Key Things to Look for In a Property Management Company

Welcome to the Topic “Key Things to Look for In a Property Management Company

Real estate often constitutes a person’s most prized material possessions. To keep it healthy, you need management that is both proactive and expert. Choosing a property management company that is skilled, transparent, licensed, and responsive is crucial to ensuring that a property is well-maintained and retains its value over time.

Especially if this is your first time doing so, finding the best property management company to handle your building’s needs may be a daunting endeavor. One could wonder, “How much experience do they need?” “How much do they charge?” “Who are their clients?” “What kind of evaluations have they gotten?” and so on.

Read More: Top 7 Reasons Why You Need a Property Management Company

The key to finding the best business is knowing where to search. Aside from hiring a property manager, it’s important to know what you may expect from them. The questions you’ve had will finally be answered after reading this article.

Qualities of a Good Property Management Company

There is no universally ideal property management company since every landlord has different requirements. However, the finest property management organizations have a few essential traits. Take a peek at these top ten characteristics of a good property management company. 

Property Management Experience

In the realm of property management, it is true that actions speak louder than words. Property management companies with more years of expertise in the field have a clear advantage and may be better judged. You should definitely check out the company’s published or online customer list.

This will give you a sense of whether the property management company has simply dealt with customers who have had similar needs, or whether it has expertise in meeting the varied and specific demands of a wide range of real estate clients.

Find a firm with experience in the region and the field. They need to know the ins and outs of the local rental market and the rules in your area to maintain your properties in good shape with little effort on your part. Rent prices for your properties should be determined using the most up-to-date market data, which your property managers should have access to.

You need professional property managers who can interact with renters, take care of maintenance, and keep your properties occupied and profitable.

A Strong Business Framework

Homeowners care deeply about the security of their properties because they represent a significant financial investment. Planning, people, procedures, roles, performance, enthusiasm, etc. are all necessary components of a solid company foundation.

Key Things to Look for In a Property Management Company

Know what the property management firm’s goals are, both in the near and far future, before hiring them. In terms of job descriptions, this refers to the organizational structure of the business and how well it supports the company’s stated objectives.

A smart property manager will assign employees to positions with explicit responsibilities and key performance indicators. The successful property manager also understands the value of surrounding themselves with like-minded individuals.

A property management firm’s performance is based on how well its various departments actually perform their duties. The best property managers can quickly assess what needs to be improved and what can be measured.

A property manager’s convictions, dedication, and concentration on steering the organization in the correct direction are all signs of enthusiasm. 

To choose a reliable property management firm, it’s important to ask the correct questions. You shouldn’t stop asking questions; you also need to collect data to back up the answers you get.

Investment Position

It’s important to learn whether the management firms you’re considering are also investors as part of your due diligence process. You could be tempted to see their status as investors as a positive sign, but keep in mind that you might have to compete with them for the same opportunities. 

Whose apartment do you think will be occupied first when vacancies occur? Working with an investment business that also provides property management has both benefits and drawbacks; nevertheless, if at all possible, it is preferable to choose a property management service that does not have any financial stake in the properties it oversees.

Contracts 

No one ever considers terminating a management firm after hiring them. However, you and your employer need to talk about ending your contract. Companies are often hired for periods ranging from six months to a year, with termination requiring just a sixty-day notice. 

Try to negotiate a shorter term if the management organization requires a commitment of more than two years, or go elsewhere for assistance. A two-year contract with a poor-performing management firm represents 20% of the total time you’ll spend on a project if you want to keep the asset for five years. That’s too little of a time frame to fix your asset and start generating revenue again.

Extensive Marketing Experience

In the event of a vacancy, you want to know that your home will be advertised and leased without delay. Real estate owners suffer financial losses due to vacant units.

Your property management firm should have strong industry connections and strong brand recognition. As part of their services, they must provide excellent listing and showing assistance.

