Jennifer Ruelens is the broker/owner at One Focus Property Management, the largest property management company in North Central Pennsylvania. Jennifer has over twenty years of real estate experience, and 13 as broker/owner at One Focus. She also founded Hold It with PM Jen, a platform dedicated to helping investors grow wealth with the buy and hold real estate strategy. Jen is a Second Nature Triple Win Mentor.
Networking can feel a bit daunting, especially if you think it means wearing a nametag and chatting with strangers over bad appetizers. But the truth is, networking isn’t just about going to mixers. You can build and strengthen your professional network in one-on-one Zooms, referral groups, or even entirely online through social media. It’s all about building relationships, sharing your knowledge, and learning from others—in whatever way actually works for you.
A strong network can have a massive impact on your business growth and your reputation. It gives you access to other people’s knowledge, resources, and experience, which is invaluable—especially in property management. In this article, I’ll walk you through how I approach networking and the real, bottom-line benefits of getting in front of other PMs, investors, and real estate pros.
The importance of real estate investment networking as a PM
Property management is a wild ride. You’re solving weird problems every day, juggling personalities, and trying to keep properties performing. Doing that in a vacuum? Brutal. Connecting with other PMs and investors gives you solutions and support when you need it.
This business is built on relationships. You’re constantly talking with residents, investors, vendors, even municipal officials—the list never ends. Every connection you build is a chance to grow. People do business with those they know, like, and trust. That trust comes from showing up, staying in touch, and adding value before you ask for anything in return.
Networking helps you meet potential clients, sure. But it also keeps your name in circulation and your reputation strong.
How to master real estate investment networking as a PM
Some forms of networking might feel uncomfortable at first, but you won’t know what works for you until you try it. Eventually, you’ll find your rhythm, and enjoy it. Thanks to technology, there’s a flavor of networking for everyone.
Here are some of my go-to tips for effective networking:
1. Build your online reputation
Even though I’m a face-to-face kind of person, I’ve put serious energy into building my brand online. That’s one of the big reasons I created Hold It with PM Jen.
Online networking isn’t about blasting random LinkedIn connections or shouting into the void. It’s about real interaction—commenting, sharing, reacting. Be human. Tell stories. Let people see who you are.
- Post regularly: You don’t need to be groundbreaking. Just share your take on trends, recent experiences, or industry news. Make sure you’re adding value. Don’t show up to the potluck with paper plates. Bring something good.
- Be consistent: Keep your tone and message aligned. Don’t chase controversy for clicks.
- Engage: Comment, react, say congrats. You can even disagree—just keep it respectful. That’s how community grows. Try engaging publicly and following it up with a connection request or direct message. This is a great way to build a connection with someone you want to know.
2. Cultivate authentic, long-term relationships
Whether it’s online or in-person, relationships need follow-up. I love grabbing coffee or lunch with new connections (and yes, I pick up the tab). A $25 lunch can turn into a years-long referral source. That’s a solid return.
Not ready for lunch? Invite them to a local event or meetup. Even better—make it easy with a Calendly link. That will allow you to quickly and easily establish a call or zoom with a new contact and allow you to build that relationship. Make it easy to get to know you! That kind of effort stands out and fosters trust.
3. Give before you get
Most people come to networking wondering what they’ll get out of it. Flip that. Ask what you can give. That mindset changes everything.
Share insights, connect people, recommend a book or podcast—just be helpful. One of the best moves you can make? Introduce folks who can help each other. You just became valuable to both of them.
And hey—people love to talk about themselves. Ask questions. Let them share. It’s how you break past the boring surface stuff and get to the good conversations.
If you are able to help, this gives you something to follow up about. You can call them and ask how the referral went, or did your contact follow up with them? That kind of concern and attention is what people are looking for in people they work with.
4. Track your contacts and interactions
Confession: I’m not great at this one. But it matters. Follow-up is everything, and your CRM (or even a basic spreadsheet) can help you keep track. Set reminders to check in with folks, especially the ones who don’t live on social media. Life gets busy, but your network is like a garden. You must water it, weed it, and tend to it or it will die. It won’t take long either. Ever left a town or industry? How long did it take before you didn’t speak to most of the people there?
Staying visible to your network means staying relevant.
5. Track your progress and refine your strategy
Don’t just network blindly—track what’s working. Set simple KPIs. How many leads came from referrals? How many new connections turned into real clients? How much revenue did they bring in?
When you know what’s effective, you can double down on it and cut what’s not. When you get more efficient at networking, and stay consistent, the strength of the network grows exponentially.
Where to network with real estate investors as a PM
To connect with investors, you have to think like one. Where are they hanging out? What are they trying to learn?
oin real estate associations and groups: I’m a huge NARPM fan. Their conferences, webinars, and resources are gold. If there’s a local chapter, get involved. If not, join the At Large Chapter. I have found amazing networking through service to this organization. Write an article for the website, serve on a committee, or attend an event if it’s within your budget. It’s a great place to meet other property managers and learn from them.
Even if you don’t have an active real estate association in your area, you can still find industry events to attend. There are plenty across the country. Some of them focus more on professional development and learning, while others are designed to help you meet vendors and solution providers. Almost all of them will include some kind of dedicated networking time, so they can serve multiple purposes.
Not every area is buzzing with activity. I’m in rural Pennsylvania, so I started my own real estate investor group. I booked speakers and mailed invites. You can also travel to bigger markets nearby to expand your circle. I’ll often travel to events in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, just to meet a wider variety of people.
Get involved in your community: Not all investors spend their free time at real estate events. Many are just regular people running businesses and raising a family. Go where they go—Chamber events, fundraisers, entrepreneurial groups. Be visible, be helpful, and you’ll be remembered. I try to stay very involved in my community, especially things like Chamber of Commerce events. Small business development groups and entrepreneurial networking groups are both extremely valuable, in part because many members are also real estate investors.
You can also look at more charitable work. I combine philanthropy with networking events, have worked with The Junior Leagues, and served on fundraiser events committees. Even if the people you meet there aren’t real estate investors (yet!), they may know someone who is. When you are working together with others, you build a great relationship that will be there for years.
Make networking part of your everyday life
Networking doesn’t have to be a single, defined thing that only happens in certain places. If you make it part of your everyday life, it starts to feel a lot less intimidating. I already mentioned how making connections on LinkedIn can change the game, but the same applies in real life. Whether you make a friend at the gym or you bump into someone at the grocery store, they’re a potential connection.
Plus, when you’re already networking every day, it makes it a whole lot easier to get up on stage in a speaking slot, or to volunteer to help with an event or organization. You just have to flex that muscle until it feels natural.
Providing value is the key to networking success
No matter where or how you meet someone—online or off—lead with value. Ask what you can give, not what you can take. When you are able to provide value, do it well and follow through. Your actions speak louder than your words and you want your actions to let others know who you are and how you move through the world. Cultivate your reputation with generous and good work. Lead with what you can give, not what you can get, and you’ll start to form authentic, lasting connections.
Your network is your net worth. Invest accordingly.
If you’re looking to offer more value to your clients, consider Second Nature’s Resident Benefits Package.
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June 10, 2025
