As a property manager or owner of a property management company, continue your professional development and increase your profitability by reading property management publications whenever you get the chance. Excelling in your business requires current knowledge of your industry, so learning from just one property management article you read during a break can help you make informed business decisions that will affect the future of your business.

Property management publications provide valuable resources for learning more about the property management and real estate industry, best practices and insider advice. As you search for property management resources that deliver the information you need and trust, consider the following types of publications:

1. Buy books on property management to build on your existing knowledge of the industry.

2. Subscribe to a property management magazine for current news.

3. Take advantage of a property management publication like a report or journal for detailed industry information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a property management book for reference or background information

Add to your professional library with property management books that contain reference information at your fingertips.

I recommend: Order Landlord's Kit: A complete Set of Ready-to-Use Forms, Letters and Notices to Increase Profits, Take Control and Eliminate the Hassles of Property Management, if you're just starting out. The 2007 revised edition by Jeffrey Taylor gives landlords and property managers every form or checklist needed to communicate with tenants to help ensure timely receipt of rent, long-term resident retention and proper property maintenance. Purchase Landlording on Auto-Pilot: A Simple, No-Brainer System for Higher Profits and Fewer Headaches, by Mike Butler. The 2007 book focuses on cash flow and tax benefits and offers useful information to both new and seasoned property managers and landlords on all aspects of managing rental properties.

Add a property manager magazine to the list of resources at your fingertips

You'll find an abundant supply of current information in trade magazines. Property management articles will give you detailed information regarding all aspects of the industry, in addition to helpful 'how-to' instructions for various tasks you must accomplish.

I recommend: Bookmark Buildings.com, the online magazine for building owners and facility managers. The monthly property management publication delivers information on the development, construction, modernization, management and operation of buildings and all that's needed to support them. Order a subscription to Journal of Property Management, a bi-monthly magazine aimed at asset and property managers in the U.S.

Search among property management journals and reports for in-depth information

Keep up with the newest research affecting your industry by reading a real estate or property management journal or report.

I recommend: Order the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, an American Real Estate Society publication. The journal delivers information useful to real estate management, development and finance decision makers, among others. Consider a subscription to the Journal of Real Estate Literature, another American Real Estate Society publication. This journal includes working papers, dissertations, articles and book reviews on specialized topics within the real estate industry. Order the 2007 research report titled, Accredited Residential Manager: Profile and Compensation Study. This report provides residential property managers with everything they need to stay competitive in terms of compensation and fringe benefits for those with the ARM certification. Purchase the 80-page report titled, Insider's Tips to Operating a Successful Property Management Company. Published in 2007, the detailed report offers practical information on successful staffing and company organization strategies, instructions for composing a management proposal, maintaining ethical practices and professional standards, incentives and leasing commissions, advice on managing new accounts and expanding profitability.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Besides researching topics and staying abreast of new developments, use property managers publications to develop new networking opportunities and forums to swap information, advice and other resources.