If you are new to real estate property management, contracts, maintenance, and late fees can feel overwhelming. However, these tasks shouldn’t keep you from becoming a savvy property manager or a pro at real estate investment.
It’s a big decision to decide to take control of your business, but it’s also very rewarding.
In today’s guide, we’ll discuss how to set a fair rental price, find tenants who are worth your time, and prepare for evictions.
Passive income is often referred to as rental properties. But that doesn’t mean you can just sit back and watch the money roll in.
In addition to increasing profits for property owners, effective property management also enhances tenant satisfaction and retention. Your ability to put your property management skills to work and serve your clients will allow you to develop additional income streams while building a base of investors and renters that you can tap into as an agent who handles both purchases and sales.
Do You Need a Property Manager?
Property managers serve the following types of clients:
Large-scale property owners seek a hands-off management experience to put their money to work without living the landlord lifestyle.
Property owners with one or two properties who are inexperienced in property management or whose locations are too far away can manage their properties effectively.
Property owners hire someone to stay at their properties between guests and prepare, maintain and turn over their properties.
The owners of second homes with little time or proximity do regular maintenance on their vacation properties and wish to ensure they do so all year long.
The tenants are an important part of the equation, even if they are not technically clients of the property manager. It is crucial to screen and onboard tenants properly, communicate with them, and provide responsive service to rent their properties to well-qualified individuals, thus decreasing turnover.
Self-Management Vs Property Manager
When you own a property, you’ll be responsible for managing tenants and keeping the property so that you won’t need professional property managers. Managing a property is unique, and hiring a property manager is a great option; however, this can also be accomplished on your own. There are advantages and disadvantages to both options, including:
Pros of self-management
- By not paying a property manager, you’ll save money.
- Every aspect of the property will be under your control.
- Renters can be screened and selected by you.
Pros of hiring a property manager
- In terms of managing tenants and maintaining your property, they will make your life easier and less stressful.
- Their knowledge of the rental market will allow you to get the most return on investment.
- It may be easier for property managers to deal with tenants, particularly in sticky situations like late rent payments.
Cons of self-management
- You will have to put a great deal of time and effort into managing your property.
- A property manager might be more familiar with local laws than you.
- Contractors, inspectors, landscapers, or maintenance teams may not be on your list of reliable, professional contacts.
Cons of hiring a property manager
- Your property manager may not be able to manage the property as well as you would like because he or she is handling more than just your property.
- If they are dishonest about what they charge for rent and maintenance, the property manager might pocket some extra profits.
- You may lose rental income when you hire a property manager due to the property management fee.
Tips on Effective Management
A market research study in the area
To determine your rental price, you should research the average rental price and the number of available properties in the area. Some of this research may have been done during the buying process.
Calculate the following:
- How much does the average person in the area earn?
- The typical family size is how many members?
- How much does an average rental cost?
- Is there anything extra-special you can charge a premium for (for example, easy access to the highway, bus lines, off-street parking) at your location?
You can determine an appropriate rental price as you study the other rental properties on the market and the going rates.
Managing tenants
People skills are important when managing tenants, especially when handling complaints. Identifying the common complaints and how to respond to them proactively will make it easier for you to retain tenants. It shows you care about the tenant’s comfort and well-being to follow up after you have taken care of their problem, be it a maintenance issue or a pest invasion.
Regardless of the complaint’s origin, being courteous and responsive promptly will increase your chances of handling the complaint effectively. A regular inspection of the property keeps you informed of its condition and prevents tenant complaints from the start.
Collecting rent should be a priority
A large part of your profitability is dependent on your ability to collect rent every month. Don’t let rental payments slide. Tenants who are more than a month behind on their rent can have trouble getting caught up. Late fees should always be consistently enforced for late rent.
Preparing and reviewing rental contracts
After you have selected a tenant, you can sign the rental agreement.
You should gather some great examples online if you have never set up a rental contract before. It’s a great idea to hire a lawyer for your first few contracts to ensure you don’t miss any crucial details. From there, you can handle things by yourself.
The contract describes the timing of rental payments, eviction procedures, maintenance requirements, and home rules. In addition, confirm that a security deposit is disclosed and collected when the agreement is finalized.
Evictions
Even though no landlord ever wants to face eviction on their properties, you will likely have to do so at some point. In this situation, new landlords might not know what to do, so it is essential to research local laws to follow all the rules.
The entire eviction process must be completed, and you must file for eviction. In spite of your frustration with the lengthy eviction process, you must give notice to the tenant and file for eviction in court. You can be charged with a criminal offense if you evict a tenant by changing the locks or in some other way.
The management of the property does not mean the investment is passive
The market is saturated with managers who don’t know what they are doing because it’s not difficult to become a property manager. Despite their best efforts, sometimes managers are terrible at finding tenants, poor at communicating with the owners and slow at completing repairs, allowing the property to fall into disrepair. If worst comes to worst, they could cheat, steal, and lie their way into the owner’s pocket.
Owners should be aware that even if they hire a great manager, their job isn’t complete. Make sure the property manager is performing their duties correctly and that you are managing them.
Final Thoughts
A landlord has to be very patient and knowledgeable about property management. Make sure your rental properties are thriving and provide a steady income stream for your business by following these tips. You need to keep in mind that your real estate investment’s performance is heavily dependent on your property management strategy and how well you manage the unit.
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