If you want to build relationships with residential property managers to boost business, there are things to keep in mind as you set out to introduce yourself and your services to this group of professionals. Property managers want painting pros to be honest about their abilities, but they also urge them not to give up if no jobs result from a first interview. That said, there are certain DOs and DON’Ts when dealing with this specialized group. Here are eight DON’Ts to keep in mind:

1. Don’t be a stranger if you don’t get hired after the first interview. Persevere, suggested Steve Schultz, the 2016 president-elect of the National Association of Residential Property Managers and the designated broker for Blue Fox Properties, LLC in Tucson, AZ. In fact, he adds, make it a point to stop by the property to see the manager about every four weeks or so to see if any new opportunities are available.
2. Don’t hesitate to make a suggestion to a property manager about the scope of work presented if you believe it may not achieve the desired result, advised Ed Shaffer, director of maintenance operations for HHHunt, a Blacksburg, VA-based apartment property management company.
3. Don’t waste the property manager’s time. If you discover during an interview that the available job is outside your scope of work, let the property manager know immediately, said Emily Howard, the community manager for The Reserve at 4^th and Race, a downtown luxury apartment community in Cincinnati, OH.
4. Don’t forget to bring marketing materials with you on a property manager appointment. A professionally created business card and flier that you can leave with property managers or their assistants—whether or not you actually meet with the property manager or get hired—goes a long way in cementing a positive, lasting impression, said Tara Carter, the managing director for Luxe Residential Services, an asset management and consulting firm in Richmond, VA.
5. Don’t fall short of meeting or exceeding the expectations for the job. If you agree to a job, make sure you deliver on all your promises, said Paul Rhodes, the national maintenance and safety instructor with the National Apartment Association Education Institute in Arlington, VA.
6. Don’t assume the property manager is aware that an apartment home may incur extra charges due to its condition or the amount of prep required. Notify the property manager right away, Rhodes cautioned, if you discover that the condition of the apartment is different on the day the job begins, or you discover a problem during the course of work.
7. Don’t neglect to clean up overspray or paint spills in breezeways or parking lots, Rhodes said, and don’t water down paint.
8. Don’t smoke on the job. There’s no way to look professional if you smoke in front of residents, the property manager or the maintenance manager, industry experts say.