Leasing Consultant

Leasing at a 245-unit property like Willow Creek in Plymouth requires a specific set of skills working simultaneously: sales instincts, organization, and genuine people skills. This role uses all three from the moment the phone rings in the morning to the last tour of a Saturday afternoon.

What This Role Actually Demands

The core skill here is sales, but not the pressure-heavy kind. You're converting phone inquiries into visits, visits into applications, and applications into signed leases. That means listening well, matching prospects to the right unit, and following up with people who went quiet. If you let leads sit without follow-up, occupancy slips. The job rewards consultants who are organized enough to track their pipeline and personable enough to make prospects feel at home before they sign anything.

You'll also handle the administrative side of the leasing cycle. Qualifying applicants, preparing lease documents, walking new residents through their move-in inspection, and later handling move-outs the same way. These aren't glamorous tasks, but they protect the property and the resident relationship. Getting paperwork right matters.

Renewal conversations are part of the job too. You're not just filling vacant units; you're keeping current residents from leaving. That takes a different approach than initial leasing, and consultants who do it well add real value to NOI by reducing turn costs.

Skills That Travel Well

Leasing consultants who perform well in this kind of role tend to move into assistant manager positions within a few years. The combination of sales, resident relations, and lease administration builds a foundation for broader property operations. At a company like Bigos, which has ranked as a Star Tribune Top Workplace twelve times, internal development paths tend to be real rather than theoretical.

The Schedule and Setup

This is a Tuesday through Saturday position. Hours vary slightly by day, with some earlier starts. Weekend availability is a firm requirement, since Saturday is typically a high-traffic day for prospective renters.

Pay runs $17 to $22 per hour depending on experience, with leasing commissions and renewal bonuses on top of base. Benefits start the first of the month after hire.

What Bigos Is Looking For

• High school diploma or GED
• One to two years in customer service or sales
• Prior leasing experience is a plus but not required
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Basic computer literacy: email, web-based tools
• No active real estate license while in this role
• Ability to travel occasionally for company meetings and training

Candidates who stand out tend to combine genuine follow-through with organized habits. Plenty of applicants can give a good tour. Fewer consistently follow up with every prospect, track their pipeline, and close renewals without prompting. That's where the difference shows up in occupancy numbers.