwork and operate office equipment.
- Lifting/carrying 10-25 lbs. occasionally needed.
- Constant need for vision in small detail and beyond arm’s reach to view computer screens, reports, forms, inspecting property, etc.
- Constant need for hearing and speech to communicate with staff, vendors, residents, and prospects in person and on the telephone.
Working Conditions
- Approximately 60% time spent working in an on-site office and approximately 40% time spent working outside in the field.
- Capability to work in inclement weather.
Experience
- High school education or equivalent is required
- College degree is preferred but not required.
- National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) preferred.
- Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Yardi Voyager Experience a plus.
- Prior sales experience is a plus.
- Knowledge of Fair Housing Laws preferred.
Travel/Attendance
- Ability to work any of the seven days of the week, 52 weeks of the year. Our community staffing limitations make it critical for you to work your scheduled hours consistently as well as overtime if necessary when requested.
Compensation & Benefits
Cottonwood Residential’s success is predicated on its ability to recruit and retain highly qualified and motivated people in all areas of the company. Cottonwood Residential is an equal opportunity employer and offers a competitive compensation and benefits package.
To Apply
Visit www.CottonwoodRes.com/Careers to begin the Candidate Application Process for this position. Or, visit www.CottonwoodRes.com/Careers to search for this position as well as other opportunities.
This job description should not be considered all-inclusive. It is merely a guide of expected duties. The employee understands that the job description is neither complete nor permanent and it may be modified at any time. An employee may be asked to perform additional duties or take on additional responsibilities without notice.
Job Type: Full-time
Required education:
- High school or equivalent
Required experience:
- Leasing: 1 year
- Customer Service: 1 year
Required license or certification:
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