Property owners often hear about property management companies and wonder what they are, in so much as how they benefit a property owner. There are many misconceptions regarding how property managers work and their responsibilities, as well as what sort of properties property management companies can be hired to maintain.
Let's go over the ins and outs of property management and find out if it's a service you can benefit from.
What is Property Management?
Property management means hiring a third party as a property manager to oversee the daily responsibilities of residential, commercial, or industrial properties. Generally, the property manager will ensure the day-to-day repairs, maintenance, and upkeep are taken care of and is usually tasked with caring for investment properties.
What are the Property Manager's Responsibilities?
The essence of property management is being delegated work that the owner or developer has no time to handle. These responsibilities can range from handling tenants to ensuring the property is properly maintained, specifically, a property manager's job can include:
- Screening potential tenants
- Signing, drafting and renewing leases
- Collecting rent from tenants
- Arranging for repairs for the property
- Creating and adhering to property maintenance budgets
- Preparing vacant units
- Advertising the rental property
- Handling lease agreements with tenants
- Rent adjustments
- Supervising property employees
- Handling evictions and move-out processes
- Handling tax for the property
- Ensuring property compliance with the law
- Property record keeping
While this list isn't exhaustive, it gives a good and rounded impression of what type of responsibilities you can expect property managers to take on.
Types of Property Management
There are four types of properties that property managers are likely to work and care for:
Residential Real Estate Property
Residential properties can fall to a property management firm usually when it's a rental space and can include:
- Single-family homes
- Multi-family homes
- Townhouses
- Apartment buildings
- Manufactured homes
- REO properties
- Vacation rentals
Commercial Property
Commercial property is commonly associated with property management companies and can include a wide range of spaces, including:
- Co-working spaces rented by the day or hour, commonly used by freelancers and contractors
- Office properties, such as doctor's offices or large buildings with multiple offices and levels
- Retail properties, such as malls, restaurants, gas stations, and big-box stores
- Accommodation properties, such as hotels, motels, and resorts.
Industrial Properties
An industrial property often has more responsibilities for the property managers than the other categories due to the nature of the work performed in these spaces, such as bidding for vendors and compliance with industry codes. Some of the types of properties that fall under property management companies' purview include:
- Distribution facilities
- Warehouses
- Food packaging plants
- Automative plants
- Steel mills
Special-Use Properties
Special use, or special purpose property, means a property that is designed for a specific use and often translates to property managers needing specific skills to successfully manage them. A special-purpose property includes:
- Schools
- Colleges and universities
- Places of worship
- Resorts
- Sports arenas
- Theaters
- Senior care centers and facilities
Benefits of Having Property Management
No matter the type of real estate property you own, there are a host of benefits to hiring a property management company, including:
Screening out problem tenants: likely the biggest headache for any real estate owner. Due to a property manager's experience, they have the insight to see red flags and spot good qualities in a potential tenant, making the screening process more efficient and having better quality tenants long-term.
Decreasing turnover: piggybacking off the first advantage, lower turnover means stable property income and happy tenants.
Avoiding legal issues: an experience property manager knows the housing and landlord-tenant laws: being able to navigate them while having good relationships with lawyers who specialize in these types of disputes. Some companies will also take care of fees associated with evictions or property damage issues.
Saving money on maintenance and repair: Like being connected with lawyers, an experienced real estate property manager usually works with a maintenance company that due to their professional relationship can benefit from discounted work without losing on quality. They can also stay ahead of repairs by having the time for regular inspections, reducing emergency repair costs.
Property Management For You
Now that you understand what property management is and the common responsibilities they have, along with what type of real estate they handle; do you think you'd benefit from hiring such a company?
Here at Goodale & Barbieri, we do just this. As one of the largest developers, property managers, and a leading real estate firm, we understand what to look for with tenants and the nuances of managing a property. Since 1937 we've handled properties of all sorts and currently over 4 million square feet of commercial property. Discover more about working with experienced experts by following the link below.
