17 Housing Coordinator Interview Questions and Answers

A housing coordinator is responsible for helping people find housing. They work with a variety of people, including landlords, tenants, and property managers. The coordinator also helps to develop housing policies and procedures.

If you’re looking for a job in this field, you’ll likely need to go through a job interview. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some common questions and answers that you can expect during your interview.

Are you familiar with the local real estate market?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working in the local housing market. If you are interviewing for a position in a new area, it can be beneficial to do some research on the local real estate market before your interview. You can use this time to learn about any trends or unique aspects of the housing market that might help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I am familiar with the local real estate market and I think my familiarity with the area is one of my greatest strengths as a candidate for this role. In my last role, I worked closely with several local realtors to find homes for their clients. This helped me understand the different neighborhoods and home types available in the area. I also learned which areas were more popular than others.”

What are some of the most important qualities for a successful housing coordinator?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to be successful in this role. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a few of your strongest qualities that make you an ideal candidate for this position.

Example: “I believe some of the most important qualities for a housing coordinator are organization, problem-solving skills and communication skills. As a housing coordinator, I would need to keep track of many different details about each resident’s account, including their rent payments, maintenance requests and other information. These skills can help me stay organized and ensure residents receive the best service possible.

Another important quality is my ability to communicate with others. In this role, I would work closely with property managers, residents and other staff members. Having strong communication skills can help me collaborate with these individuals and provide them with the support they need.”

How would you handle a situation where a property owner was not satisfied with the candidates you brought them for their rental unit?

As a housing coordinator, you may be responsible for finding candidates to fill rental units. If the property owner is not satisfied with the candidates you present them with, they may ask you to find more qualified applicants. An interviewer may ask this question to understand how you would respond in this situation and ensure that you can handle conflict professionally. In your answer, try to emphasize your problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure.

Example: “I would first apologize to the property owner for any inconvenience I caused. Then, I would explain to them why I chose the candidates I did and offer to help them search for other options. If the property owner still wasn’t happy with my response, I would do everything I could to find them better candidates.”

What is your process for finding the right match for a client or a client for a client?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you use your interpersonal skills to match clients with housing options that meet their needs. Describe a process you have for finding matches and what factors you consider when making these decisions.

Example: “I first ask my client about their preferences, such as whether they want an apartment or home, if they need assistance with daily tasks like cooking or cleaning and any other special considerations, such as pets or children. Then I search our database of available properties to find ones that fit all of these criteria. If I don’t find a good match right away, I will reach out to property owners who haven’t responded yet to see if they are willing to work with us.”

Provide an example of a time when you successfully negotiated with a landlord or a tenant.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and ability to negotiate. When answering, it can be helpful to provide an example of a time when you successfully negotiated with someone who was upset or disagreed with something you said.

Example: “In my previous role as a housing coordinator, I had a tenant who called me because they were unhappy with their landlord’s decision to raise the rent on their apartment by $50 per month. The tenant felt that raising the rent would make it difficult for them to afford their current living situation. I spoke with the landlord and explained that the tenant had been paying below market value for their current rent. After some discussion, the landlord agreed to raise the rent only by $25 per month.”

If a client was struggling to pay their rent, what would be your first course of action?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your customer service skills and ability to empathize with clients. In your answer, try to show that you would be empathetic toward the client’s situation while also ensuring they understand their responsibilities as a tenant.

Example: “If a client was struggling to pay rent, I would first make sure they understood their obligation to pay rent on time each month. If they were having trouble paying rent due to financial hardship, I would work with them to create a plan for how they could get back on track. For example, if they had fallen behind in one or two months of rent, I might allow them to pay just what they have missed so far, but require them to pay the rest within a certain timeframe.”

What would you do if a client was making complaints about their landlord but was unwilling to take action?

This question can help an interviewer assess your conflict resolution skills and ability to work with challenging clients. In your answer, try to show that you are willing to listen to all sides of a story and use your problem-solving skills to find solutions for everyone involved.

Example: “I would first ask the client why they were unwilling to take action against their landlord. If they said it was because they feared retaliation from their landlord, I would explain to them that our organization is here to support them in any way we can. Then, I would call the landlord and let them know about the complaints I had heard from one of their tenants. I would also offer to mediate between both parties if the tenant wanted us to.”

How well do you perform under pressure?

Housing coordinators often work with tight deadlines and sometimes have to make important decisions quickly. Employers ask this question to see if you can handle pressure well. In your answer, share a time when you had to perform under pressure. Explain what steps you took to complete the task successfully.

