GUEST POST: What to Look for in a Property Management Company

What to look for in a property management companyHere at Property Management 2.0, we are always providing our perspective on property management; apartment leasing, apartment marketing, etc.  This week we thought it would be interesting to hear from a writer who is not directly related to the investment property industry and find out his take on what he looks for in a management company. _Trevor

What to Look for in a Property Management Company in Los Angeles (or any other city, for that matter)

Managing your company’s property can be quite stressful. Not all property management companies can offer you optimum services, especially if you are based in Los Angeles. Look for a Property Management Company which can promise you the following features:

Resolving Maintenance Issues:

An ideal property management firm would have the ability to resolve every imaginable maintenance issue. It would use a variety of independent contractors that would provide you and your property quality work at suitable rates and speedy turnaround. Another benefit to this is that they would use their own experts to handle all issues.

Leasing out:

Qualified tenants are sought by a proper Property Management Company to lease your investment property. Best market rents are ascertained by first conducting rent surveys in any suitable area. Your ideal property management company will market vacancies by whatever means that are effective. These include print media, online classifieds and classified ads.  The property itself should also be made attractive by adding eye catching signs and banners. Lists of interested or potential tenants who call is kept and are followed up through calls or emails later on.

Collecting Rent:

A good property management company gives little leverage on rental collections. Rents should be collected on the first of every month. If there is delay in payments then late fees are demanded and legal action is also pursued in case of non-payment.

Record-keeping:

All finances in-flows and out-flows in a competent property management company are tracked by the computerized system capable of providing all the reporting needed for tax compliance. All requested expenses are disbursed in timely fashion and rents are recorded in detail.

Reporting:

Monthly management reports should be sent on a specific date of the month. The current leasing activities and other details should be included in the report.

Others:

A good property management company should understand that your income property involves much more than a simple investment. Whether your income properties range from single family homes, offices, buildings, commercial properties, shopping plazas, condominiums to large multi-unit apartment complexes the company should be there to serve you.

A good firm approaches property management as a business that generates income. Its aim should be to keep your income high and your expenses low. With such a company, the owners of properties should have the peace of mind that their property is taken care in the best way. To this end, a property management company should maintain a high standard of accountability and reliability.

Guest post by:  John Adams, DOW-PRINTING

Website:    www.dowprinting.com – it’s a printing website that Provides Online Business Cards Printing, Brochure Printing, Flyers Printing, Sticker Printing and other printing services online.

 

About Trevor Henson

Trevor Henson is Chief Operations Officer and Founding Partner of First Light Property Management, Inc. Trevor has worked in real estate development and international project management since 2003. Working both nationally and internationally, Trevor has managed projects ranging from construction of small multi-family units to the planning, scheduling and management of large scale real estate projects with clients such as: Lennar Homes, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, and The Irvine Company. Currently, Trevor manages the Southern California Division of First Light Property Management, Inc. overseeing new business development, information systems and building acquisitions. Trevor holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis on Information Systems from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. He also received his Project Management Professional (PMP) Credential in 2011 and is an active Board member of the USC Marshall Alumni Association.
This entry was posted in How to Hire a Property Management Company, Property Management, Property management blog and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • Vivian

    I would imagine a poor property management company would create a lot of headaches. 

    • http://www.firstlightpropertymanagement.com Trevor Henson

      Hi Vivian,

      From our experience in the 3rd party property management field, a poor manager can not only be a headache but an absolute detriment to the profitability of an apartment building. If the manager, who was hired specifically to take care of the property isn’t being responsible, then how can an owner be sure that he/she is getting the most bang for their investment buck? Investors should look for a property management company that is efficient, effective and has a PROVEN track record of customer service and ROI results. Have a great day, Vivian – and thank you for taking the time to stop by. _Trevor

  • http://www.firstlightpropertymanagement.com/blog Trevor Henson

     Hi Vivian,

    From our experience in the 3rd party property management field, a
    poor manager can not only be a headache but an absolute detriment to the
    profitability of an apartment building. If the manager, who was hired
    specifically to take care of the property isn’t being responsible, then
    how can an owner be sure that he/she is getting the most bang for their
    investment buck? Investors should look for a property management
    company that is efficient, effective and has a PROVEN track record of
    customer service and ROI results. Have a great day, Vivian – and thank
    you for taking the time to stop by. _Trevor

  • kamol05

     Thanks for the list. I wil add these to my Goolge Reader – that one is getting big! Any special suggestions for an investment blog? I’m dutifully working to up my traffic.
    Thanks for any advice.

     

  • Michele

    Your property management company should provide your residents with the option to pay their rent online.  Accepting online payments puts you in position to cater to the new age of renter and how they pay their bills.  http://www.PayRentChex.com offeres this service and is also geared for property managers