COMMON PROBLEMS OF A PROPERTY MANAGER –
CLEANING SUPPORT SERVICES
When
you have planned, prepped, scheduled, and organized your business to function
like a well-oiled machine, the last thing you need is to be let down by your
property management firm. The industry is full of promises about how they can
“exceed expectations”, but how do you avoid falling in with a bad crowd when
selecting who to manage your properties for you? Here are some of the most
common problems that can occur with property management, and some suggestions
on how to avoid them.
Poor Communication – Moving into a new place is an exciting,
albeit nerve-racking time. Tenants are going to have questions, they are going
to be calling, emailing, even writing to you at all hours of the day and night.
The best way to get off to a bad start is to use a property management team
that fails to respond to these communications. The management team you work
with should take the stress out of managing your properties, not add to it. If
you don’t want to deal with unanswered calls about your property, constant follow-ups
on whether maintenance has been done, and a lack of support throughout the
rental process, trust a company like Real Property Management.
Bad or No Tenant Screening – It will be the case with your
properties that a handful of your tenants cause the most problems. Even with
75% of your properties leased by tenants who keep things clean, pay on-time,
and follow the rules, you could still find yourself overcome with grievances
because of the remaining few occupants. Tenant screening is not only important,
but it has to be thorough – your property management firm should know to
pre-qualify all potential tenants, check their prior rental history, perform
employment and credit checks, and ask for references, before signing anything
away.
Cutting Corners, Not Costs – The cheapest prices aren’t always the
ones that save you the most money. Often, management companies that charge the
least will end up making the most costly mistakes, increasing the maintenance
costs and even incurring legal fees. In addition, working with smaller property
management firms often means you end up paying more than you should for
maintenance. Real Property Management has a large footprint in the industry
that allows them even bigger discounts and deals, passing the cost savings on to
you. When looking at price, weigh up the value of your business in the long
term, and find a fairly and openly priced property manager who’ll add to your
value, not subtract from it.
Lack of Routine Inspections – The best way to multiply your
maintenance costs is to wait until something is broken to fix it. Preventative
maintenance, such as new caulking in bathrooms, regular gutter cleaning, and
frequent inspections of the property and its fixtures and fittings can save you
thousands of dollars in the long term. You want to start your leasing on a good
footing, so you need to make sure properties are clean, functional, and safe
before handing over the keys. Find a property management company that is
willing to put in the time to thoroughly and routinely check all your rental
properties, and show your tenants that you are responsible and proactive about
making this house their home.
Unclear Accounting – You didn’t start this business because
you were skilled in accounting, and it certainly shouldn’t become the main pain
point of your daily operations. One common problem with property management
companies is that they make their accounting process confusing, complex, or
just counter-intuitive to use, and in addition to poor tools with few features,
they often spit out formulaic data rather than tailoring the report to the
needs of the business owner. When tax time comes around, don’t be the one
panicking and paying someone else to pick up the pieces – use a property
management company that offers clear, round-the-clock accounting tools.
MAINSOURCE: http://www.rpmtoday.com/property-management/learning-center/common-problems-with-property-management/
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