Real Estate Property Management

Property Management Basics: A Practical Foundations Course

Learn the core systems, legal duties, and day-to-day practices needed to manage rental property with confidence.

Property Management Basics: A Practical Foundations Course logo
Quick Course Facts
17
Self-paced, Online, Lessons
17
Videos and/or Narrated Presentations
5.7
Approximate Hours of Course Media
About the Property Management Basics: A Practical Foundations Course Course

This Property Management Basics course gives you a practical introduction to managing rental property with structure, confidence, and professionalism. Designed for learners interested in Real Estate, it helps you Learn the core systems, legal duties, and day-to-day practices needed to manage rental property with confidence.

Build Strong Property Management Skills For Real Estate Success

  • Understand what property management involves and how it supports successful Real Estate operations
  • Learn the core systems, legal duties, and day-to-day practices needed to manage rental property with confidence.
  • Develop practical workflows for marketing, screening, leasing, and tenant communication
  • Gain a clearer approach to maintenance, inspections, budgeting, and risk control

Property Management Basics provides a foundation in the essential processes that keep rental properties organized, compliant, and profitable.

Throughout this course, you will explore the full lifecycle of rental property management, from understanding different property types and management models to handling move-ins, rent collection, maintenance, and move-outs. Each lesson is designed to help you build reliable habits and a clear operating structure, whether you are supporting one unit or managing a larger portfolio.

You will also learn how to approach legal duties, documentation, and compliance with greater confidence. The course covers essential admin systems, recordkeeping, leases, tenant screening, and communication practices that help reduce mistakes and improve professionalism in everyday Real Estate work.

In addition to occupant relations and operational control, the course gives attention to budgeting, fees, contractor management, inspections, insurance, and incident response. These practical skills help you protect both the property and the people involved while keeping business processes steady and transparent.

By the end of the course, you will have a stronger understanding of how to manage rental property with care, consistency, and good judgment. You will be better prepared to organize your workflow, support tenants and owners effectively, and step into property management with a more confident, professional mindset.

Course Lessons

Full lesson breakdown

Lessons are organized by topic area and each includes descriptive copy for search visibility and student clarity.

Course Foundations and Role Overview

1 lesson

This lesson introduces property management as a business function , not just an operational task list. Learners will see how property managers act as the day-to-day coordinator between owners, residen…

Understanding the Asset and the Operating Structure

1 lesson

Lesson 2: Types of Rental Property and Management Models

18 min
This lesson explains how to identify common rental property types and how those asset types shape day-to-day management. You will also compare self-management, in-house management, and third-party pro…

Core Obligations for Managers and Landlords

1 lesson

Lesson 3: Legal Duties and Basic Compliance

22 min
This lesson explains the core legal duties and compliance habits that every property manager and landlord must understand before operating rental housing. It focuses on practical obligations such as f…

Admin, Documentation, and Operational Control

1 lesson

Lesson 4: Setting Up Systems, Records, and Workflows

20 min
This lesson shows how to build the administrative backbone of a rental operation: where to store documents, how to track key dates and tasks, and how to create repeatable workflows that reduce missed …

Listings, Enquiries, and Viewing Preparation

1 lesson

Lesson 5: Marketing a Vacant Property Effectively

18 min
Marketing a vacant property is about attracting the right tenants quickly while setting clear expectations from the start. In this lesson, you will learn how to prepare a listing that is accurate, com…

Selecting Suitable Occupants

1 lesson

Lesson 6: Tenant Screening and Application Review

22 min
This lesson explains how to screen tenants in a way that is consistent, fair, and documented . You will learn how to define screening criteria, collect and review applications, verify key information,…

Creating a Clear Tenancy Start

1 lesson

Lesson 7: Leases, Agreements, and Move-In Procedures

20 min
This lesson explains how to set up a tenancy correctly from the start by using a clear lease, the right agreements, and a consistent move-in process. You will learn what belongs in a lease, which adde…

Cash Flow, Follow-Up, and Recovery Steps

1 lesson

Lesson 8: Rent Collection and Arrears Management

22 min
This lesson explains how to collect rent consistently, track unpaid balances, and respond early when a tenant falls behind. Students will learn how to set up a reliable payment process, confirm receip…

Protecting the Property Through Responsive Care

1 lesson

Lesson 9: Maintenance Planning and Repair Coordination

22 min
This lesson shows how to build a practical maintenance plan that protects the property, reduces emergency calls, and keeps repairs organized. You will learn how to separate routine, preventive, and ur…

Monitoring Standards Over Time

1 lesson

Lesson 10: Inspections, Condition Reporting, and Property Care

18 min
Regular inspections are one of the most practical tools in property management. They help you confirm that a rental is being cared for, spot maintenance issues early, and document the property's condi…

Sourcing, Approving, and Managing External Support

1 lesson

Lesson 11: Working with Contractors and Vendors

18 min
Working with contractors and vendors is one of the most practical parts of property management. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to source reliable help, compare bids, set expectations, and keep vendo…

Professional Messaging and Expectations

1 lesson

Lesson 12: Communication with Tenants and Owners

20 min
This lesson covers how property managers communicate clearly, consistently, and professionally with tenants and owners. You will learn the expectations that reduce confusion, prevent disputes, and kee…

De-escalation and Fair Process

1 lesson

Lesson 13: Handling Complaints, Disputes, and Difficult Situations

22 min
This lesson focuses on how property managers handle tenant complaints, disputes, and tense situations while staying calm, consistent, and fair. You will learn a simple de-escalation process, how to do…

Closing a Tenancy Properly

1 lesson

Lesson 14: End-of-Tenancy Processes and Move-Out Checks

20 min
End-of-tenancy work is where property management becomes especially detail-driven. This lesson shows how to plan a move-out, inspect a unit fairly, document its condition, coordinate turnover tasks, a…

Understanding the Numbers Behind Management

1 lesson

Lesson 15: Budgeting, Fees, and Basic Financial Reporting

22 min
This lesson explains how property management money flows through the business: what income to track, which expenses to budget for, and how to present results clearly to an owner. You will learn the di…

Reducing Exposure and Responding Well

1 lesson

Lesson 16: Risk Management, Insurance, and Incident Response

20 min
Risk management in property management is about reducing the chance of loss, recognizing problems early, and responding in a way that protects people, the property, and the business. In this lesson, l…

Putting the Essentials into Practice

1 lesson

Lesson 17: Building a Professional Property Management Routine

18 min
This lesson turns property management theory into a repeatable daily routine. You will learn how to organize your day, prioritize tasks, track tenant and maintenance activity, and build habits that ke…
About Your Instructor
Professor Christina Ross

Professor Christina Ross

Professor Christina Ross guides this AI-built Virversity course with a clear, practical teaching style.