Try to find real estate agencies that advertise their homes everywhere. Verify the accuracy of the provided listing details and images. Listings posted by your property management business should stand out from the crowd if you want to attract the highest quality renters. 

Check out: What is rental marketing?

Good Communication

Managers of rental properties should get back to you as soon as possible. Tenants also expect a quick response time from your service.

Choose a firm that responds quickly and keeps you in the loop at all times. The standard response time for first inquiries and requests is between 24 and 48 hours. After you start working with them as your property management firm, that duration shouldn’t increase.

Good Communication

Tenants should get a speedy response from the property management whenever they register an online maintenance request or otherwise get in touch with them. Immediate attention to maintenance concerns is essential to avoiding the escalation of problems and the subsequent need for costly repairs.

Landlords, your property management team acts as an extension of your own business. Each and every one of their renters has to be given prompt attention, thus this must be a top priority.

It’s important that you do, too. If you don’t get the sense that you’re a top priority from the get-go, you probably aren’t dealing with the best property management business.

Tenant Screening Process 

You need assurances from your property management business that they will conduct a thorough screening of prospective tenants.

The procedure needs to include checking references, finances, and work records. Finding reliable renters is a top priority for your property management firm.

Furthermore: Common issues faced by tenants

Rent and security deposits must be paid only via the online portal. They should be able to live in your houses without worrying about vandalism or theft.

When you hire a business to take care of your assets, you are entrusting them in their hands. The specialists who manage your properties should use a practically flawless procedure to ensure that only qualified tenants are selected to live there.

Financials 

There is a lot of weight placed on the property management firm’s financials. By going with a PM business that has a solid financial footing, you can be certain that your staff will be paid on time and well taken care of. This will increase both their morale and the quality of services provided to the customer.

Choosing a property management business with weak financials, on the other hand, indicates that its personnel are or will soon experience issues in obtaining paychecks, which will lead to low morale, poor service, inexplicable delays, and other negative features. Furthermore, it opens the door to fraud and other unwelcome occurrences, all of which may damage consumer trust in the brand.

If you’re looking for a good property management company, be sure to check out their financials. This includes their audited books of accounts, as well as their balance sheet, cash flow statements, P&L statements, liquidity ratios, acid test ratios, and P&L statements.

Efficient and Accurate Procedures

To keep your assets safe and secure, you need a property management company with proven processes.

These days, many property management tasks may be performed automatically thanks to recent technological advancements.

Automated systems with safe storage are used by property management organizations for sending, receiving, and storing documents. When tenants pay their rent online, they may plan ahead to avoid late fees.

Efficient and Accurate Procedures

The finest property management companies create detailed records of each phase of the renting process to ensure that nothing is overlooked. Everything has its place in the process, from routine maintenance to make-ready processes to move-in and move-out inspections.

You can be certain that your properties will be well taken care of with this system in place. In addition, automated payment methods and higher levels of efficiency boost your bottom line. 

Transparency

Owners are more likely to have faith in a property management firm if they are given complete information about the business, including the company’s procedures and fees.

A property management company’s ethical standard is also crucial, so it’s necessary to see how they deal with common problems like tenant complaints and maintenance requests to determine whether they’re a suitable match to oversee your investment portfolio.

Philadelphia Property Management 

You may be wondering where to find such a firm that provides all these qualities. Well, if you’re from Philadelphia and looking for someone to manage your property, look no further! Leave it to us to manage all your property for you. Visit our website Philadelphia Property Management Solutions and get rid of all your property management worries today. 

Have any questions regarding the topic Key Things to Look for In a Property Management Company feel free to comment below.

Also Read: 10 Responsibilities of a Property Manager

Author:

Joe White

Joe White is a Philadelphia Property Manager and Real Estate Broker. He is the owner of Grow Property Management and has been involved in the management, sales and purchases of Philadelphia area rental investment properties since 2008. He is an author and works as a real estate investment consultant and construction manager.

View all posts by Joe White