Property Management is Real Work

In our experience, with a property management company in the past, when you are only relying on vendors or promised “drive bys” to care for your property a lot gets missed. Weeds, trash, dog poop, on and on the list goes. We are a ”boots on the ground” property management company. Nothing gets missed.

I have always followed up with my vendors after a job has been completed and I check in with the tenants to make sure everything is good with the repair. I even do a walk through after a move out clean. How will my vendors know my standard if I don’t tell them? How will I know the tenants are taken care of if I don’t ask?

I have always worked our properties to some degree. I pick up trash, spray weeds, sweep carports, shovel snow and spread ice melt. When I am on the properties working, our tenants see that our property matters and they see what my standard is. Witnessing this encourages them to take better care of their home, to take pride in their home.

It’s true, when you take care of the property your tenants feel taken care of. If they feel they are taken care of you build a foundation with your tenants of loyalty and respect. With this comes renewals and acceptance of rate increases because in their eyes you have earned it.

Being physically on the property is greatly important. Showing up a few times a month unexpectedly on the property can avert possible bad behaviors. Because I walk the properties frequently I know the properties and I know the tenants. Our tenants will ”ask first” avoiding having to “ask for forgiveness” later. 

What most owners don’t know is the actual condition their property is in. How a “management company” has neglected their valuable investment and their tenants. I have seen this over and over again. We experienced it ourselves and witnessed it when shopping for property. One owner couldn’t understand why we passed on their property, in a desirable area,  after making an offer. The inspection report was appalling and the owner had no idea. 

Tenants are valuable, good tenants even more so. Without tenants your property is no longer an asset, it has become a liability. A money pit. Absolutely no tenants is hardly heard of but high turn over is common and extremely costly. Our goal is to keep our tenants as long as they will have us. We make sure we are worth every penny it costs them to live in the home we have provided for them. We always remember that we are providing a a service for them.

I know in a world where everyone is trying to go green, this is the exact opposite. When a contract is signed and a move in walk through takes place, we are always present. Contracts are signed in person and on paper. This is important because there is more interaction with the tenants. You get a better feel for your new tenant and they appreciate that you took the time to interact with them. It really sets the foundation for the future. It shows that you are involved.

I’m sure you have heard of this saying and we find that the same is true when managing a property. To keep an “honest man honest” we perform six month inspections and if necessary we will perform unscheduled inspections to make sure the tenants are caring for the property.  Tenants are given their privacy but they are not left to their own devices.