Introduction
Real estate management is a strategic pillar for owners, investors, companies, and communities. Its goal is to maximize profitability, ensure the sustainability of built assets, and guarantee occupant comfort. Whether you are a private landlord, property manager, or manager of a professional real estate portfolio, this article provides the fundamentals, tools, challenges, and best practices of modern real estate management.
What is real estate management?
Real estate management includes all operations to administer, operate, maintain, and enhance a property, whether residential, commercial, industrial, or public.
- Rental management (tenant search, rent collection, reminders, etc.)
- Technical management (maintenance, works, safety)
- Financial and regulatory management (budgets, tax declarations, compliance)
➡️ Full definition at economie.gouv.fr
Major challenges in real estate management
1. Financial profitability
- High occupancy rate
- Optimized rents
- Controlled expenses
2. Asset enhancement
Maintenance work, energy renovation, or adaptation to modern uses (e.g., smart building) increase the market value of the property.
3. Legal compliance
- Property diagnostics (energy, asbestos, lead, etc.)
- Fire safety
- Environmental standards (Climate Law, tertiary decree)
4. Occupant satisfaction
A well-managed building improves tenant well-being and strengthens loyalty.
Digital tools for real estate management
1. Rental management software
Platforms like Synergie, Plexpro make it easier to:
- Track rents
- Accounting
- Manage documents and contracts
2. BIM (Building Information Modeling)
Used for large complexes, BIM provides a 3D and real-time view of the building, useful for maintenance, renovation, and asset management.
3. Dashboards and KPIs
Implementing technical and financial reporting allows you to track:
- Profitability by property or portfolio
- Tenant turnover rate
- Progress of work plans
Best practices for effective management
- Outsource to a certified property manager for large portfolios
- Create a multi-year maintenance plan
- Digitize processes to automate data collection and reduce human error
- Regularly conduct energy performance audits
- Monitor regulations to anticipate obligations (BACS decree, Climate & Resilience Law)
Focus: tertiary real estate management
With the tertiary decree (Eco Energy Tertiary Scheme), buildings over 1,000 m² must reduce their energy consumption. This involves:
- An integrated energy strategy
- Monitoring tools like OPERAT (ADEME platform)
- Gradual renovation of the existing stock
Conclusion
Real estate management is no longer just about paperwork or rents. It is a strategic lever to improve profitability, enhance assets, address environmental challenges, and ensure optimal operation. By combining digital tools, technical expertise, and a sustainable approach, managers can turn their real estate portfolio into a true engine of performance.