Property management fees can vary significantly from one company to another. In general, lower-rated companies with poor reviews tend to advertise the cheapest rates. On the other hand, high-quality, well-reviewed companies typically charge fees that are in line with other top-tier property management firms. The pricing often reflects the level of service, expertise, and reliability you can expect.
Hi, there! Joe White here from Grow Property Management, your trusted property management company in Philadelphia.
I had a conversation with a potential client who owns a multimillion-dollar property on Delancey Street in Society Hill – arguably one of the most prestigious and luxurious streets in Philadelphia. If you’re familiar with the area, you know we’re talking about some of the highest-end real estate in the city. From the start, the conversation was a bit frustrating. She kept interrupting me and seemed very agitated, insisting that she would never, under any circumstances, pay the management fees we charge. Eventually, I had to politely tell her we just weren’t a good fit. What really struck me was that she had reached out to us because we’re one of the top-rated property management companies in Philadelphia, yet she was clearly upset that we didn’t offer the same rock-bottom pricing as companies with much lower ratings.
She couldn’t understand why a five-star company like ours wouldn’t match the flat-fee deals she claimed to find with two-star companies. And the irony? She didn’t even want to work with those low-rated companies because she didn’t trust them. She wanted top-tier service at bottom-dollar prices, which just isn’t realistic. I’m not saying this to vent – I’m saying it because I want landlords to understand the logic and value behind pricing when it comes to professional property management. What many people don’t see is that, even though our rates might seem higher at first glance, we’re actually the least expensive option when you factor in the hidden fees that other companies tack on. Some of those low-cost companies refer all maintenance to in-house services they own, often marking up the work and delivering poor results. We don’t do that – we’re transparent, we’re fair, and we deliver results.
On top of that, we’re simply more efficient because we do things right from the beginning. Take tenant screening, for example: our process is so thorough that we haven’t had a single eviction in over three years. That’s no accident. Poorly managed companies, on the other hand, deal with evictions weekly, and each one eats up valuable time and energy. When you run a property well, things don’t fall apart constantly. That’s how we’re able to provide five-star service without overcharging – it’s efficiency, not shortcuts.
Finally, my point is about mindset. If you’re interviewing property managers, it’s important to go in with realistic expectations. It doesn’t make sense to get frustrated that a company with proven results, top ratings, and high standards isn’t going to match the pricing of companies you already don’t trust. You can either go with a budget option and accept the risks that come with that, or invest in quality and expect long-term returns. Wanting both at the same time and being angry that it’s not possible just doesn’t line up logically. Maybe I’m venting a little, but honestly, I’m just a local Philly property management owner doing my best to offer real advice to landlords.
And as always, I’m here to help anyone looking to invest in rental property the right way.
