Property management isn’t just about collecting rent and fixing leaky faucets. For military personnel, property management carries a unique set of challenges that require a specialized approach. Military service members often face frequent relocations, deployments, and other lifestyle demands that make traditional property management difficult. As a property manager, understanding these challenges and knowing how to support our service members can set you apart and create lasting, positive relationships.
This guide dives into the essentials of military property management, offering tips and strategies to effectively support those who serve our country.
Understanding the Military Lifestyle
Military life is unpredictable. Service members might receive orders to relocate with little notice, spend months or even years away from their homes, and face uncertainties that civilians typically don’t experience. These factors create a unique set of needs when it comes to property management.
Frequent Relocations
Military families move—often. Known as Permanent Change of Station (PCS), these relocations can happen every few years or even more frequently. When service members receive PCS orders, they must leave their current duty station and move to a new one. These relocations are mandatory, meaning service members might need to sell their homes, find renters, or secure new housing quickly.
Deployments and Extended Absences
Deployments can last months or even years, leaving service members far from home with little ability to manage their properties. During these times, having a reliable property manager is essential to ensure the home is well-maintained and any issues are promptly addressed.
VA Benefits and Housing Allowances
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers various benefits related to housing, including VA loans and housing allowances. Understanding these benefits and how they impact service members’ housing decisions is crucial for property managers working with military clients.
The Role of a Military Property Manager
Property management for military clients goes beyond traditional management roles. It requires flexibility, understanding, and a willingness to go the extra mile. Here’s what you need to know to effectively support military service members.
1. Provide Flexibility in Lease Terms
Service members often need flexible lease terms due to the uncertainty of their orders. Offering short-term leases, month-to-month options, or military clauses (which allow for early termination without penalty due to PCS orders or deployments) can make your properties more attractive to military tenants.
Military Clause: Including a military clause in leases is a must when dealing with service members. This clause allows them to terminate the lease early without penalty if they receive PCS orders or are deployed. A standard military clause typically requires 30 days’ notice and official orders as proof.
2. Understand the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA)
The SCRA provides various legal protections for active-duty military members, including protections related to housing. For instance, under the SCRA, service members may be able to terminate leases early without penalty under certain conditions, such as receiving deployment or PCS orders. Familiarizing yourself with these protections ensures compliance and helps you serve your military tenants better.
3. Offer Remote Property Management Services
Given the frequent relocations and deployments, many military service members require remote property management services. Offering online portals for rent payments, maintenance requests, and communication can be a game-changer. Service members should be able to manage everything related to their rental property, even from thousands of miles away.
4. Help with Property Preparation and Management During Deployments
When service members are deployed, they need to know their property is in good hands. As a property manager, offering services such as property preparation for vacancy (e.g., securing the home, managing utilities) and ongoing maintenance checks during their absence can provide peace of mind. Regular updates and reports to the deployed service member can help them stay informed and confident that their property is being cared for.
5. Assist with VA Loan and Housing Allowance Navigation
VA loans offer significant benefits, such as no down payment and lower interest rates, but they come with their own set of rules. Helping your military clients navigate the complexities of VA loans and understanding how Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) impacts their rental or home-buying decisions can be invaluable.
6. Build a Network of Military-Friendly Service Providers
When managing properties for military families, having a network of military-friendly service providers can make a big difference. These are contractors, repair services, and real estate professionals who understand the unique needs of military clients and can provide timely, reliable service. This network ensures that your military tenants receive the best possible service, even in emergencies or under tight time constraints.
7. Offer Support During PCS Moves
Relocations can be stressful for military families, especially when they need to manage a rental property from afar. Offering additional support during PCS moves, such as handling the logistics of moving out and finding new tenants quickly, can ease this burden. Consider offering move-out services like cleaning, repairs, and inspections to ensure the property is ready for the next tenant.
Marketing Your Properties to Military Service Members
Attracting military tenants requires targeted marketing efforts. Military families often look for specific features in a rental property, and highlighting these can help you stand out.
1. Highlight Military-Friendly Features
Properties near military bases, with flexible lease terms, or that are well-suited for families (e.g., good schools, safe neighborhoods) should be highlighted in your marketing materials. Mentioning proximity to bases and offering a military discount on the first month’s rent or application fees can also attract military tenants.
2. Use Military-Specific Channels
Advertise your properties on military-specific platforms and websites, such as MilitaryByOwner.com or AHRN.com (Automated Housing Referral Network). These platforms are widely used by military families searching for housing near their duty stations.
3. Partner with Military Relocation Professionals
Real estate agents who specialize in military relocations can be valuable partners. Establishing relationships with these professionals can help you reach a broader military audience. They can refer military families looking for rental properties in your area, providing a steady stream of potential tenants.
4. Attend Military Housing Fairs and Events
Many military bases hold housing fairs and events for service members and their families. Participating in these events allows you to showcase your properties directly to military personnel. It’s also a great way to network with other professionals who serve the military community.
Special Considerations for Military Property Owners
If your military client is a property owner rather than a tenant, there are additional considerations to keep in mind. These property owners often need more hands-on management due to their unique situations.
1. Assist with Tenant Screening and Placement
Military property owners might need to rent out their homes quickly due to a PCS move or deployment. Providing thorough tenant screening and placement services is essential. Ensure that you find reliable tenants who will care for the property while the owner is away.
2. Offer Comprehensive Property Management Packages
Military property owners often require full-service management, including rent collection, maintenance, and emergency repairs. Offering comprehensive property management packages tailored to the needs of military clients can be a valuable service. Consider including extras like biannual inspections, regular maintenance updates, and financial reporting.
3. Support During Reassignments or Sale
When a military property owner is reassigned, they may decide to sell the property rather than continue renting it out. As their property manager, you can support this transition by handling the sale process or helping them find another property manager if they relocate out of your service area. Providing continuity of service during these transitions builds trust and long-term relationships.
Conclusion
Managing properties for military service members is both an honor and a responsibility. It requires understanding their unique needs, providing flexible and reliable service, and going the extra mile to support them during transitions, deployments, and relocations.
By offering specialized services and demonstrating a commitment to supporting those who serve our country, you not only fulfill a critical need but also build a strong reputation within the military community. Whether you’re managing rentals for military tenants or overseeing properties owned by military families, the key is to be proactive, flexible, and always ready to adapt to the unique challenges of military life.
Supporting our service members in their housing needs is a way to give back to those who give so much. By mastering military property management, you’re not just managing properties—you’re making a difference in the lives of our military families.