The service you receive from a property manager will only be as good as the people doing the work. This step is critical in ensuring that you hire honest, knowledgeable professionals who will be attentive to your needs and the needs of your tenants.

Here’s a list of issues to review and questions to ask any property management firms you interview.

Size

How many people do you have on staff?

There are pros and cons for large and small companies. While these aren’t universal, here are some to consider:

• larger company benefits
• smaller company benefits

Staff

What is your staff turnover rate?

The property management industry has higher turnover in general, so bear in mind that this figure is only meaningful when compared to other property management companies in the area. High turnover is a bad sign. You want to deal with the same people, not a new face every few months. Additionally, this may signal poor management and possibly financial instability. If financial stability is a question, you can always run a credit check on the company.

Who is the specific PM you will handle my property?

The interview with management may go well, but if the manager they assign to your property is subpar, it really doesn’t matter how well the rest of the organization operates. Make a point to meet the specific property manager(s) who will be stewarding your properties. Consider the following: 

How do they show? Do they dress and act professionally? 

Do they seem knowledgeable about their profession? (A nice outfit, warm smile and firm handshake aren’t enough. Ask enough questions to the point that you’re satisfied that they know what they’re doing.) 

How long have they been a (insert your type of property) property manager for (working as an actual PM, not an assistant)? Relevant experience is key. They may transition quite well and do a good job, but either way, you’ll want to know their background upfront. 

How long have they been with this company, where and for how long were they with the company before that? Job-hopping is rarely a good sign, and because of the localized nature of real estate, more time spent locally is preferable to a recent transplant from a different rental market. 

How is their compensation package structured? This says a lot about how invested your property manager will be in your property’s performance. Wouldn’t you want your property manager to be rewarded if they do a good job and experience pain if they don’t? Look for pay structures that establish a direct correlation between compensation and key metrics, like low vacancy rate, delinquency rate, etc. 

Who would you be dealing with if that person got sick or went on leave? A day will come when Murphy’s Law comes in full force. Your manager is out of town, and a situation arises that requires immediate attention. Is there a qualified back-up person who will know how to solve the problem, or will it fall on you?

Customer Service

What are your office hours, and do you close on weekends?

Property management is a 24/7/365 vocation, so look for a property manager that’ll work for you and your properties on weekends.

Who handles after hours, weekend and holiday calls?

It needs to be someone who’s qualified to address owner and tenant concerns immediately rather than explaining that you or your tenants will need to wait until Monday morning. If one of your tenants has a pipe burst at 11:30 Friday night, you don’t want them talking to someone who’s not qualified or capable of promptly getting the problem solved. Regardless of the answer you’re given, the only way to really know is to call the given number and see who picks up. If tenant or owner emergencies are met with an answering machine or canned voicemail message, you may want to move on.

How quickly do you respond to tenant and owner calls?

If you have a hard time getting ahold of a property manager during the interview process, or you don’t always get quick replies to your questions, assume it’s a sign of things to come. Why would you consider hiring a property management firm that’s unresponsive? 

Next time we’ll be taking an in-depth look at property management contracts and how they govern your relationship with a management company.

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The Realty Medics are the nation’s leaders in “Rocket Science Renting”: Rocket Science Renting is about keeping your life simple by letting someone else handle the complex work of property management for you. It’s knowing that your property is running smoothly, with no hiccups or glitches. It’s hyper-responsive customer service that gives you property management peace of mind. It’s advanced technology that could only be designed by a former NASA engineer like our owner, Ben Sencenbaugh. And it’s knowing that you’re always getting maximum value and ROI for your investment.

More from the guide

Areas We Serve in Florida

We’re happy to serve many of the surrounding areas here in Central Florida. Below are the current cities and locations that we operate in. If you don’t see your area listed, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we’ll see if we can work together.

• Altamonte Springs
• Apopka
• Avalon Park
• Casselberry
• Clermont
• Daytona Beach
• DeLand
• Deltona
• Eastwood
• Kissimmee

• Lakeland
• Lake Mary
• Longwood
• Maitland
• New Smyrna Beach
• Ocoee
• Orlando
• Ormond Beach
• Oviedo

• Palm Bay
• Poinciana
• Sanford
• Stoneybrook
• Waterford Lakes
• Windermere
• Winter Garden
• Winter Park
• Winter Springs
• Wildwood