Example: “I am someone who performs best under pressure. When I know that I only have a short amount of time to get something done, I feel motivated to work as efficiently as possible. At my last job, I was responsible for finding housing for families within 24 hours of receiving their request. This meant I had to find suitable housing in a very short amount of time. I always made sure to thoroughly research each property before sending it to the family.”

Do you have experience working with people from diverse backgrounds?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you interact with people from different backgrounds. This can be an important skill for a housing coordinator, as they may need to work with residents of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions and socioeconomic statuses. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation in which you worked with someone who was different than you.

Example: “I have experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, as I grew up in a small town where there were many different types of families. In my last role, I worked with a resident who had a unique background, including being born outside the United States. We worked together to find resources that would help him navigate our community.”

When is it appropriate to ask a client for a referral?

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your customer service skills. They want to know that you are willing to go above and beyond for clients, even when it’s not part of your job description. Your answer should show the interviewer that you value client opinions and recommendations.

Example: “I think it is important to ask a client for a referral after they have moved in. This way, I can make sure they’re happy with their new home before asking them for feedback. If they give me positive feedback, I will send them a thank-you note and offer them a small gift or discount as a token of my appreciation. I find that most people are happy to provide referrals if they had a good experience.”

We want to improve our customer service. Give me an example of a change you would make to improve our customer service for housing coordinators.

Interviewers ask this question to see if you have any ideas for improving their company’s customer service. In your answer, explain how you would implement the change and what it would do to improve the quality of service.

Example: “I think one way we could improve our customer service is by having a dedicated housing coordinator who works with each tenant from start to finish. This person would be responsible for answering questions, resolving issues and ensuring that tenants are satisfied with their living situation. I believe this would help us provide better service because the same person would be available to answer questions and resolve problems throughout the entire process.”

Describe your experience working with software like CRMs and property management systems.

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your experience with software that helps housing coordinators manage their work. If you have experience using these types of programs, describe how they helped you complete your tasks and what skills you developed while working with them.

Example: “I’ve worked in the housing industry for five years now, and I’ve used CRM and property management systems during my entire career. In my last role as a housing coordinator, I used a CRM system to keep track of all client communications and property maintenance requests. The system allowed me to organize information about clients’ rental histories and communicate effectively with other team members. It also helped me develop my organizational and communication skills.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. Before your interview, make a list of all the skills and experiences that relate to this position. Focus on highlighting these skills and explaining why they are important for this role.

Example: “I have experience working with people who need affordable housing. I know what it’s like to be in their situation, so I am committed to helping others find safe and affordable places to live. In my previous role, I helped many families find homes that met their needs. This experience has given me valuable insight into what makes a home suitable for a family.”

Which industries do you have experience working in?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and experience. It’s important to highlight the skills you have that are relevant to this role, such as customer service or communication. If you don’t have housing coordinator experience, it can be helpful to talk about other roles in which you managed projects or worked with tenants.

Example: “I’ve spent most of my career working in residential real estate. I started out as an agent, where I helped clients find homes they loved. Then, I moved into sales, where I helped sell houses to families. Finally, I became a broker, where I was responsible for managing a team of agents and helping them close deals.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of being a housing coordinator?

This question is your opportunity to show the interviewer that you understand what it takes to be a successful housing coordinator. You can answer this question by describing one or two of the most important aspects of being a housing coordinator and explaining why they are so important.

Example: “I think the most important aspect of being a housing coordinator is communication. I believe that clear, open communication with residents, property managers and other staff members is essential for ensuring that everyone has all the information they need to do their job well. Another important part of my role as a housing coordinator would be problem-solving. I enjoy figuring out creative solutions to problems and helping others find solutions to challenges.”

How often do you think a rental unit should be cleaned?

This question can help an interviewer understand your cleaning standards and how you might approach this task in their organization. It’s important to consider the type of unit, its size and any other factors that may affect your answer.

Example: “I think it depends on the rental unit and the tenant. For example, I worked with a family who had two young children. They were very messy, so we cleaned their unit once per week. However, another family only had one child, so we cleaned their unit every two weeks. In my current role, we clean units based on the lease agreement.”

There is a bug infestation in a rental unit. What is your course of action?

Bugs can be a common problem in rental units. An interviewer may ask this question to see how you would handle such an issue. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure the safety of tenants and their belongings while also ensuring that the property is free of bugs as quickly as possible.

Example: “I would first contact the landlord or property manager to let them know about the infestation. I would then inspect the unit myself to determine which type of bug it was and if there were any eggs present. If so, I would immediately inform the landlord again and request they hire a professional exterminator. Once the unit was clear of bugs, I would arrange for the tenant to stay somewhere else until the unit was ready.”