Whether you want a break from being on call or you’re considering a purchase of an investment property, you know that you need help managing your properties. However, choosing the wrong property manager can be a big problem for your budget, your buildings, and your tenants. When you’re looking for a property manager, here’s what you need to look for to ensure that you’re getting a reputable manager for your properties.

find-property-manager1. Look At the Buzz

As you look for a property manager, look for the best. Ask friends who invest in property who they use to manage their properties. Talk to professionals such as landscaping companies, realtors, and maintenance companies and ask them who they enjoy working with. Look online for information as well: visit business review sites and look for customer reviews of the property management company. After you’ve examined your options, choose a few you’d like to contact directly.

2. Assess Their Communication Skills

When you have someone else managing your property, you need to feel comfortable communicating with them about your needs. Look at the property management company’s website and forms to determine how well they communicate all of their policies and procedures. Have a conversation with each management company about their responsibilities and yours. This conversation should include a discussion of their management processes and how they will manage the financial aspects of your property. You should be clear on their property management fees and the rules that they lay out for tenants. If you feel uncertain, ask questions; a reputable property management company will work with you to help you understand.

3. Examine Their Processes

A great property management company has clear processes to work with common rental property management scenarios. For example, they should be able to tell you what will happen when your tenant gives notice and how they will go about marketing your property, the processes related to screening potential tenants, and on-boarding new tenants. You’ll need to know about their processes for maintenance and repairs, visits to the property, and tenant interactions, such as evictions.

4. Go Through a Hiring Process

Bringing on a property management professional is just like looking for any other accomplished professional. You want to make sure that they have a track record and the experience to do the job. Check their reputation through references, and ask for a list of their certifications and licenses.

Know whether your prospective manager has experience managing your particular type of property. If you own a multifamily dwelling and the property manager only manages single-family homes, he or she may not have the expertise needed to engage with multiple tenants of a single property. Create your own interview questions that touch on the key pieces of important information that you need to know to make an informed decision about your property management company.

When you’re looking for the right property management company, contact Lori Gill and Associates. With our extensive experience in Seattle area rental property management, we’re your source for local connections that will improve the management of your property. Connect with us and know that your property is in good hands.