The Hidden Costs of Understaffing in Property Management: How Skipping Roles Hurts Retention & Reputation
- bberrodin
- Oct 29
- 3 min read
In a tight labor market and an increasingly competitive industry, property management leaders are under immense pressure to do more with less. Balancing budgets while maintaining smooth operations is no easy feat, and too often, staffing becomes the first area to take a hit.
But as highlighted by Multifamily Insiders, when onsite teams are stretched too thin, the ripple effects are immediate and costly. Understaffing isn’t just a budget issue; it’s a resident experience issue, a burnout issue, and ultimately, a reputation issue.
The High Cost of Being Short-Staffed
Overworked Teams = Burnout and Turnover
When communities operate without full teams, missing maintenance techs, leasing agents, or assistant property managers, the remaining employees are forced to juggle extra responsibilities. Today’s on-site workloads are heavier than ever, but staffing levels haven’t always kept pace.
The result?
Longer hours and rising stress levels
Decreased productivity and morale
Burnout and preventable turnover
Turnover in property management can exceed 30% annually, resulting in thousands of dollars in costs associated with recruiting, onboarding, and lost productivity. Understaffing then creates a vicious cycle: fewer people means more pressure, and more pressure means more resignations.
The Resident Experience Takes a Hit
Your residents feel the effects of understaffing just as much as your employees do. Delayed maintenance requests, unreturned calls, and reduced office coverage quickly lead to frustration and negative reviews.
When the resident experience slips, it directly impacts:
Renewal rates
Online reputation
Occupancy and revenue stability
In a digital-first leasing environment, reputation is everything. A few poor experiences can snowball into long-term financial loss, and once trust is broken, it’s hard to rebuild.
Maintenance Backlogs and Deferred Costs
A short-handed maintenance team may seem manageable in the short term, but small delays can lead to major costs down the road. Deferred maintenance shortens equipment life cycles, increases emergency repairs, and contributes to resident dissatisfaction.
Beyond that, longer work order times can create compliance issues and safety risks, adding unnecessary stress to already overloaded teams.
Your Reputation as an Employer Is on the Line
In property management, word travels fast. When teams feel unsupported or communities are known for high turnover, that story spreads through job boards, online reviews, and local networks. A strained employer brand makes it even harder to attract top talent, driving up time-to-fill and recruitment costs.
Strategic Staffing Is an Investment, Not an Expense
The good news? You can reverse these trends with the right staffing strategy. Fully staffed teams are more engaged, more efficient, and more capable of delivering an exceptional resident experience.
By viewing staffing as an investment instead of an expense, property leaders can:
Protect resident satisfaction and retention
Reduce employee burnout and turnover
Safeguard brand reputation
Strengthen community performance
At BGSF, we understand that every role in your community plays a vital part in its success. Whether you need temporary leasing consultants, skilled maintenance professionals, or external staffing support to handle peak workloads, we provide flexible workforce solutions that keep your communities fully supported, your residents happy, and your reputation in good standing. Don’t let short staffing shortchange your success.
Protecting Teams, Residents, and Revenue
Understaffing might seem like a short-term solution to budget pressures, but the hidden costs quickly outweigh any savings. In property management, every role matters, and leaving positions unfilled can create ripple effects that impact teams, residents, and the bottom line. By prioritizing strategic staffing and leveraging flexible workforce solutions, property management leaders can protect their communities, strengthen their teams, and maintain a competitive edge in a challenging market.
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