Many landlords have entrusted their properties to property management companies. If you are curious to know what is a property management company and what part they play in the rental business, then this article is just for you.
What is a property management company?
A property management company is a business that manages rental properties for landlords. Property managers are responsible for finding and screening tenants, collecting rent, maintaining the property including repairs and maintenance, and more. Property Management companies help landlords make money by managing their properties on their behalf so they don’t have to deal with any of these tasks themselves.
How can a property manager help landlords?
With a property management company, your business can reap massive benefits. The following are some of the reasons why landlords should hand out their wonderful properties to professional property managers.
Better screening of tenants
First impressions can be deceptive and even honest-looking individuals can turn out to be difficult tenants. Property management companies always use a series of rigorous screening techniques to ensure that your property is only leased out to the best. A good property management company will rely on thorough credit checks as well as evaluating references in order to increase the chances of getting reliable and responsible tenants. With their vast experience, they have seen it all and are guaranteed to find you someone who will not be a nuisance in any way.
Faster occupancy rates
It’s always frustrating when tenants take forever to move in. A property management company will get your property rented out as soon as possible, thus ending the hassle and frustration for both parties involved. By hiring a property manager, you can rest assured that your management team will work hard for you by ensuring that your home meets all legal requirements before they place an ad in places where prospective renters might see them. They’ll also present each property at its best advantage so there is no shortage of eager applicants.
Maximum return on your investment
Property managers have the knowledge, expertise, and experience to understand the local real estate market as well as property demands in your area. This means that they can help you get the best possible price for your property without compromising on quality. A property management company will also work with landlords in a way that maximizes their return on investment while minimizing potential risks to them, which is crucial when it comes to making decisions concerning residential properties and renting out homes or apartments. Apart from this, they will also offer expert recommendations on easy ways to maximize your rental income by simply applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls or bringing some plants into your living room.
Better property maintenance
When something goes wrong in your property, a quick response is necessary. This can be difficult if you’re working, on vacation or just busy and it can also be tough to find the right person for the job. A property management company has access to an extensive network of qualified tradesmen with whom they consult about making repairs. Thus, saving you loads of time and money. In addition, property managers will also carry out regular inspections in order to make sure that your property is in top shape throughout the length of the tenancy.
Timely payment of rent
It can be hard to track down tenants who owe you money. But with a property management company, you can rest assured knowing that you will receive your rent on time every month. The property managers are very familiar with late-paying tenants and they have experience in dealing with such situations efficiently, effectively, and professionally. In situations where all hope is lost, they will do everything that is legally possible to evict the tenant and get your property back.
Prepare a decent tenancy agreement
The tenancy agreement is a contract between landlords and their tenants. It protects both parties, sets out obligations of each party, prevents future disputes from happening, and it also includes standard items that are applicable to all properties such as the start date for the lease term or when rent must be paid by. If you are a landlord, it is important to have your tenancy agreement up-to-date with the latest legislation. You can hire a property management company that will draft up an individualized version of this document and make sure that everything is good to go. Your tenants will only be allowed access to your property once they agree to sign the tenancy agreement.
Communicate with tenants on your behalf
Why deal with tenants on your own when your property management company will communicate with them on your behalf. This includes sending them necessary documents such as notices or tax information. Apart from this, your property manager will also answer all sorts of complaints as well as other similar calls that require direct involvement with the tenants.
Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is one of the most tedious parts of real estate for many people. Great bookkeeping is critical to minimizing taxes, keeping your vendors happy with you, and generally making sure that cash keeps flowing in. Property managers can do your bookkeeping for you so that it won’t eat up too much of your time. It saves you the hassle and provides them with a way to ensure that they are utilizing their skills in an area where they can be most useful.
When Should You Hire a Property Management Company?
Although using the services of a property management company has countless advantages, hiring one can be quite expensive. This is why you must consider the following factors before hiring a property management company. It is recommended to hire a property management company if:
- You live far away from your rental property. Since it can be very difficult to manage your rental property if you’re not living nearby, it’s best for you to hire a property management company that has experience managing properties in an area where your rental property is located.
- You are a landlord with more than one rental property. The more rental properties you own, the more difficult it will get to manage them. This is why you should hire a property management company with experience in handling multiple properties.
- You have limited time. Even if you have hands-on property management experience, you might not have sufficient time to manage properties especially when you have a separate day job. And with more than one property, it could be even tougher for you to manage your rental properties. This is where a professional property management company can help you.
- How to Find a Good Property Management Company?
Ask friends and relatives for referrals
The first step in finding a property manager is to talk with people you know and trust. They can give insight into what would be best for your situation, as well as provide recommendations on who they have worked with before. However, don’t take these referrals blindly either – ask questions like how often do they communicate? And what are their strengths and weaknesses?
Read online customer reviews
Online reviews can be a great starting point. The internet is filled with customer feedback on property management companies, so it’s pretty easy to do some research before calling any one company out as your favorite. Do they have good ratings and testimonials? Check the comments section for more information about how well their services are received by customers in general.
Thoroughly interview companies
Once you have shortlisted some companies, the next logical step is to interview them before handing over your wonderful property. A good way to find out what the company is really like is to ask them questions about their background, services and processes. This can save you both time and effort in managing your property as well as avoid a lot of unpleasant surprises later on.
Visit Their Properties
Once you have chosen your property management company, make sure to visit their properties and see how well they are being managed. It’s always a good idea to get an idea of the types of maintenance that is required as this could save time in managing your own property while also giving you peace of mind about the condition it will be left in. Visiting a property is an excellent way to assess the management team. A red flag should be raised if there’s trash or debris in and around the building, and it would not hurt keeping your eye out for any obvious necessary repairs that may need tending.
Property management is one of the most important aspects in real estate. It can be a difficult task, but with property managers on your side you will have peace of mind knowing that all your properties are being looked after and taken care of.
Property management is a lot more than just collecting rent payments. There’s also maintenance, repairs, regular property inspections, and whatnot. The team property managers at any reputable property management company can assist in managing your property in a way that is easy, convenient, and profitable for landlords. If this sounds exactly like what you are looking for, then do some research and find a reputable company that will watch over your wonderful property while you are away.