Welcome to the Topic “Do I Need a Property Management Company?”
One of the biggest choices you will have to make as a landlord is whether you should hire a property management company. Many landlords manage properties themselves or with the assistance of an employee. But sometimes landlords need more than that, and that’s when a property management company can make sense.
What does a property management company do?
Management companies deal personally with potential customers and tenants, saving you the time and hassle of marketing your rentals, collecting rent, dealing with maintenance and repair issues, responding to tenant complaints, and even evictions.
Additionally, a good management company will bring their knowledge and experience to your property, giving you the satisfaction of knowing your investment is in good hands. Finally, the management company is an independent contractor, so you avoid the hassle as an employer bears that.
When should you employ a property management company?
While there are many benefits to hiring a property management company, it can be expensive to use. And cost aside, relying on a property management company isn’t for everyone. Consider the following factors to ascertain if employing a property management company would suit your business.
You should contemplate hiring a property management company if:
You have multiple properties or rental spaces.
The more rental properties you own and the more spaces they contain, the more likely you will advantage from a management company.
You do not reside near your property.
If your property is far from where you live, appointing a property management company can be invaluable in solving many problems that you cannot handle remotely.
You are not interested in practical management
. Many landlords enjoy the challenge of finding suitable tenants and the rewards of maintaining a safe and attractive property themselves. But if you see rental property ownership strictly as an investment and want to have the most minor work to do with the day-to-day management of your properties, consider hiring help with your property management.
Your time is restricted.
Even if you enjoy direct management, you may not have much time to give to your business, especially if your day job isn’t being a landlord. And suppose you’d rather spend your time expanding your business, including finding new properties, securing financing for renovations, or changing your business model. In such case, a property management company can be an excellent way to spend your money.
You can afford the cost.
Employing a property management company is an attractive option if you can afford the fees. When interviewing companies, expect to hear offers ranging from 5% to 10% of what you collect in rental revenue. If the market is down and you can manage things yourself, you may want to continue to do so until the market turns around.
You are suddenly overwhelmed with managerial tasks.
If your business is expanding, at some point, you may find that you need a lot of help to get everything right. At that point, it might be a good idea to commission a management company.
You don’t wish to be an employer.
You become an employer if you employ a resident manager or other staff to help you with your property. You must manage payroll and deal with different legal requirements and considerations. But since the property management company is an independent contractor, you avoid the hassle of being an employer.
Your property is part of the affordable housing program.
If you are participating in an affordable housing program, it can get complex. Usually, in these schemes, the landlord receives financial help, which may take the form of a grant, low-interest loan, or tax credit, in exchange for agreeing to rent at least part of the property to tenants who earn below an income level. .
To continue receiving help, a landlord must follow a complex set of rules. With so much at stake, it often pays to hire a property management company with expertise and experience with a specific housing program.
Signs You Need a Property Management Company (If You’ve Already Hired One)
An ideal residential property management company can save money, give you satisfaction and free up your precious time. Still, if the company is terrible, it will cost you money and time.
Without good management, your property will sit on the market for a long time, or you will have a terrible tenant living in your property because you are worried about how long the listing has been on the market.
You waste valuable resources when you don’t have a good property management company. If you are seeking for property management companies, you may consider a property management company in Philadelphia because they can provide efficient and affordable property management services.
Following are the signs that you need a property management company:
1. Poor communication
If a property management company is difficult to contact, it may be time to move on to another company. You hired a property management company because they could be available for tenant calls or emails at all times. Missed visitations or emails are unacceptable.
2. Missed deadlines
If deadlines are looming and the property management company misses them, it can cause serious problems. For example, if they are not on top of leases and tenant renewals, it can cause you a headache. You want an exemplary property management company that is organized, up-to-date, contacts tenants, and follows up to avoid tricky situations entirely.
3. Delayed payment of the owner
How quickly does a property management company dissipate the rent it collects? You want to make sure you get your payments on time. When you signed the contract, it should have stated when you would receive the rent payments. So if you’re not getting your payments on time, that raises other questions, like is the property management company collecting rent on time? If your fees are not received on time, take this as a sign to switch to a new company.
4. Unauthorized charges
The fact is that repairs will need to be made to your rental properties, but when the repairs cost more than expected, the property management company should approach you to approve the expenses. Whenever there is a repair, and you have authorized a budget, the property management company should stay within the limits of that budget. If the maintenance cannot be completed in the amount discussed, you should get a call to approve the increase.
5. Vacancies of tenants
If your space sits empty for too long and you don’t receive updates from your property management company, problems arise. Finding the balance between filling the room and renting it at market value requires careful negotiation. If your property management company doesn’t keep you informed and texts you about other offers in the area, you’ll be impatient because you want to see the Result.
If you’re not content with your existing property manager, it’s time to look for someone new. The property management company is responsible for processing your investment. It would be best if you made sure the next company you contract with has the proper experience managing your rental properties and making money.
What to seek when hiring a property manager
Below are a few qualifications you should make sure the person or company you are hiring has:
Professional licenses and certifications
Some states do not require a license. Others allow people to manage a building while only holding a real estate license.
Fortunately for you, you can avoid a lot of trouble if you make sure that the person or company you hire is highly qualified. This will demonstrate that they have the technical knowledge you need to get the job done right.
Specialized experience
One reason to hire a property management company is that it is very complicated. There are federal and local laws to contend with.
When you’re looking to hire a property manager, ask them to show you a proven track record of managing all the variables that come with managing homes and tenants. Ensure they have worked in the industry for at least a few years.
Also, make sure the person or company you want to hire has at least some experience looking after your particular investment. Some property management companies aim for commercial properties and do not understand the differences in residential properties.
Low vacancy rate
You want to hire a property manager who will make sure the tenants are happy enough to stay year after year. Make sure you don’t hire a company with an extended vacancy period between tenants.
Ask the company how quickly they can usually get properties on the market. A company with a high vacancy rate will be more than happy to share that information.
Strong principles
It would be good if you always worked with others who share the same morals and values as you. And the policies a management company creates will tell you much about their value. A well-run company already has reasonable processes and effective systems in place.
Large client base
A property manager with no clients either has no success or a poor track record. Either way, if your property manager doesn’t have references, it doesn’t mean it’s because they’re overqualified.
Managers or management companies with a large client base are well connected to local suppliers. It also means that they have a lot of experience and are highly regarded in the local community.
Great customer service
No matter what industry you’re in, customer service should be your top priority. Property managers should not only be able to provide consistently good customer service to your tenants, but they should also be able to offer you reliable and professional customer service.
If you notice that they take too long to respond to requests or are less than professional, keep looking. Otherwise, it could cost you money in the long run.
Final thoughts
It’s fair to say that the argument of whether you need a property management company or not comes down to the cost one must incur to work with a property manager, but I digress. The price is not so much a negative as an investment. Although hiring a third-party manager costs money, I can assure you that it is worth it. Moreover, their involvement could quickly increase the chances of your profit growing.
Have any questions regarding the topic “Do I Need a Property Management Company?” feel free to comment below.
