Common Area Maintenance
Common Area Maintenance (CAM) is a key concept in property management, especially for commercial properties like shopping centers and office buildings. It refers to the costs and activities involved in maintaining shared spaces that all tenants use, such as lobbies, parking lots, elevators, and landscaping. Property managers often list this on resumes because it shows they can handle budgeting, vendor management, and tenant relations. Similar terms include "Operating Expenses," "CAM Charges," or "Triple Net Expenses." This is an important skill because it directly affects both property profitability and tenant satisfaction.
Examples in Resumes
Managed $500,000 annual Common Area Maintenance budget for a 200,000 sq ft office complex
Reduced CAM costs by 15% through efficient vendor management and energy-saving initiatives
Oversaw Common Area Maintenance billing and reconciliation for 50+ retail tenants
Typical job title: "Property Managers"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Property Managers
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where multiple tenants dispute their CAM charges?
Expected Answer: A senior manager should discuss their experience with lease analysis, clear communication with tenants, documentation processes, and ability to explain complex CAM calculations in simple terms. They should mention experience with reconciliation processes and dispute resolution.
Q: How do you develop and manage an annual CAM budget for a large property?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of budgeting process, including historical data analysis, vendor contract review, utility cost projections, and how to factor in inflation and market conditions. Should also discuss tenant communication strategies.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What steps do you take to ensure accurate CAM reconciliation?
Expected Answer: Should explain the process of comparing actual expenses to tenant payments, reviewing lease terms, proper documentation of expenses, and communication with accounting team and tenants.
Q: How do you identify opportunities to reduce common area maintenance costs?
Expected Answer: Should discuss experience with vendor negotiations, energy efficiency programs, preventive maintenance scheduling, and how to balance cost reduction with maintaining property quality.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the typical components included in Common Area Maintenance?
Expected Answer: Should be able to list basic components like landscaping, cleaning, snow removal, parking lot maintenance, utilities for common areas, and basic understanding of how these costs are shared among tenants.
Q: How do you track and document common area maintenance activities?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate knowledge of basic record-keeping practices, work order systems, and importance of maintaining accurate documentation for billing purposes.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of CAM charges and calculations
- Vendor coordination and scheduling
- Property inspections and maintenance logs
- Basic budget tracking
Mid (2-5 years)
- CAM reconciliation and billing
- Vendor management and contract negotiation
- Budget planning and cost control
- Tenant relations and communication
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic CAM budget development
- Complex lease analysis and administration
- Major capital improvement planning
- Team leadership and program development
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic CAM calculations or reconciliation process
- Lack of experience with vendor management
- Poor communication skills or tenant relations experience
- No knowledge of commercial lease structures
