13 Apartment Leasing Agent Interview Questions and Answers

Updated on: June 11, 2021

Some common Apartment Leasing Agent I interview questions include:

  1. Tell me about yourself.
  2. Why are you the best person for the apartment leasing agent job?
  3. How have your education and experience prepared you for this position?
  4. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

While these questions may seem straightforward enough, they aren’t.

Yes, the interview part of the job application process is tricky.

However, if you can familiarize yourself with obvious questions that you will be asked, you can ace the interview.

Just to be specific, here is a set of interview questions for an apartment leasing agent:

Apartment Leasing Agent Interview Questions and Answers

1. Tell me about yourself?

I have worked successfully as an apartment leasing agent for the past 4 years. Through my experience, I developed expertise in using online proprietary tools to obtain updated lists of prospective residents and following up effectively to close rental lease deals after conducting residents’ background checks and obtaining a previous rental history.

2. Why should we hire you? / How are you qualified to work as an apartment leasing agent?

Apart from holding a bachelor’s degree in real estate, I have been specifically trained in lease terms and specifications. Additionally, I possess current trend information, can investigate real estate markets to find accurate matches and am fully informed about current rental rates, sizes, locations, and amenities of many properties in and around the city. Moreover, I am well-practiced in drafting lease contracts, maintaining high customer satisfaction level, and actively soliciting prospective clients. I also have a track record of maintaining a 98% unit occupancy rate for my previous employers.

3. What do you know about our firm?

Your company has more than 5 residential towers in the NY area and you currently have 700+ units for renting lease. You also enjoy the reputation of delivering high-quality living standards for individuals and families seeking rental living space in the area.

4. What are the 3 top skills needed to succeed as an apartment leasing agent?

Strong convincing power, sales acumen, and the ability to draft lease contracts in light of the knowledge of the state-approved laws are a must to succeed in this profession.

5. Why is communication considered the backbone of an apartment leasing agent’s work?

As an apartment leasing agent, one has to be in constant contact with residents, potential clients, and vendors. Having to constantly meet with people, provide them with information and understand their demands, communication is a necessary element for someone working in this position.

6. What is the main focus of an apartment leasing agent’s work?

There are two actually. The first one is obtaining new lease agreements and the second is to maintain and if possible, improve retention.

7. What critical component of this position makes the work challenging?

Apart from sales and customer services, marketing is also considered a valuable component. Neither customer services nor sales are possible without effective marketing. Promoting a new property or gaining a customer bank is virtually impossible if one does not have good marketing skills. And since the type of marketing efforts needed in each situation differs, this is where the challenge comes in.

8. What do you know about the fair housing act?

Fair housing act is applicable in the US and this law protects the rights of tenants and landlords, restricting any discrimination in renting matters on basis of class and race. Its goal is to develop a unitary housing market to facilitate the tenants and landlords equally.

9. Have you ever drafted a lease contract?

I have drafted lease contracts several times and I am fully familiar with the legal considerations, both parties’ signage requirements, and general format of lease contracts.

10. What are the duties of an apartment leasing agent?

An apartment leasing agent is responsible for soliciting residents, conducting background checks, drafting lease agreements, obtaining signage, and ensuring that both parties fully understand all clauses of the lease contract. Additionally, the position is also responsible for conducting building inspections and guided tours and forwarding resident complaints to the management for swift and appropriate resolution.

11. Share a difficult experience related to this line of work and how you handled it?

Once a client agreed on a two-monthly installment plan and at the time of payment, he denied it and said that he had signed a monthly lease. I handled the situation by showing him my copy of the draft and serving as a mediator in a negotiation meeting between both parties where the resident requested a revision of the lease and the landlord eventually agreed on their terms thus the issue was resolved and we succeeded in retaining the resident.

12. What do you do to ensure a good occupancy rate?

I look into the building maintenance issues regularly and ensure timely resolution of resident complaints to enhance client retention. I also help in developing marketing material and promoting the apartment online which leads to the attainment of high occupancy rates.

13. What measures do you take to ensure closing a lease?

I maintain an updated list of prospective residents and follow up business leads actively for closing the deal.