One of the most important decisions facing property owners owning a large amount of property is the selection of a property management company. Ideally, you should obtain bids for the management of your properties from several companies. This will allow you to compare each company’s rates and services. Generally two payment options are available to choose from: paying a monthly flat fee, or paying a monthly percentage fee.
Each contract for a property management company should be thoroughly reviewed to better understand all fees involved in the monthly payment. Some companies incorporate fees for certain services in addition to the standard monthly fee. For example, an advertising fee may be assessed, or there may be a charge each time a property is shown to a potential client. Carefully consider and compare all services and charges before making your final decision, a company with a higher monthly fee and no additional charges could be a better deal than a company with a low monthly fee and several additional charges.
Monthly percentage fees are based on the type of property you own, and are generally based on the revenue generated by each property. Large properties are generally charged at two percent, average-sized single family homes at six percent, and larger single family homes may be charged up to ten percent. Property location and condition may also be taken into account when determining the percentage fee. Additional leasing and service fees may also apply.
An investor needs to inquire about the what services are charged over and above the monthly payment. They should determine if evictions are an extra fee. The contract should state how and when the fee is collected. Will the investor be billed or is it deducted from your account? Is payment expected on a monthly or quarterly basis?
A management company performs many services for the investor. The company takes care of the daily activities of renting the property, collecting rents, accounting and monthly statements, hires contractors for services such as cleaning, hires groundskeepers and maintenance workers as well as supervises any work. The investor pays the real estate management fees for peace of mind. When an investor has interviewed several companies and found the fees are close in range with a few exceptions, he should then decide to further investigate each company?s contracts and references. By comparing all the services and getting good referrals, an investor can make an informed choice.
This interviewing process in the decision to select the most reliable and appropriate management company is only the first step. The total fee charged is important, but investors need to know how efficiently and effectively the company communicates with both the investor and the tenants of the rental property. Other important information for the selection of a management company is how problems are addressed and resolved, how attentive the company is to details in the leasing process, and how well the company maintains the property. All of these are important factors in the selection of the best property management company.
Certainly there are other factors for you to consider outside of the fee that will be charged. For example, reliable and quick handling of maintenance issues to prevent major expenses. A property management company should be able to rent out your property faster than you alone due to the fact that they are working in the business every day.
