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Monday, August 24, 2009

Important Considerations For The Selection Of A Property Management Company

By Layla Vanderbilt

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.

The lowest management fee may not always be the best choice. Higher fees usually translate into more services. Also, management companies with lower fees may have extra charges for necessary services like as advertising. Investors need to know if the management company charges a fee for showing property to a potential client. Some management companies also charge leasing fees in addition to their management fee. Investors need to read contracts closely to know exactly what is included in the real estate management fee.

The real estate management fee is usually a minimum monthly base charge plus a percentage of collected income, and the fees vary according to the type and size of the property. The charge for single family dwellings can range from a flat rate to a percentage of the income, ranging from six to ten percent. Larger investment property is most always charged by a percentage which is generally lower, generally around two percent. Fees are negotiated by a number of factors that include the location, the size, and the condition of the property, and the total fee can also include additional fees for leasing and other auxiliary services.

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.

Hiring a good management company helps an investor rent his property faster and provide preventive maintenance before problems become major repairs and expenses. The investor should look at more than the initial monthly fees when determining how much it will actually cost them if they go with the cheapest company. An investor needs to be sure the company will actually help him avoid those expensive repairs and expenses as well as keep the property in good condition in order to make it attractive to prospective clients. - 23208

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