Real estate manager: training, further education, information, self-test, schools

Real estate managers with a federal certificate are able to lead a small management team of two to three people, manage property accounting, debt collection and reminders, prepare owner reports and manage condominiums and rental properties. They are able to set rents and draw up marketing concepts, select tenants and ensure that vacancies are minimized, conduct correspondence, enforce claims and draw up rental agreements. Prospective property managers are responsible for the maintenance of properties, carry out condition analyses and supervise tenant improvements and renovations. They ensure that defects are rectified, handed over and accepted quickly and competently and work together with the janitor. Property managers place orders with tradespeople, record and process insurance and damage claims, and ensure that energy-efficient household appliances and equipment, water-saving sanitary products, ecological paints and natural green space maintenance are used.

A real estate manager job involves the following tasks:

• management orders from building or condominium owners for the efficient management of their properties.
• First lettings and re-lettings, drafting tenancy agreements, amendments to tenancy agreements, terminations of tenancy agreements and acceptance and handover of properties
• Organization of personnel caretaking in properties incl. employee recruitment, contracts, specifications and monitoring
• Obtaining and checking quotations from tradesmen for renovations, refurbishments and conversions, awarding and checking orders
• Business management tasks such as budgeting and monitoring real estate expenses, calculating heating, ancillary and operating costs, billing, rent calculation, insurance, taxes, dunning and collection processes
• Condominium management incl. condominium deeds, usage regulations, maintenance / operating cost accounting, renewal fund and administration

People interested in training make inquiries from schools about training as a real estate manager for a variety of reasons, as the survey by the education portal Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch shows:

• 53 % according to an online assessment
• 28 % on the basis of a recommendation
• 19 % knew the school in question from before

Another reason for school inquiries is shown by optional text responses: "Google", "Seen on Google search", "Searched on Google for additional training and courses", "Well located from home in terms of transport", "Location", "in Zug", "Seems logical as an association", "Possibility of e-learning", "Informed", "Did vocational training there", "Offer online courses, which would be very practical for me as I still work otherwise.", "I live nearby.", "Result from the online search engine.", "Flexibility", "Digital training option", "Best impression", "Individual course possible" and "Online course".

For 2016, examination fees of CHF 2700 will be charged for the federal professional examination in real estate management. In addition, there are of course the course costs, any costs for enrolment, specialist literature, etc. for further training to become a real estate manager with a federal certificate.

According to a survey conducted by the education platform Ausbildung-Weiterbildung.ch, people are interested in real estate management training for the following reasons:

• 78 % Needs assessment - they check whether the course meets their needs
• 11 % Recommendation - the training was recommended to them
• 11 % Mention in job advertisements - this degree is required in job advertisements

Several people gave further reasons for their interest in training as a real estate manager in the additional free text response:

• "I already got a taste of the job with the preliminary course and I really like the job."
• "Would like to help my landlord manage his properties."
• "Because I'm training to be a clerk."
• "It would be a great student job on the side and also interesting and better paid than working at the Migros checkout, for example."
• "I am already involved in maintenance and management and would like to obtain a federal certificate."
• "This course should form the basis for my future career. "
• "I will soon be managing a property myself."
• "Because I need this knowledge and I want to know more about real estate"
• "Private"
• "I've been doing this since 2018 and I enjoy it"
• "I want the specialist certificate for the job I'm already doing"
• "Personal development"
• "I am interested in this industry"
• "I have my own property"
• "Deepening specialist knowledge"
• "I already work in this sector"
• "I completed an apprenticeship as a home furnishing consultant. Would now like to take the next step."
• "If I know what is taught in the course, I know what services I can expect."
• "Can help me with my studies and a quicker career start in this industry."
• "I am the managing director of a real estate service and want to expand our field of activity."
• "I'll soon be working for a real estate manager."
• "The course is offered online."
• "I want to get into the real estate industry."
• "I need the qualification (federal certificate) to apply to become a property manager."

Continuing education in real estate management with a federal certificate is a part-time course that allows participants to continue working. At many schools, it is therefore possible for you to continue working full-time and only attend classes one or two evenings a week or one evening and on Saturdays. In this way, you do not have to reduce your working hours but, as you should be aware, you will have quite a heavy work and learning load during this time.

The professional examination to become a real estate manager with a federal certificate comprises the written examination parts of law, personnel management, construction knowledge and real estate management, as well as an oral examination in real estate management. Detailed information can be obtained directly from the individual real estate management schools.

The following persons are admitted to the real estate manager further training for the specialist certificate (at the time of taking the examination):

• At least 3 years of basic vocational training, high school diploma, federally recognized commercial diploma, HF degree, federal certificate, federal diploma, university degree or equivalent qualification
• At least 3 years of full-time work experience in a profession in the real estate industry after completing the training

or

• 5 years of full-time professional experience in a profession in the real estate industry, including at least 2 years in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein
  and
• No entries in the criminal record that contradict the purpose of the audit

With a specialist certificate in real estate management, you can work as a middle manager in real estate companies, real estate funds, pension funds, banks, insurance companies, construction and general contractors, in public administration or in fiduciary, auditing and property management companies. There are also opportunities for further development as:

• Certified fiduciary expert
• Certified real estate trustee
• Head of Facility Management
• Certified business economist HF
• Bachelor of Science (FH) in Facility Management
• Bachelor of Science (FH) in Business Administration