Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Residential Sales Manager
💰 $95,000 - $150,000+ (OTE)
🎯 Role Definition
This role requires a dynamic, results-driven, and inspirational Residential Sales Manager to lead our high-performing sales team. This pivotal role is responsible for driving revenue growth, coaching and developing sales consultants, and ensuring an exceptional home-buying experience for our clients. You will be the strategic force behind our community sales operations, setting ambitious goals, cultivating a winning culture, and empowering your team to exceed them. If you are a passionate sales leader with a proven track record in the residential real estate or new construction sector, we invite you to apply.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Senior New Home Sales Consultant / Top-Producing Sales Associate
- Real Estate Team Lead
- Assistant Sales Manager
Advancement To:
- Director of Sales
- Regional Sales Manager
- Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Lateral Moves:
- Business Development Manager
- Corporate Sales Trainer
- Marketing Manager
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Spearhead the recruitment, hiring, training, and ongoing professional development of a top-tier team of New Home Sales Consultants, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
- Develop and implement strategic sales plans and initiatives to achieve or exceed monthly, quarterly, and annual sales quotas and company revenue targets for assigned communities.
- Provide daily hands-on leadership, coaching, and motivation to the sales team, including conducting regular one-on-one meetings, performance reviews, and in-field training sessions to enhance their sales skills and product knowledge.
- Establish and meticulously track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the sales team, analyzing sales data and market trends to identify opportunities for growth and areas for improvement.
- Oversee the entire new home sales cycle, from initial lead generation and prospect management to contract negotiation and closing, ensuring a seamless and positive customer journey.
- Manage and optimize the use of the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system (e.g., Lasso, MarkSystems, Salesforce) to ensure accurate data entry, lead tracking, and robust reporting on all sales activities.
- Collaborate closely with the marketing department to develop and execute effective lead generation campaigns, grand opening events, and marketing collateral that align with sales objectives.
- Conduct regular and thorough competitive market analysis to stay abreast of competitor pricing, products, and sales strategies, providing actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership.
- Act as the primary point of contact for resolving complex customer issues and escalations, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and protecting the company's brand reputation.
- Review and approve all new home sales contracts and related documentation for accuracy and completeness, ensuring compliance with all company policies and legal regulations.
- Manage the sales budget for the division or assigned communities, ensuring all sales and marketing activities are conducted within financial parameters.
- Foster strong relationships with the local realtor community, mortgage lenders, and other external partners to drive referral business and create a collaborative sales ecosystem.
- Lead weekly sales meetings to review team performance, discuss strategies, role-play scenarios, address challenges, and communicate company updates and new initiatives.
- Personally engage with prospective homebuyers at model homes and sales centers to provide leadership by example and gain firsthand market feedback.
- Ensure all sales centers, model homes, and community signage are maintained to the highest standards of presentation, cleanliness, and brand consistency.
- Prepare and present detailed sales reports, absorption forecasts, and business reviews to senior management, highlighting performance, market conditions, and strategic recommendations.
- Champion the company's vision and values, ensuring the sales team operates with the highest level of integrity, professionalism, and customer-centric focus.
- Drive the implementation of new sales technologies and tools to improve efficiency and effectiveness across the sales organization.
- Coordinate with construction, purchasing, and design teams to ensure a smooth hand-off process and clear communication regarding home specifications, options, and delivery timelines.
- Develop and manage sales incentive programs and contests to motivate the team and reward top performers for achieving ambitious goals.
- Assess the performance and viability of various sales communities, making strategic recommendations for staffing, marketing spend, or strategic adjustments.
Secondary Functions
- Assist the land acquisition team by providing sales and market-based insights on potential new community locations and target demographics.
- Participate in the development and pricing of new floor plans and product offerings based on observed market demand and competitive positioning.
- Collaborate with cross-functional business units to translate sales data needs into actionable reporting and engineering requirements.
- Contribute to the organization's broader sales strategy and go-to-market roadmap.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- CRM Software Proficiency: Expert-level ability with industry-specific CRM platforms (e.g., Salesforce, Lasso, MarkSystems, Newstar).
- Advanced Sales Reporting & Forecasting: Skill in creating, analyzing, and presenting complex sales data and predicting future performance.
- Contract Negotiation & Management: Deep understanding of real estate purchase agreements, addendums, and legal compliance.
- Real Estate Finance & Mortgage Principles: Strong knowledge of buyer financing, mortgage processes, and qualification criteria.
- Market Analysis & Competitive Intelligence: Ability to research and interpret market data to inform sales strategy.
- Microsoft Office Suite: High proficiency in Excel for data analysis, PowerPoint for presentations, and Word for communications.
Soft Skills
- Inspirational Leadership & Team Motivation: The ability to inspire, energize, and lead a sales team to achieve peak performance.
- Coaching, Mentoring, & Performance Management: A passion for developing talent and providing constructive, actionable feedback.
- Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: The capacity to see the big picture, understand market dynamics, and make sound business decisions.
- Exceptional Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Superior verbal and written communication skills for interacting with team members, customers, and executives.
- Problem-Solving & Conflict Resolution: A proactive approach to identifying challenges and resolving issues with diplomacy and effectiveness.
- Results-Oriented & Drive for Excellence: A relentless focus on achieving and exceeding goals with a commitment to high standards.
- Customer-Centric Mindset: A genuine desire to create an outstanding experience for every homebuyer.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
High School Diploma or GED, coupled with significant relevant experience. An active Real Estate License in the state of operation is often required.
Preferred Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Business Administration
- Marketing
- Real Estate
- Communications
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
5-7+ years of progressive experience in residential real estate sales, with a minimum of 2-3 years in a leadership, team lead, or management capacity.
Preferred:
Direct experience in new home construction sales is highly preferred. A verifiable track record of exceeding multi-million dollar sales targets both individually and as a leader of a sales team.