Hire A Property Manager Or DIY
Hire A Property Manager Or DIY
When you buy an investment property, the decision to step in and act as the landlord yourself or hire a professional property manager to do the heavy lifting always comes up.
Much like anything else, there are pros and cons to both approaches. On the one hand, you’ll save money, but on the other, you’ll have a slew of new, time-consuming responsibilities.
Use this guide to help you decide if being a hands-on landlord is right for you or if hiring a property manager to take over landlord responsibilities is the better option.
What Does a Property Manager Do?
DIY management means that (you) the property owner is entirely responsible for everything. Renting, cleaning, maintenance, legal matters, the list goes on. Most property managers take on the typical roles of a landlord. If you don’t want your investments to take up hours of your time each month, it’s definitely something to consider.
Property managers can handle both residential and commercial properties, depending on your needs. Your manager will market your rental, find and screen potential tenants, collect rent, keep records of rent activity, resolve tenant complaints, coordinate maintenance & repairs, and handle legal issues. Legal help comes in handy when nonpayment and eviction situations arise. Additionally, most property managers will have local real estate market knowledge and maintenance crews on call for speedy, budget-friendly repairs.
Property managers handle the logistics of your rental for a property management fee, which is typically between 7% and 10% of the monthly rent. The cost of your manager’s fee could also depend on how much you expect your manager to do.
Do I Need a Property Manager?
It doesn’t matter if you have one or ten properties; managing rentals takes time. Whether or not a property manager will benefit you depends on how much time you’re willing to spend handling everything yourself. Additionally, if you’re going the DIY route, prepare to be up for the challenge of handling tenant complaints and requests.
Not sure if passing on the responsibility is right for you? Ask yourself the following questions.
- Do I have an upcoming vacancy?
- Is self-managing taking up too much of my time?
- Are my tenants behind on rent?
- Is being a landlord too stressful?
If you answered yes to any of the above, hiring a property manager can help save you stress, time, and energy.
When is The Time to Hire a Property Manager?
Now that you have a better idea of what a property manager does and if you need one, how do you know when’s the best time to hire a manager?
Perhaps you only have one rental, and being a DIY landlord isn’t taking up too much of your time. In that case, flying solo might be the best choice for you as long as the ‘landlording’ responsibilities are within your capabilities.
Here are a few scenarios where hiring a property manager can drastically change the way you think about your real estate investment.
Consider hiring a property management company if:
- You have multiple properties to rent.
- You don’t live within a comfortable driving distance from your rental.
- You have another full-time job that requires your attention and concentration.
- Hands-on management is not interesting to you.
- Property management tasks are making you feel overwhelmed or anxious.
- Your time is more valuable than the cost of hiring a property manager.
What Should I Look for in a Property Manager?
Trusting another person with your investment can be challenging. You don’t just want any old property manager. You want someone who is experienced, passionate, and dedicated to your project.
Also, even if you haven’t purchased a property yet, it’s not too early to start looking for a property management company.
Here are some steps and tips to help you find and hire the best property manager for your needs.
1. Look for a property manager with experience with your type of property.
2. Be sure the manager has local real estate knowledge.
3. They should be organized, flexible, and have stellar communication.
4. Ask for references. One of the best ways to learn more about a property manager is to hear from current or previous clients.
5. Find out if the property manager is licensed in your state?
Property Management in Missoula
ADEA Property Management Co. specializes in residential, commercial, industrial, and homeowner property management in the Missoula area. We help property owners in western Montana optimize real estate investments. Utilizing our industry-leading technology and extensive experience, we take care of your rental properties for a totally hands-off experience.
Contact us today to learn more about our property management services or get in touch with one of our team members. We look forward to hearing from you.






