Why Use a Property Management Company?

Have you asked yourself the question – “Should I hire a property management company?” There are many reasons why a landlord would want to hire a Professional Property Manager. Deciding whether or not you should hire a manager doesn’t have to be an agonizing decision.  It really just depends on your own needs, level of commitment, and expectations.

Why would you want to use a property management company? A typical property manager will interact directly, on your behalf, with applicants and tenants.  Managers will usually market and advertise your rentals, meet with prospects to host showings, collecting rent, deposit money to your bank account, and coordinate repair issues. They are also the first line of defense when responding to tenant complaints and will even stand by your side when you have to pursue an eviction or get sued.

An excellent property manager will have the heart of a teacher, and voluntarily keep you updated with regular communication.  Above all, the main purpose of a property manager is to give you peace of mind that your investment is being handled with care.

Some key items you should seriously consider if you are thinking about hiring a property management company are:

  • How many properties do you own? When you start to deal with multiple properties and dozens of tenants, you should consider turning some of them over to a professional – especially if you have a separate full-time job.
  • If you live over 50 miles away and have more than 2 units, you should consider talking to a local Property Manager who operates in a closer proximity to your rental property.
  • Are you not detail oriented?  If you are not an organized person, then you should consider giving the responsibility to a professional.
  • If you have no idea what you are doing, and don’t want to learn, then don’t try to do it yourself.
  • Are you already super busy and can’t dedicate 2-10 hours a month for your properties.
  • Does your budget and the income from the property justify paying a property manager?
  • If you feel like your property is vacant too often, then perhaps you need help with your marketing.
  • If you are not a “service” person, and are often bothered and bitter by regular maintenance calls from tenants, then you probably should take the role of silent investor, and leave the management to someone else.
  • Contractors are often needed to maintain the property.  If you don’t feel comfortable researching, hiring, and double-checking their work, then you should probably hire a manager.

If you are in the Denver area and would like to discuss how Aviva Properties can help you, please contact us at 303 835-4167.

Traits of a Good Property Manager

Selecting a property manager is a big decision that will have long lasting impact on your real estate investments. A good property manager is worth their weight in rent money. A bad one ……

There are certain personalities and skill sets that are better suited for this line of work, which can be hectic and demanding.

Professionalism

There’s a fine line between being personable and being professional. It is very important that a property manager maintain a certain level of professionalism when dealing with internal employees as well as external parties like tenants, customers, vendors and colleagues. The ability to be kind but firm, particularly when dealing with sensitive business matters that may seem more personal to those they are affecting, such as raising the rent.

Good property managerPeople Skills

The most successful property management professionals place people as their highest priority. In order to do this job well, you absolutely must be able to deal with people. You have to be able to maintain composure and be a trusted advocate, both for your coworkers and for your clients and tenants. When people feel that they have someone they can trust and come to with any issues that may arise, they are much happier. That is something Aviva Properties takes great pride in.

Communication

If everything is to run like the well-oiled machine it’s supposed to the property management company must have excellent communication. This is especially important internally, given the hectic and sometimes chaotic nature of the industry. Everyone must be on the same page in order for the business to function successfully. External sources, like clients and tenants, also need to know that they can get a hold of their property manager when they need to as well.

Knowledge/Experience

A good property manager must know his or her stuff when it comes to all aspects of the industry. They must be able to create and interpret reports, including financial reports, and stay up to date on all of the changing laws relating to property ownership, landlord/tenants and other real estate related regulations.

Organization

The property manager is being pulled in a dozen different directions on any given day. It’s imperative that when things get busy, they are still able to stay on top of your to-do list and remain focused. Organizational skills are among the most important traits of those that are successful in this industry.